31/10/1947 |
St. Rollox Works |
The first loco. to be painted here in the new livery was No. 5716, while Nos. 5691 an 5728 have been similarly dealt with; Nos. 5564, 5643 an 5644 were, however, painted the usual black. No. 14454 (concerned in the accident at Perth earlier in the year) entered shops for extensive repairs on 14/10, while No. 17311, following a derailment, has been provided with a new cab and another boiler. Locos. in the dump, awaiting repair are: Nos. 14632 an 17428, both without boilers. No. 14399 arrived on 24/10 for repairs, including a change of boiler, while No. 17694 was despatched on 13/10, having been fitted with the coupling rods ex No. 17703 (withdrawn). No. 16032 (Boiler Class N7, No. 2083) arrived on Works on 30/9, and was despatched to Crewe on 16/10, in two wagons. |
SLS/194712 |
30/06/1949 |
Highland Section |
The few ex H.R.locomotives, now less than twenty, are not nowadays (apart from the 'Barney's' at Corkerhill) often seen south of Inverness or Forres. The one remaining 'Clan,' No. 54767 Clan Mackinnon, and the surviving 'Clan goods' put in most of their time on freight work on the 'Far North' road. Forres has the last 'Loch,' No. 14385, and a small 'Ben,' No. 14410. Another of the latter, No. 14409, does pilot work and odd jobs at Helmsdale, whilst the remaining three, Nos. 14398, 14399 an 54404, are at Wick and Thurso. The two small 0-4-4T's, Nos. 55051 an 55053, have both recently been repainted, with 'British Railways' on the tank sides. These work a week at a time on the Dornoch branch, the 'spare' engine being found at Helmsdale. 'Clan goods' No. 57955 has also been repainted. with 'British Railways' on the tender sides, as also have the 'Barney's,' Nos. 57695 an 57698, but the other renumbered locomotives, Nos. 54404, 54767, 57954 an 57956, are still lettered 'L.M.S.' Local traffic around Inverness is now handled by ex C.R. 4-4-0's, of which Nos. 14439, 54455/63/66/70/71, 14472, 54473/80/81, 14482, 54484, 14487, 54488/91, 14493/95 an 54496 are allocated to Inverness, Forres, Dingwall, etc. No. 54471 was noted at Dingwall, while No. 14472 was working the Black Isle branch train. Dunrobin has been sold, and it is understood to be destined for New Romney, Kent, although for what purpose is not known. |
SLS/194908 |
08/04/1950 |
The last of the ex-H.R. \"Loch\'s\" |
The withdrawal of No. 14385 during W/E 8/4/50, marks the end of the Highland 'Loch' Class, the last of Mr. D. Jones's designs. Fifteen were built in 1896 by Dubs & Co. (H.R. Nos. 119-133); twenty-one years later three more were built (H.R. Nos. 70-72) but these were withdrawn in 1934-36 after a short life compared with the 1896 batch. Some of the original batch were fitted with St. Rollox boilers from 1924 onwards; two of these rebuilds lasted to become British Railways stock, but were not actually renumbered 54379/85. No. 14379 Loch Insh was the first of the class, and was withdrawn in March, 1948, while No. 14385 Loch Tay has had nearly fifty-four years' service. Coupled wheels 6' 3', bogie 3' 3', outside cylinders 19' x 24'. Incidentally, it is interesting to note that three of Drummond's 4-4-0's introduced two years later-'Small Ben' Class Nos. 14398/99 an 54404-still survive, though again the last to be built have been scrapped, while the second and third of the earliest batch still survive. |
SLS/195005 |