STEAM LOCOMOTIVES PREVIOUSLY AT
BLAENAVON
First
uploaded 17
June 06
Updated 1 Apr 07
Updated 17 Apr 07
New entry 15 Aug 07
New entry 28 Jan 08
New entries 21 April 2008
This page, which describes the steam locos that have left
site, needs a few photographs to complete it. Further information is also needed on some of
the locos. If you can help please email
webmaster@pontypool-and-blaenavon.co.uk
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GWR
28xx class, No.2874 Locomotive Details:- Builder: Great Western
Railway, Swindon. Built in November 1918,
works no.2780 Withdrawal: May 1963. Wheel Arrangement: 2-8-0 Driving Wheel Diameter:
4’7½” Boiler Pressure: 225 psi. Tractive Effort: 35,380lbs. One of Churchward’s best
designs was undoubtedly his heavy freight 2-8-0s, 84 being built at Swindon
during his term of office as Chief Mechanical Engineer of the GWR. They proved lo be extremely long lived
machines and the first withdrawal did not come until 1958, with the prototype
no. 2800, being cut up at Swindon during May after a working life of almost
55 years. 2874 begain its working
life at the shed at Old Oak Common in London. The main duty here was to haul
the heavy freight trains between South Wales and London turn and turn about
with the 28XXs based in South Wales. After leaving London 2874 led a somewhat
nomadic career up to the early years of Nationalisation working from sheds
that included Reading, Oxford, Leamington, Tyseley,
Neath, Cardiff, Stourbridge and Banbury.
2874 then settled down to Newport and Cardiff in South Wales. Although
freight engines, it was not unusual in the hectic summer months to see these
locos on passenger turns particularly down to Salisbury, These locos were
displaced by the arrival of the 9F 2- l 0-0s based in Cardiff, so 2874 moved
away to work from Aberdare and finally Neath again before its withdrawal and
movement to Barry. Arrived at Furnace Sidings
1987 Departed Furnace Sidings 3
April 2008 for West Somerset Railway |
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GWR 38xx class, No.3855 Locomotive Details:- Builder: Great Western
Railway, Swindon. Built: October 1942. Withdrawn: August 1965. Wheel Arrangement: 2-8-0 Driving Wheel Diameter: 4’
7½” Boiler Pressure: 225 psi. Tractive Effort: 35,380
lbs. To meet the need for
further heavy freight locomotives during the late 1930s, the Churchward 2-8-0
design was updated by C.B.Collett and an additional 83 locomotives were built
between l 938 and 1942, almost doubling the previous class
total. The introduction of the BR
Standard (f 2-10-0s eventually signalled the decline of their importance
although they were only finally ousted by dieselisation in the 1960s the last
to go being no. 3836 at the end of l965. 3855 first went to Southall shed
near London where it would have been immediately occupied in dealing with the
increased quantity of freight brought about the War. In 1953 it was moved to
Pontypool Road shed where it spent five years before going on to
Cardiff. ln
the early 1960s it was on the move again to Banbury where one of its duties
would have been helping with the numerous ironstone trains which ran down to
South Wales. A particularly notable
period in 3855s life was when it was called upon twice during a week in
November 1963 to rescue a failed diesel on the Pines Express. In the year before withdrawal it spent
short periods at Oswestry and finally Croes Newydd shed near Wrexham before
going to Barry. Arrived at Furnace Sidings
1987 Departed Furnace Sidings 17
April 2008 |
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GWR ‘Hall’ class, No.5967
‘BICKMARSH HALL’ Locomotive Details:- Builder: Great Western
Railway, Swindon. Built: March 1937. Withdrawn: June 1964. Class: Hall. Wheel Arrangement: 4-6-0. Driving Wheel Diameter: 6'
0' ' Boiler Pressured: 225 psi. Tractive effort: 27,275
lbs. The Hall class was just
what the GWR required for a mixed traffic locomotive, and the first
production order, placed in 1928, was for no fewer than 80, so confident must
Collett have been about their suitability for the job. In this he was proved quite correct for
they were excellent and useful engines able to work all types of trains
except perhaps the heaviest freights. Ultimately 330 were built over a period
of 26 years. 5967 Bickmarsh Hall began its
working life in the Midlands working out of the sheds at Chester, Oxley and
Banbury. In the mid 1950s it moved
down to Newton Abbot in the West Country.
