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
New image
Page reconstructed 31 July 09
56xx added 31 July 09
16xx added 7 Ddec 09
This page describes the steam
locos that have left site. 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
64xx class, No.6435 (added 7 Dec 09) Locomotive details:- Built: June 1932. Withdrawn: October 1964. Wheel Arrangement: 0-6-0PT Driving Wheel Diameter: 4'
7½” Cylinders (2) 16½” x 24” Boiler Pressure: 180psi. Tractive Effort: 18,010
lbs. This loco visited us during
September 2009 as the star performer in our 140th Anniversary
Gala, and the following day in our annual photocharter. This is an example of the familiar GWR
‘pannier tank’ and this one belongs to the push-pull fitted 64xx class. It is a derivative of the earlier 54xx
class built for the Our visitor was built in 1937,
and spent the majority of its life shedded at either |
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GWR
56xx class, No.5619 (added 31 July 09) Locomotive details:- Built: June 1926. Withdrawn: September 1964. Wheel Arrangement: 0-6-2T Driving Wheel Diameter: 4'
7 1/2'' Boiler Pressure: 200psi. Tractive Effort: 23,800
lbs. This is the archetypal
‘valley’ loco, designed by CB Collett to replace a glut of worn out This loco was taken into
preservation at the Telford Steam Railway in
1973, and worked regularly between 1981 and 1991. It was then sidelined pending a complete
overhaul from which it emerged early in 2008.
Its first public steaming was at the end of February 2008 on the Avon
Valley Railway, followed by an early May gala at back at Telford, and a
Summer season on the Gloucs & Warks.
In arrived with us on 8 September 2008 for our 25th Anniversary celebrations
and left later that month for Bodmin & Wenford. |
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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 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 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 Arrived at Furnace Sidings
1987 Departed Furnace Sidings 17
April 2008 for East Lancs Railway |
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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 tto work specials on the following
weekend, 11/12 August and left late on the 16th. The loco did another stint in 2008 over the
9/10 August, and looks like becoming a regular performer. 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 ‘ 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, Built: 1954, works
no.4939. Wheel Arrangement: 0-6-0T The year 1999 saw the first foreign standard gauge steam
locomotive in the Photo: Bernard Morton |
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TKh
0-6-0T No.17646 ‘Northampton’ Locomotive Details:- Builder: Fabryka
Lokomotyw, 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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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’.
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. photo:Warwick Davis |
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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. |
Blaenavon Iron Company ‘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 |
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National Coal Board 0-6-0ST
‘Menaleus’ Locomotive Details:- Builder: Peckett & Sons
Ltd. , 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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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 It was joined at Welshpool by
stable mate 764.025 in October 2006 |
