Highland Railway Yankee Tanks
The Highland Railway P class was a group of five 4-4-0 tank steam locomotives built in 1891 and 1893 by Dübs and Company of Glasgow.
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History
In 1891 Dübs and Company of Glasgow completed two 4-4-0 side tank locomotives. They were part of an order for five for the Uruguay Eastern Railway, but due to financial problems the order was cancelled and the engines were offered for sale.
The locomotives were purchased by the Highland Railway in 1892, where they were numbered 101 and 102. Although their cowcatchers and large headlights were removed before entering service, they retained a somewhat American appearance quite unlike other HR designs of the period, lacking the classic Allan framing and sweep of plating from the widest part of the smokebox to the cylinders. Perhaps inevitably, they were nicknamed Yankees, although the official designation from 1901 was 'P' Class.
Three further locomotives were delivered by Dübs in 1893, possibly comprising the balance of the Uruguay order. These had standard Highland Railway fittings but were otherwise identical to the first two. They were originally numbered 11, 14 and 15, but were renumbered 51, 50 and 52 in 1899–1900, and 50 was again renumbered to 54 in 1901.
Dimensions
The locomotives had 5-foot-3-inch (1,600 mm) driving wheels and 16-by-22-inch (406 mm × 559 mm) outside cylinders. Boiler pressure was 140 pounds-force per square inch (970 kPa) and weight in working order was 41 long tons 12 cwt (93,200 lb or 42.3 t).
Use
They were used on branch line services, including those to Burghead, Fortrose, Portessie and Aberfeldy. One (no. 52) was used on the Invergarry and Fort Augustus Railway while that line was leased to the Highland.
Transfer to LMS
In 1923 they passed to the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) and became LMS 15013–15017. They were withdrawn between 1924 and 1934.
Numbering
| HR No. | Date new | LMS No. | Withdrawn | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | September 1892 | 15013 | 1934 | |
| 102 | September 1892 | 15014 | 1934 | Named Munlochy in 1910; name later removed |
| 11 | November 1893 | 15015 | 1924 | Renumbered 51 in 1899, 51A in 1919, 51B in 1919. Withdrawn before LMS number applied |
| 14 | November 1893 | 15017 | 1924 | Named Portessie in 1901; name later removed. Renumbered 50 in 1900, 54 in 1901, 54B in 1921. |
| 15 | November 1893 | 15016 | 1927 | Named Fortrose in 1901; name later removed. Renumbered 52 in 1900, 52A in 1919, 52B in 1921. |
References
- 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. 195–196.
- Casserley, H. C. & Johnston, Stuart W. (1974) [1966]. Locomotives at the Grouping 3: London, Midland and Scottish Railway. Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allan. p. 154. ISBN 0-7110-0554-0.
- Vallance, H.A. (1938). The Highland Railway.