 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations .(January 2017) |
| Highland Railway C and U classes 'Small Ben' and 'Large Ben' | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Highland Railway Ben Class were small 4-4-0 passenger steam locomotives. There were actually two separate 'Ben' classes, usually referred to as the 'Small Bens' and the 'Large Bens'.
Despite the large and small tags, there was actually little difference between the two groups, the most crucial being larger boilers with an increase in tube heating surface. Cylinder and wheel dimensions were identical.
The class was originally designed by Peter Drummond, whose elder (and better known) brother Dugald had been in the company's locomotive department in earlier years and was at that time Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London and South Western Railway.
In appearance they were fairly typical Drummond family products with the stiffener across the cab roof. They were also inside cylindered, almost uniquely among HR bogie locomotives.
The first 8 locomotives were of the Small Ben type and were built by Dübs and Company of Glasgow in the period 1898 to 1899. They were:
| HR No. | Name | Manufacturer | Built | Withdrawn | LMS No. | BR No. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ben-y-Gloe | Dübs & Co. 3685 | July 1898 | February 1949 | 14397 | 54397 | Renamed Ben Y’Gloe in 1939. Withdrawn before BR number applied |
| 2 | Ben Alder | Dübs & Co. 3686 | July 1898 | February 1953 | 14398 | 54398 | Set aside for preservation, but scrapped in 05/1966 |
| 3 | Ben Wyvis | Dübs & Co. 3687 | July 1898 | May 1952 | 14399 | 54399 | |
| 4 | Ben More | Dübs & Co. 3688 | February 1899 | October 1946 | 14400 | — | |
| 5 | Ben Vrackie | Dübs & Co. 3689 | February 1899 | October 1948 | 14401 | 54401 | Withdrawn before BR number applied |
| 6 | Ben Armin | Dübs & Co. 3690 | February 1899 | December 1939 | 14402 | — | |
| 7 | Ben Attow | Dübs & Co. 3691 | February 1899 | February 1949 | 14403 | 54403 | Withdrawn before BR number applied |
| 8 | Ben Clebrig | Dübs & Co. 3692 | February 1899 | October 1950 | 14404 | 54404 | |
No. 1 was originally named Ben Nevis for its works portrait, an action that attracted the ire of the board as it was in the territory of a competitor (the North British Railway). It was renamed before entering service. [1]
The Highland Railway built another nine during 1899–1900 at their own Lochgorm works:
| HR No. | Name | Built | Withdrawn | LMS No. | BR No. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Ben Rinnes | July 1899 | September 1944 | 14405 | — | |
| 10 | Ben Slioch | August 1899 | July 1947 | 14406 | — | |
| 11 | Ben Macdhui | November 1899 | December 1931 | 14407 | — | |
| 12 | Ben Hope | April 1900 | July 1947 | 14408 | ||
| 13 | Ben Alisky | June 1900 | April 1950 | 14409 | 54409 | Withdrawn before BR number applied |
| 14 | Ben Dearg | August 1900 | December 1949 | 14410 | 54410 | Withdrawn before BR number applied |
| 15 | Ben Loyal | February 1900 | October 1936 | 14411 | — | |
| 16 | Ben Avon | February 1901 | April 1947 | 14412 | — | |
| 17 | Ben Alligan | February 1901 | December 1933 | 14413 | — | |
Finally, three more were built by the North British Locomotive Company of Glasgow in 1906.
| HR No. | Name | NBL Serial | Built | Withdrawn | LMS No. | BR No. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | Ben Udlaman | 17398 | April 1906 | December 1933 | 14414 | — | |
| 41 | Ben Bhach Ard | 17399 | July 1906 | May 1948 | 14415 | 54415 | Withdrawn before BR number applied |
| 47 | Ben a'Bhuird | 17400 | July 1906 | September 1948 | 14416 | 54416 | Withdrawn before BR number applied |
In 1908 a larger version appeared, initially four examples from North British Locomotive, with two more the following year
| HR No. | Name | NBL serial | Built | Withdrawn | LMS No. | BR No. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | Ben na Caillich | 18269 | May 1908 | May 1936 | 14417 | — | Renamed Ben na Caillach in 1926 |
| 63 | Ben Mheadhoin | 18270 | May 1908 | December 1932 | 14418 | — | |
| 66 | Ben Mholach | 18271 | May 1908 | October 1935 | 14419 | — | Renumbered 64 in 1909 |
| 68 | Ben a'Chait | 18272 | May 1908 | April 1934 | 14420 | — | Renumbered 65 in 1909 |
| 60 | Ben Breac Mhor | 18803 | May 1909 | October 1932 | 14421 | — | Renamed Ben Bhreac 'Mhor in 1924 |
| 62 | Ben a'Chaoruinn | 18804 | May 1909 | March 1937 | 14422 | — | Renamed Ben Achaoruinn in 1926, then Ben a'Chaoruinn at unknown date |
All of these locomotives survived to be taken over by the LMS at the Grouping in 1923. The Large Bens were all withdrawn between 1932 and 1937. The first of the Small Bens was withdrawn in 1931, but ten survived into British Railways ownership. The last of these, 54398 Ben Alder, was withdrawn in 1953 and placed in storage in the hope that it would be preserved.
Unfortunately the hopes for 54398 – which included the intention to restore the locomotive to Highland Railway condition – came to nothing, and following storage at various locations (including Boat of Garten) it was eventually cut up on 05/1966; and so, none were preserved. [2] However, a charitable organisation has been formed with the aim of building a working replica of 54398 Ben Alder. [3]
The Caledonian Railway 60 Class were 4-6-0 passenger engines designed by William Pickersgill and introduced in 1916. Six were built by the Caledonian Railway at its own St. Rollox works in 1916–17, and all of them passed into LMS ownership in 1923. A further twenty locomotives of a slightly modified design were built by the LMS under the auspices of George Hughes in the period of 1925–1926.