Here it would have helped in summer with all the numerous holiday
expresses and reliefs that passed through on their way to and from the
popular resorts in Devon and Cornwall. In l 960 5967 moved on to Westbury and
then a few months later to London. For its last year it returned to Westbury
once again before making its journey following withdrawal to Barry. The loco is one of five privately owned GWR
locos which arrived in 1994 and awaits restoration. Arrived at Furnace Sidings 1987 |
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Peckett 0-4-0ST ‘Ivor the Engine’ Locomotive Details:- Builder: Peckett & Sons
Ltd., Bristol. Built:. Wheel Arrangement: 0-4-0ST Wheel diameter 2ft 8ins. Boiler Pressure: 160psi Tractive Effort: Cylinders: 12inch diameter, 15 inch stroke. Although
at first sight this is a side tank loco, it is in fact a typical Peckett saddle tank but
with cosmetic side sheets built down to the running board. With additional whistles and other details,
this permits the loco to masquerade as the fictitious ‘Ivor the Engine’ –
M&LRTC Ltd signifies Merioneth & Llantisilly Rail Traction Co.
Ltd. Following a complete refit and
overhaul the loco is a lively performer despite her size. Ivor arrived with us on Monday 6 August
2007 to work specials on the following weekend, 11/12 August, and left late
on the 16th. Our technical knowledge
of this loco is scant and we look forward to receiving details from our
readers! |
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Bagnall 0-4-0PT ‘Brookfield’ Locomotive Details:- Builder: W.G. Bagnall Ltd.
Stafford. Built: 1940. Wheel Arrangement: 0-6-0PT Boiler Pressure: 180 psi. Tractive Effort: 13,110 lbs. This unusual locomotive is an 0-6-0 outside cylindered pannier tank built by the
Bagnall Company. It was originally designed and built to work on a metre
gauge railway system of a steelworks in Turkey. However the war intervened and Brookfield
and the other four similar locomotives remained in this country. They were bought by the
Brookfield Foundry in Stoke-on-Trent and re-gauged to work on the standard
gauge track there. The engines then
spent the next 20 to 25 years working within the Foundry before being
retired. Unlike its sister engines which went for scrap, Brook field then
spent a number of years being stored on the site before being bought by a
company member early in 1983. The loco was then moved to Enfield where it
was painstakingly restored to working order by a small group of enthusiasts. lt was there that the decision was taken to name the
locomotive after its former place of work. 1t made its journey to Wales and
Blaenavon in April 1986 and worked the next two seasons. The railway were
sad to see this capable and reliable loco go.
It is currently operating at |
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Hunslet 0-6-0ST No4 ’Glasshoughton’ Locomotive Details:- Builder:. Hunslet Engine Co., Leeds Built: 1954. works no 3855 Wheel Arrangement: 0-6-0PT Boiler Pressure: 180 psi. Tractive Effort: 13,110 lbs. This
loco, usually referred to as a ‘Sixteen-inch Hunslet’ reflecting its cylinder
diameter and builder worked the 1998 season, and was highly regarded by our
crews, and visitors alike. It
certainly appeared entirely at home on our steep line. It was retired early in 1999 with
foundation ring problems, and is currently under overhaul at |
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TKh 0-6-0T No.4015 ‘Karel’ Locomotive Details:- Builder: Fabryka
Lokomotyw, Chrzanow, Poland . Built: 1954, works
no.4939. Wheel Arrangement: 0-6-0T The year 1999 was saw the first foreign standard gauge steam locomotive in
the Welsh Valleys, in the shape of the Polish ‘Ferrum’ class loco. The loco was built in 1954 and was used at
the ‘Ostroweic’ steelworks in South East Poland. The locomotive was brought
to Britain at the end of 1992. The
locomotive is 9’ 5” over the cylinders which is 5” wider than British locos.
