Highland Railway Ben Class

Highland Railway C class ‘Small Ben’
Power type	Steam
Builder	Dübs & Co. (8) HR Lochgorm Works (9) North British Locomotive Co. (3)
Build date	1898–1906
Total produced	20
Configuration	4-4-0
UIC classification	2′Bn
Gauge	4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in (1,435 mm)
Leading wheel diameter	42 in (1.067 m)
Driver diameter	72 in (1.829 m)
Locomotive weight	46 tons 17 cwt (104,900 lb or 47.6 t)
Boiler pressure	175 lbf/in² (1.21 MPa)
Firegrate 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	18+¹⁄₄ × 26 in (464 × 660 mm)
Valve gear	Stephenson
Tractive effort	17,890 lbf (79.6 kN)
Career	HR » LMS » BR
Class	HR: C
Power class	LMS/BR: 2P
Retired	1931–1953
Disposition	All scrapped

Highland Railway U class ‘Large Ben’
Power type	Steam
Builder	North British Locomotive Company
Build date	1908–1909
Total produced	6
Locomotive weight	52.30 long tons (53.14 t)
Boiler pressure	180 psi (1.24 MPa)
Firegrate 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'.

1 Introduction
2 Build details
3 Grouping and Nationalisation
4 Notes
5 Sources
6 External links

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.

Build details

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HR No.	Name	Maufacturer	Built	Withdrawn	LMS No.	BR No.
1	Ben-y-Gloe	Dübs & Co. 3685	1898	1949	14397	54397
2	Ben Alder	Dübs & Co. 3686	1898	1953	14398	54398
3	Ben Wyvis	Dübs & Co. 3687	1898	1952	14399	54399
4	Ben More	Dübs & Co. 3688	1899	1946	14400	—
5	Ben Vrackie	Dübs & Co. 3689	1899	1948	14401	54401
6	Ben Armin	Dübs & Co. 3690	1899	1939	14402	—
7	Ben Attow	Dübs & Co. 3691	1899	1949	14403	54403
8	Ben Clebrig	Dübs & Co. 3692	1899	1950	14404	54404

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).

Second batch

The Highland Railway built another nine during 1899–1900 at their own Lochgorm works:

HR No.	Name	LMS No.	BR No.
9	Ben Rinnes	14405
10	Ben Slioch	14406
11	Ben Macdhui	14407
12	Ben Hope	14408
13	Ben Alisky	14409	54409
14	Ben Dearg	14410	54410
15	Ben Loyal	14411
16	Ben Avon	14412
17	Ben Alligan	14413

Third batch

Finally, three more were built by the North British Locomotive Company of Glasgow in 1906.

HR No.	Name	LMS No.	BR No.
38	Ben Udlaman	14414
41	Ben Bhach Ard	14415	54415
47	Ben-a-Bhuird	14416	54416

Large Bens

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 later Ben na Caillach	18269	1908	1936	14417	—
63	Ben Mheadhoin	18270	1908	1932	14418	—
66	Ben Mholach	18271	1908	1935	14419	—	Renumbered 64 in 1909
68	Ben a'Chait	18272	1908	1934	14420	—	Renumbered 65 in 1909
60	Ben Breac Mhor later Ben Bhreac 'Mhor	18803	1909	1932	14421	—
62	Ben a'Chaoruinn later Ben Achaoruinn then Ben a'Chaoruinn	18804	1909	1937	14422	—

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.

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 in 1967; and so, none were preserved.^[1] However, the possibility of building a new HR Ben Class steam locomotive for Scottish Railway Preservation has been raised.

Notes

^ Cormack & Stevenson 1990, pp. 24–25

Sources

Ian Allan ABC of British Railways Locomotives, 1948 edition part 3, page 44
Cormack, J.R.H.; Stevenson, J.L. (1990). Greenwood, William. ed. Highland Railway Locomotives Book 2: The Drummond, Smith & Cumming Classes. Locomotives of the LMS. Lincoln: RCTS. ISBN 0 901115 72 X.
Hugh Longworth (2005) British Railways Steam Locomotives 1948-1968)
H.A. Vallance (1938) The Highland Railway

External links

Rail UK database no. 54398

Highland Railway locomotives

W. Barclay (1855–1865)	Barclay classes

W. Stroudley (1865–1869)	0-6-0ST

D. Jones (1870–1896)	F 2-4-0 O L ('Skye Bogies') E 0-4-4ST Strath P Jones Goods Loch

P. Drummond (1896–1912)	C (Ben) K ('Barneys') A (Castle) V W U (New Ben) X

F. G. Smith (1912–1915)	River

C. Cumming (1915–1922)	4-4-0 Clan Clan Goods

Miscellaneous	Dunrobin (I) Dunrobin (II) Ex-Findhorn Railway 0-4-0ST