Douglas (locomotive)

Douglas
Douglas in its Duncan guise.
Power type	steam
Builder	Andrew Barclay & Co. Ltd.
Serial number	1431
Model	E Class
Build date	1918
Total produced	1
Configuration	0-4-0 WT
Gauge	2 ft 3 in (686 mm)
Driver diameter	2 ft 0 in (610 mm)
Trailing wheel diameter	0 ft 0 in (0 mm)
Wheelbase	3 ft 11 in (1.19 m)
Length	15 ft 6 in (4.72 m)
Locomotive weight	9.25 tons 19 cwt (22,800 lb or 10.3 t)
Boiler pressure	160 lbf/in² (1,100 kPa)
Cylinders	Two, outside
Cylinder size	77⁄8 in x 103⁄4 in (181 mm × 305 mm)
Tractive effort	3,290 lb (1.49 kN)

Douglas is a narrow gauge steam locomotive. It was built by Andrew Barclay & Co. Ltd. in 1918. It was originally used by the Air Service Constructional Corps (RAF) then was bought in 1949 by Abelson & Co. (Engineers) Ltd. who then sold it to the Talyllyn Railway in 1953.

History

Douglas spent most of its working life at RAF Calshot near Southampton, and was later bought by an engineering company called Abelson's. In the early days of preservation, the Talyllyn Railway had contacted this and other similar firms, asking for redundant equipment. Abelson's offered the locomotive to the Talyllyn, and in return they named it after the donor, Douglas Abelson.^[1]

Although smaller than the other locomotives on the Talyllyn Railway, it has performed well and was returned to service in 1995, with a new boiler fitted, and turned out in its old Air Ministry Works & Buildings livery.

In recent years Douglas has been painted in standard Talyllyn Railway livery of deep bronze green lined with black borders and yellow lining; however as of 2010 it is painted red, acting as Duncan from the fictional Skarloey Railway.

In fiction

All the steam-operated engines on the Talyllyn Railway (and diesel loco Midlander) appeared many times in The Railway Series books by the Rev. W. Awdry on the Skarloey Railway. Douglas formed the basis for the character Duncan.

References

http://www.talyllyn.co.uk/details/no-6

1. ^ Potter, D. (1990). The Talyllyn Railway. David St John Thomas. p. 199. ISBN 0-946537-50-X.