Highland Railway Ben Class
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| Power type | Steam |
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| Builder | Dübs & Co. (8) HR Lochgorm Works (12) |
| Build date | 1898–1906 |
| Configuration | 4-4-0 |
| UIC classification | 2'Bn |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm) |
| Leading wheel size | 42 in (1.067 m) |
| Driver size | 72 in (1.829 m) |
| Locomotive weight | 46.85 long tons (47.60 t) |
| Boiler pressure | 175 psi (1.21 MPa) |
| Fire grate area | 20.5 sq ft (1.90 m²) |
| Heating surface: Tubes | 1,061 sq ft (98.6 m²) |
| Heating surface: Firebox | 117 sq ft (10.9 m²) |
| Cylinders | Two, inside |
| Cylinder size | 18¼×26 in (464×660 mm) |
| Valve gear | Stephenson |
| Tractive effort | 17,890 lbf (79.6 kN) |
| Career | HR, LMS, BR |
| Class | HR: C LMS: 2P |
| Retired | 1931–1953 |
| Disposition | All scrapped |
| Power type | Steam |
|---|---|
| Builder | North British Locomotive Company |
| Build date | 1908–1909 |
| Locomotive weight | 52.30 LT (53.14 t) |
| Boiler pressure | 180 psi (1.24 MPa) |
| Fire grate area | 20.25 sq ft (1.881 m²) |
| Heating surface: Tubes | 1,516 sq ft (140.8 m²) |
| Heating surface: Firebox | 132 sq ft (12.3 m²) |
| Class | HR: U |
| Retired | 1932–1937 |
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'.
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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 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.
[edit] Build details
[edit] First batch
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 | LMS No. | BR No. |
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Ben-y-Gloe |
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Ben Alder |
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Ben Wyvis |
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Ben More |
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Ben Vrackie |
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Ben Armin |
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Ben Attow |
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Ben Clebrig |
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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] Second batch
The Highland Railway built another nine during 1899-1900 at their own Lochgorm works:
| HR No. | Name | LMS No. | BR No. |
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Ben Rinnes |
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Ben Slioch |
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Ben Macdhui |
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Ben Hope |
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Ben Alisky |
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Ben Dearg |
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Ben Loyal |
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Ben Avon |
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Ben Alligan |
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[edit] Third batch
Finally, three more were built by the North British Locomotive Company of Glasgow in 1906.
| HR No. | Name | LMS No. | BR No. |
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Ben Udlaman |
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Ben Bhach Ard |
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Ben-a-Bhuird |
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[edit] Large Bens
In 1908 a larger version appeared, initially four examples from North British Locomotive:
| HR No. | Name | LMS No. | BR No. | Notes |
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Ben na Caillich later Ben na Caillach |
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Ben Mheadhoin |
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Ben Mholach |
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Renumbered 64 in 1909 | |
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Ben a'Chait |
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Renumbered 65 in 1909 |
Numbers 66 and 68 were renumbered 64 and 65 in 1909. In that year, two more were built by North British Locomotive:
| HR No. | Name | LMS No. | BR No. | Notes |
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Ben Breac Mhor later Ben Bhreac 'Mhor |
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Ben a'Chaoruinn later Ben Achaoruinn then Ben a'Chaoruinn |
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[edit] Grouping and Nationalisation
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.
[edit] Preservation
None were preserved. Unfortunately the hopes for 54398 came to nothing, and it was eventually cut up in 1966. However, the possibility of building a new HR Ben Class steam locomotive for Scottish Railway Preservation has been raised.
[edit] Sources
- H.A. Vallance (1938) The Highland Railway
- Ian Allan ABC of British Railways Locomotives, 1948 edition part 3, page 44
- Hugh Longworth (2005) British Railways Steam Locomotives 1948-1968)
[edit] External links
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