The Highland Railway's Clan Goods class was a class of steam locomotive. They were designed by Christopher Cumming. The first four were built by Hawthorn Leslie and Company on Tyneside, and the maker's plates bore the date 1917, but because of wartime delays were not delivered until 1918. Four more were built in 1919, also by Hawthorn Leslie.
The Highland Railway Loch class locomotives were large 4-4-0s normally used north of Inverness. They were introduced in 1896, to the design of David Jones. Fifteen were built by Dübs and Company in Glasgow, all going into traffic between July and September 1896. Three more were built in 1917 by Dübs' successor, the North British Locomotive Company (NBL).
The Highland Railway K class were the only class of 0-6-0 tender locomotives built for the Highland Railway. They were introduced in 1900, to the design of Peter Drummond. The class were known as 'Barneys'.
The Highland Railway River class was a class of steam locomotive with a 4-6-0 wheel arrangement. They were designed by F. G. Smith, who had joined the Highland Railway in 1904 from the North Eastern Railway. His initial post was as manager of the Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon works at Inverness. When Peter Drummond departed to the Glasgow and South Western Railway at the end of 1911 Smith was appointed Chief Mechanical Engineer in his place.
The Highland Railway began as the Inverness and Nairn Railway, which operated the other lines which became part of the Highland Railway on its formation in 1865. For post-1870 locomotives, see Locomotives of the Highland Railway.
The Highland Railway F class 4-4-0s were a class of British steam locomotives introduced in 1874. The first 10 were built by Dübs and Company in 1874. A further seven were built in Lochgorm works between 1876 and 1888. Originally they were the first Bruce class, and later became known as the Duke class to avoid confusion with the second Bruce class. As part of Peter Drummond's 1901 classification scheme they became class F.
The Highland Railway E Class was a class of 4-4-0 steam locomotive designed by David Jones for passenger service. They were also known as the 'Clyde Bogies' as they were built by the Clyde Locomotive Company in Glasgow, Scotland. They were the first locomotives built by that company.
The Highland Railway P class was a group of five 4-4-0T steam locomotives built in 1891 and 1893 by Dübs and Company of Glasgow.
The Highland Railway Jones Goods class was a class of steam locomotive, and was notable as the first class with a 4-6-0 wheel arrangement in the British Isles. Fifteen were built, and one has survived to preservation. Originally known as the Big Goods class, they became class I under Peter Drummond's 1901 classification scheme.
The Highland Railway W class were four small 0-4-4T locomotives built by the Highland Railway in 1905–1906 to the design of locomotive superintendent Peter Drummond. They were the last engines that were built at the company's Lochgorm works in Inverness, and were used on branch line services.
The Furness Railway Company owned many different types of locomotives, built by several locomotive building companies, including Sharp Stewart and Company. Others were built by the Furness' constituent companies - the Whitehaven and Furness Junction Railway, among others.
The Glasgow and South Western Railway (G&SWR) 403 Class was a class of 2-6-0 (mogul) steam locomotive designed by Peter Drummond, of which 11 were built in 1915 by the North British Locomotive Company at its Queens Park works. Originally built as the 403 class, as a result of renumbering they became known as the 33 Class in 1916 and then 51 Class in 1919, before passing to the London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) on its formation in 1923, where they were given power classification 4F.
The Caledonian Railway 264 and 611 classes were 0-4-0 saddle tank locomotives designed by Dugald Drummond and built by Neilson and Company in 1885. Later examples were built at St Rollox Works under the direction of John F. McIntosh in 1895, 1900, 1902 and 1908.
The Dornoch Light Railway was a branch railway in Scotland that ran from The Mound on the Far North Line to Dornoch, the county town of Sutherland.
The Clyde Locomotive Company was a firm of locomotive manufacturers in Springburn, Glasgow, Scotland.
The locomotives of the Highland Railway were used by the Highland Railway to operate its lines in the north of Scotland. The Highland Railway locomotive works was at Lochgorm, Inverness. The works had been built about 1855 by the Inverness and Nairn Railway. The locomotive classes are listed under the names of the railway's Locomotive Superintendents.
The Caledonian Railway 721 Class was a class of 4-4-0 steam locomotives designed by John F. McIntosh for the Caledonian Railway (CR) and introduced in 1896. All survived to be absorbed by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) in 1923 and a few survived into British Railways (BR) ownership in 1948.
The Glasgow and South Western Railway (G&SWR) 279 class was a class of 0-6-0 steam locomotive designed by Peter Drummond, of which 15 were built in 1913 by the North British Locomotive Company at its Queens Park works. Originally built as the 279 class, as a result of renumbering they became known as the 71 class in 1919, before passing to the London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) on its formation in 1923, where they were given power classification 4F.
The Glasgow and South Western Railway (G&SWR) 131 Class and 137 Class were two closely related classes of 4-4-0 steam locomotives designed by Peter Drummond. A total of 12 locomotives were built between 1913 and 1915, with some constructed by the North British Locomotive Company (NBL) at its Queens Park works and others by the G&SWR at its Kilmarnock works. Originally designated as the 131 and 137 classes, the locomotives were later renumbered and became known as the 331 and 325 classes, respectively, in 1919. Following the formation of the London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) in 1923, the locomotives were transferred to the LMS, where they were classified as 3P in terms of power rating.