This could have caused clearance problems, but tests revealed that she could
just squeeze into our platforms. As
befits a modern loco, she was a quiet and powerful machine and easy on coal
and water consumption. Currently operational at North Norfolk Railway,
but normally based at Avon Valley Railway Photo: Bernard Morton |
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TKh
0-6-0T No.17646 ‘Northampton’ Locomotive Details:- Builder: Fabryka
Lokomotyw, Chrzanow, Poland . Built: 1959, Wheel Arrangement: 0-6-0T A Polish locomotive from the Saturn cement works. ‘Northampton’ worked our Summer 2000
season, but was not particularly liked by our crews who were unfamiliar with
the Westinghouse-type air-brake fitted to this loco. She is currently operational at Northampton &
Lamport Railway |
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Hunslet 0-6-0T ‘The Lady Armaghdale’ Locomotive Details:- Builder:. Hunslet Engine Co., Leeds Built: 1898, works no.686 Wheel Arrangement: 0-6-0T Preserved in 1969, this
venerable old lady, usually painted deep red, is painted blue and masquerades
as ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’. She
worked our early ‘Thomas’ trains in 1999, and although highly successful, the
three-coach trains and steep bank were often too much for her, and she often
needed a little banking assistance. She was last overhauled I
2001 and although frequently seen on other railways traveling round the
country in her ‘Thomas’ guise, she is normally located at the: |
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No photo available |
LMS Fowler 3F 0-6-0T No.47298 Locomotive Details:- Builder:. Hunslet Engine Co., Leeds Built: 1924. works no.1463 Wheel Arrangement: 0-6-0T Boiler pressure: 160psi Tractive Effort: 20,835 lbs This class
of engine was built in large numbers by the LMS and outside contractors, and
became ‘maid of all work’. For the LMS
Although often known as ‘Jockos’ by railwayman, they are more popularly
referred to as ‘Jinties’ Preserved
in 1974, and currently operational at the Llangollen Railway. Arrived at Llangollen in 1983. More
recently it has stayed semi-permanently in its most famous blue livery,
visiting other railways. Worked
our Thomas specials in 2001, but failed to steam properly due to delivery of
an appalling quality of coal. |
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LMS Fowler 3F 0-6-0T No.47383 Locomotive Details:- Builder:. Vulcan Foundry Ltd Built: 1926, works no.3954 Wheel Arrangement: 0-6-0T Boiler Pressure: 160 psi. Tractive
Effor: 20,385: Preserved in 1966, and overhauled in 1988 now in need of
extensive firebox repairs, this loco worked ‘Thomas’ events in year 2000 and despite its ‘Thomas’ livery, was much
appreciated by the loco fans at the railway.
This was the first ‘main-line’ loco to work on the line since
preservation. |
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GWR 813 0-6-0ST Locomotive Details:- Builder:. Hudswell Clarke & Co Built: 1901. works no.555 Wheel Arrangement: 0-6-0ST The
GWR absorbed a large number of smaller companies, together with their engines
and rolling stock in 1923. On such
engine was 813, which was built for the Port Talbot
Railway. Although the original
appearance was quite normal, the GWR could not resist added some
embellishments of their own, including a standard GW safety valve bonnet on
top of the dome. This gave these
locomotives a quite curious appearance.
