Highland Railway Ben Class

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'.

Highland Railway C and U classes
'Small Ben' and 'Large Ben'
No. 14416 Ben a’Bhuird, at Inverness Locomotive Depot 22 August 1948, shortly prior to withdrawal.
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerPeter Drummond
Builder
Serial number
  • Dübs: 3686–3692 (small)
  • NBL: 17398–17400 (small), 18269–18272 (large), 18803–18804 (large)
Build date
  • 1898–1906 (small)
  • 1908–1909 (large)
Total produced
  • 20 small
  • 6 large
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte4-4-0
 • UIC2′Bn
Gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Leading dia.3 ft 6 in (1.067 m)
Driver dia.6 ft 0 in (1.829 m)
Loco weight
  • 46 long tons 17 cwt (104,900 lb or 47.6 t) (small)
  • 52.30 long tons (53.14 t) (large)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area
  • 20.5 sq ft (1.90 m2) (small)
  • 20.25 sq ft (1.881 m2) (large)
Boiler
  • 4 ft 6 1⁄4 in (1.38 m) diameter (small)
  • 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) diameter (large)
Boiler pressure
  • 175 lbf/in2 (1.21 MPa) (small)
  • 180 psi (1.24 MPa) (large)
Heating surface:
 • Tubes
  • 1,061 sq ft (98.6 m2) (small)
  • 1,516 sq ft (140.8 m2) (large)
 • Firebox
  • 117 sq ft (10.9 m2) (small)
  • 132 sq ft (12.3 m2) (large)
CylindersTwo, inside
Cylinder size
  • 18 1⁄4 in × 26 in (464 mm × 660 mm) (small)
  • 18 in × 26 in (457 mm × 660 mm) (large)
Valve gearStephenson
Performance figures
Tractive effort17,890 lbf (79.6 kN)
Career
OperatorsHR → LMS → BR
ClassHR:
  • C (small)
  • U (large)
Power classLMS/BR: 2P
Withdrawn
  • 1931–1953 (small)
  • 1932–1937 (large)
DispositionAll original locomotives scrapped, one replica in planning

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
No. 14401 'Ben Vrackie' at Dingwall, 25 August 1948.

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.NameManufacturerBuiltWithdrawnLMS No.BR No.Notes
1Ben-y-GloeDübs & Co. 3685July 1898February 19491439754397Renamed Ben Y’Gloe in 1939. Withdrawn before BR number applied
2Ben AlderDübs & Co. 3686July 1898February 19531439854398Set aside for preservation, but scrapped in 1967
3Ben WyvisDübs & Co. 3687July 1898May 19521439954399
4Ben MoreDübs & Co. 3688February 1899October 194614400—
5Ben VrackieDübs & Co. 3689February 1899October 19481440154401Withdrawn before BR number applied
6Ben ArminDübs & Co. 3690February 1899December 193914402—
7Ben AttowDübs & Co. 3691February 1899February 19491440354403Withdrawn before BR number applied
8Ben ClebrigDübs & Co. 3692February 1899October 19501440454404

No. 1 was originally named Ben Nevis for its works portrait, an action that attracted the ire of the board as it was in the territory of a competitor (the North British Railway). It was renamed before entering service.[1]

Second batch

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

HR No.NameBuiltWithdrawnLMS No.BR No.Notes
9Ben RinnesJuly 1899September 194414405—
10Ben SliochAugust 1899July 194714406—
11Ben MacdhuiNovember 1899December 193114407—
12Ben HopeApril 1900July 194714408
13Ben AliskyJune 1900April 19501440954409Withdrawn before BR number applied
14Ben DeargAugust 1900December 19491441054410Withdrawn before BR number applied
15Ben LoyalFebruary 1900October 193614411—
16Ben AvonFebruary 1901April 194714412—
17Ben AlliganFebruary 1901December 193314413—

Third batch

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

HR No.NameNBL SerialBuiltWithdrawnLMS No.BR No.Notes
38Ben Udlaman17398April 1906December 193314414—
41Ben Bhach Ard17399July 1906May 19481441554415Withdrawn before BR number applied
47Ben a'Bhuird17400July 1906September 19481441654416Withdrawn before BR number applied

Large Bens

In 1908 a larger version appeared, initially four examples from North British Locomotive, with two more the following year

HR No.NameNBL serialBuiltWithdrawnLMS No.BR No.Notes
61Ben na Caillich18269May 1908May 193614417—Renamed Ben na Caillach in 1926
63Ben Mheadhoin18270May 1908December 193214418—
66Ben Mholach18271May 1908October 193514419—Renumbered 64 in 1909
68Ben a'Chait18272May 1908April 193414420—Renumbered 65 in 1909
60Ben Breac Mhor18803May 1909October 193214421—Renamed Ben Bhreac 'Mhor in 1924
62Ben a'Chaoruinn18804May 1909March 193714422—Renamed Ben Achaoruinn in 1926, then Ben a'Chaoruinn at unknown date

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.

Preservation attempts and revival

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.[2] However, a charitable organisation has been formed with the aim of building a working replica of 54398 Ben Alder. [3]

References
  1. Baxter 1984, pp. 197–198.
  2. Cormack & Stevenson 1990, pp. 24–25
  3. "Newbuild Ben Alder rebuilding Scotlands lost locomotive". New build Ben Alder. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  • ABC of British Railways Locomotives, part 3 (1948 ed.). Ian Allan. p. 44.
  • Baxter, Bertram (1984). Baxter, David (ed.). British Locomotive Catalogue 1825–1923, Volume 4: Scottish and remaining English Companies in the LMS Group. Ashbourne, Derbyshire: Moorland Publishing Company. pp. 197–199.
  • 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Longworth, Hugh (2005). British Railways Steam Locomotives 1948-1968.
  • Vallance, H.A. (1938). The Highland Railway.
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