Highland Railway Ben Class

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Highland Railway Small Ben

Power type	Steam
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

Highland Railway Large Ben

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'.

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Build details 2.1 First batch 2.2 Second batch 2.3 Third batch 2.4 Large Bens 3 Grouping and Nationalisation 4 Preservation 5 Sources 6 External links

[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.
1	Ben-y-Gloe	14397	54397
2	Ben Alder	14398	54398
3	Ben Wyvis	14399	54399
4	Ben More	14400
5	Ben Vrackie	14401	54401
6	Ben Armin	14402
7	Ben Attow	14403	54403
8	Ben Clebrig	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).

[edit] 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

[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.
38	Ben Udlaman	14414
41	Ben Bhach Ard	14415	54415
47	Ben-a-Bhuird	14416	54416

[edit] Large Bens

In 1908 a larger version appeared, initially four examples from North British Locomotive:

HR No.	Name	LMS No.	BR No.	Notes
61	Ben na Caillich later Ben na Caillach	14417
63	Ben Mheadhoin	14418
66	Ben Mholach	14419		Renumbered 64 in 1909
68	Ben a'Chait	14420		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
60	Ben Breac Mhor later Ben Bhreac 'Mhor	14421
62	Ben a'Chaoruinn later Ben Achaoruinn then Ben a'Chaoruinn	14422

[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

• Rail UK database no. 54398

v • d • e 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 (1925–1912) River C. Cumming (1915–1922) 4-4-0 • Clan • Clan Goods Miscellaneous ex-Duke of Sutherland 2-4-0T • Ex-Findhorn Railway 0-4-0ST