Highland Railway Ben Class
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The Highland Railway Ben Class were small 4-4-0 passenger engines. There were actually 2 Ben classes, usually referred to as 'Small Bens' and 'Large Bens'.
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[edit] Introduction
Despite the large and small tags, there was actually little difference between the two groups, the most crucial being an increase in tube heating surface, cylinder and wheel dimensions being 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.
[edit] Dimensions
- Boiler pressure, 180 lbf/in² (1.2 MPa)
- Cylinder diameter, 18¼ inch (464 mm)
- Piston stroke, 26 inch (660 mm)
- Driving wheel diameter, 6 feet (1829 mm)
- Locomotive weight (Small Ben), 46 tons 17 cwt (47,600 kg)
- Tractive effort, 18,400 lbf
- LMS Power classification, 2P
[edit] Build details
[edit] 1898 to 1899
The first 8 locomotives were of the Small Ben type and were built by Dübs and Company of Glasgow in the period 1898 to 99. They were
LMS Number
1 Ben-y-Gloe 14397
2 Ben Alder 14398
3 Ben Wyvis 14399
4 Ben More 14400
5 Ben Vrackie 14401
6 Ben Armin 14402
7 Ben Attow 14403
8 Ben Clebrig 14404
There are rumours that No 1 was originally named Ben Nevis, an action that attracted the ire of the board as it was in the territory of a competitor ( The North British Railway).
[edit] 1899 to 1900
The railway built another nine during 1899-1900 at their Lochgorm works, a somewhat unusual procedure.
9 Ben Rinnes
10 Ben Slioch
11 Ben Macdhui
12 Ben Hope
13 Ben Alisky
14 Ben Dearg
15 Ben Loyal 14411
16 Ben Avon 14412
17 Ben Alligan
[edit] 1906
Finally three more were built by the North British Locomotive Company of Glasgow in 1906
38 Ben Udlaman 14414
41 Ben Bhach Ard 14415
47 Ben-a-Bhuird
[edit] 1908
In 1908 a larger version appeared, initially four examples. The order of numbering does not correspond to the order of delivery.
61 Ben na Caillich
63 Ben Mheadhoin
66 Ben Mholach
68 Ben a'Chait
[edit] 1909
And in 1909
60 Ben Breac Mhor
62 Ben a'Chaoruinn
[edit] Grouping and Nationalisation
It is assumed that all these locomotives survived to be taken over by the LMS at the Grouping in 1923, but this is subject to confirmation.
Of the 20 Small Bens and 6 Large Bens, only 11 survived to be nationalised in 1948, all of the Small variety. Three were scrapped during 1948, leaving these eight:
- 54397 Ben-y-Gloe
- 54398 Ben Alder
- 54399 Ben Wyvis
- 54401 Ben Vrackie
- 54403 Ben Attow
- 54404 Ben Clebrig
- 54409 Ben Alisky
- 54410 Ben Dearg
[edit] Preservation
None preserved. It was hoped that British Railways no. 54398 Ben Alder would be preserved but, sadly, it was cut up in 1965.
[edit] Sources
- Ian Allan ABC of British Railways Locomotives, 1948 edition, part 3, page 44