Nevertheless they were capable engines, and one of 813’s sisters, 816
worked regularly between Blaenserchan Colliery and Talywain until the late
fifties. Loco
813, which was preserved in 1967, first visited the railway for the Santa
Specials 2000, shortly after a major overhaul that year, and was a regular visitor until
Christmas 2003. Our line is typical of
the type of railway for which 813 was designed and her sure-footed power made
her an all-time favourite. She is
currently a regular performer on the photo:Bernard Morton |
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'Nora' stands outside the bottom shed. |
BIC Nora Locomotive Details:- Builder: Andrew Barclay
& Sons, Kilmarnock. Built: 1920. Wheel Arrangement: 0-4-0ST Wheel diameter: 3’ 5” Boiler Pressure: 160 psi. Weight: 28tons |
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Over many years the Andrew Barclay
Company of Kilmarnock built small steam locos for industrial use all over the
world. Nora is a very typical example
of their products. She was built for
the Blaenavon Company Ltd. and she spent many years transporting men and
materials between the various company sites in the area. In time the loco passed into the ownership
of the National Coal Board and finally after the closure of Big Pit to the
care of the Museum Trust. Nora was the first loco to
be steamed by us on the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway and it powered the
first service trains in August 1983. Following that season's work she was
withdrawn from service for overhaul which took 5 years to complete. She made
her return to active service in the Autumn of 1989. Initially the railway restored
and used for many years the 0-4-0ST Andrew Barclay locomotive
"Nora" which spent its life operating in the Blaenavon area at
"Big Pit" mine and at the local Blaenavon Ironworks. 'Nora' has
recently returned to Big Pit after twenty years with the railway.June 2004 Toto (built 1919, works no.1619)
is a similar loco to Nora. She also spent all her working life at Blaenavon
and has passed into preservation. She is currently at Mangapps Farm Railway
Museum, a. site near London where
restoration.is in progress. Sadly,
sister loco ‘Nan’ which was offered,
in vain, to the local authority was
cut up where she stood as the old engine shed at Blaenavon Iron Works was
demolished around her. |
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National Coal Board 0-6-0ST ‘Menaleus’ Locomotive Details:- Builder: Peckett & Sons
Ltd. , Bristol. Built: 1935, works no.l889. Wheel Arrangement; 0-6-0ST. Boiler Pressure; 180 psi . Preserved 1985 Peckett & Sons built
industrial shunting locos at their Atlas Works in Bristol over a long period.
Menelaus is a typical example of their work.
The loco was owned by the National Coal Board for whom it worked on a
number of their systems. South Wales can lay claim to being
the birthplace of steam rail traction. It can also argue that it saw the end
of steam in Britain outside of preservation.
For many years Menelaus was kept by the National Coal Board as the
back up engine to a couple of diesels at the Marine Colliery in the Ebbw Fawr
valley south of Ebbw Vale. She was
finally retired in 1985 following a couple of steamings that year. On the final day which was June 28th
Menelaus carried a wreath on her smokebox with the Welsh inscription
Gwasanaethon yn Dda (‘We served well’).
It was following this that Menelaus was moved to Blaenavon. Sadly due the terms under which she was
allocated by the National Coal Board, she left Blaenavon and is now
undergoing restoration at the Caledonian Railway Photo: Mark Vrettos |
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Resita 0-8-0T No18 Locomotive Details:- Builder: Resita Built: 1954. Wheel Arrangement; 0-8-0T. Weight: 25 tons Boiler Pressure; Preserved 1985 A
Romanian 76cm (2ft 6ins) gauge loco that was stored for a few years at
Blaenavon, having arrived there in January 1994. It spent its working life at the Turda
Cement Works in Romania, where it carried the number 764.423. The loco had been intended to run on the
stillborn Ystwyth Valley Railway near Aberystwyth. It left Blaenavon in August 1996 for the
Teifi Valley Raiway, before changing hands, and moving again in August 2001
for an intended new life at Apedale Country Park, in Chesterton, Staffs. This fell through and the wandering loco
moved yet again, in April 2004, to the Welshpool and Llanfair Railway having
arrived there from Stoke on Trent according to a news item on www.bbc.co.uk/wales/mid/sites/welshpool/pages/light_railway.shtml?5 It
was joined at Welshpool by stable mate 764.025 in October 2006 |
