Bagnall fireless locomotives (preserved)

Six Bagnall fireless locomotives have been preserved in Great Britain. This is a surprisingly large number since W. G. Bagnall of Stafford, England, built only 14 fireless locomotives in total.

Brief histories of the preserved locomotives are given in this article and they are listed by works number. All are standard gauge 0-4-0s except where otherwise stated.

2216

This unusual RailGauge|2ft6in gauge 2-4-0, named "Unique", is the first fireless locomotive built by Bagnall. It was ordered by Edward Lloyd Ltd in February 1923 and delivered to their paper mills at Sittingbourne, Kent in February 1924.

It is now preserved on the Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway which is part of the former Lloyd's system.

2370

Number 2370 [http://www.53a-pix.co.uk/picture/WB2370-1928-HU-Unknown.jpg] is a 0-6-0 ordered in December 1928 by the Distillers Company Limited and delivered to their Salt End Works, Kingston upon Hull, in May 1929. After working at Proctor & Gamble, soap manufacturers, at West Thurrock, Essex, it moved in late 1979 to the North Norfolk Railway, where it went on static display at Sheringham railway station (North Norfolk Railway) for a number of years before moving (circa 2004) to a private site at Holt Farm, Broughton Astley, Leicestershire. In September 2008, it moved four miles to Blaby, Leicestershire, where it is plinthed in a field alongside the Leicester-Birmingham railway line and is being used to publicise a campaign to re-open Blaby railway station [http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/train-want-station/article-336936-detail/article.html] .

2473

Ordered in May 1932 by Huntley & Palmers, biscuit manufacturers, of Reading, Berkshire. It was delivered later in 1932 and named "Huntley & Palmers No.1". A second locomotive "Huntley & Palmers No.2" (works no. 2474) was ordered and delivered in the same year.

The factory's railway system closed in 1969 and No.2 was scrapped in March 1970. No.1 was sold in May 1970 to the Great Western Society and moved to Didcot Railway Centre. It was later sold to a private owner and moved to the West Somerset Railway.

In 2003, Jane Griffiths (who was Member of Parliament for Reading East at the time) discovered the locomotive and mounted a campaign to return it to Reading. The locomotive was moved to the Cholsey and Wallingford Railway where it remains (August 2008). The campaign has been taken up by Kenavon Railway Society [ [http://www.kenavon.org.uk Kenavon Railway Society ] ] which is continuing the effort to bring the locomotive to Reading.

2898

Ordered in January 1947 by Paton & Baldwins, wool spinners, and delivered to their new factory in Darlington in 1948. It was overhauled by Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns in the late 1950s.

It is now preserved at Darlington Railway Centre and Museum.

3019

This is a 0-6-0 ordered in September 1949 by Shell Refining and Marketing Co. Ltd. It was delivered in May 1952 to Trimpell Ltd. (a subsidiary company) of Heysham, Lancashire and numbered 5. This locomotive is notable in being designed for the unusually high reservoir pressure of 300 psi (21 bar).

It was sold in November 1970 to Lakeside Railway Estates Co. Ltd. and put in their museum in the former British Railways motive power depot at Carnforth. It was later moved to Shropshire

The exact location is Worksop Notts K & J Bownes & Sons depot and it is currently in the process of being restored by Wayne Bownes (Single Handed) The restoration started in 2006/2007.

3121

This is the last fireless locomotive built by Bagnall. It was ordered in December 1955 by English Clays Lovering Pochin Co. Ltd. and delivered in May 1957 to their Marsh Mills Drying Works, Plympton, Devon.

It is now in the care of the Cornish Steam Locomotive Preservation Society [ [http://www.bodminandwenfordrailway.co.uk/steamlocos/Fireless.html CSLPS Fireless ] ] and stored at the Bodmin and Wenford Railway.

ee also

* List of fireless steam locomotives preserved in Britain

References

ources

* Baker, A. and Civil, A. "Fireless Locomotives", Oakwood Press, 1976, ISBN 0 85361 193 9