Dowlais Ironworks Locomotives

[Osgood]

Thought this link might be of interest to anyone not yet familiar with it:

 

http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/Dowlais_Works_locomotives.htm

 

A total of 90 locomotives worked at Dowlais over the years - some to quite peculiar designs.

I suspect Hornby might even have based their early clockwork tank engines on this one     (image from Alan George's site above):

 

 

Edited April 5, 2016 by Osgood

[Osgood]

Another photo and brief note on a page from the IRS archives goes some way to explaining the appearance of the locomotive, which was built at Dowlais in 1907:

 

http://www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/25/picture_parade_25.htm

[Nick Holliday]

Surely this one was the basis for the more modern Hornby OO starter loco? Anyone know how accurate it is?

[Sir Hadyn]

I've never measured it up against the drawing, but I do recall it's not far off being right

[br2975]

Scale drawings of these locos by T.L.Jones were published in either the MRN or MRC in the early 1950s.

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I have copies in my collection.

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The Dowlais Works stocklist on the Alan George website linked above appears to be an abrdiged version of a more detailed (valuation) and interesting document published many years ago in The Glamorgan Historian (IIRC) which outlined the use/duties of each individual loco together with their cost or value.

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Brian R

Edited April 13, 2016 by br2975

[br2975]

I've now found the relevant plans.

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Which were published in the Model Railway Constructor.

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The wheelbase of these locos was 7'6"

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Front and rear overhangs (buffer plank face to wheel centres) was 6'0" front and rear, giving 6'0"  +  7'6"  +  6'0"

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Coupled wheels were 3'6" dia.

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Brian R

[Ruston]

I found this photo elsewhere here on RMweb and it reminded me of this topic.

 

Has anyone measured on of these up to compare with the dimensions given by Brian? It would need a lot of work to make it look and run like anything worth having. New frames, wheels, rods, brake gear, gearbox/motor, all the handrails cutting off and replacing with brass versions and some scratchbuilt front and cab steps, replacment buffers etc. etc... Not much, really.

 

Railway Bylines Annual Number 2 has an article, with pictures, of these and other Dowlais locos.

Edited October 10, 2017 by Ruston

[Osgood]

Without knowledge of these Dowlais engines one might be forgiven for concluding this was a very amateurish freelance model - but (and accepting Dave's observations above) in fact it appears to be surprisingly faithful to the original design!

[Corbs]

It was the first loco I ever got (still have it somewhere), mine was red and actually named 'Queen Mary'.

Edited October 14, 2017 by Corbs

[Tiptonian]

I've now found the relevant plans.

.

Which were published in the Model Railway Constructor.

.

The wheelbase of these locos was 7'6"

.

Front and rear overhangs (buffer plank face to wheel centres) was 6'0" front and rear, giving 6'0"  +  7'6"  +  6'0"

.

Coupled wheels were 3'6" dia.

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Brian R

 

If you still have access to these plans, could you please tell us in which edition(s) of Model Railway Constructor they were published?

[sir douglas]

2 loco photos ivge got for Dowlais

 

Beyer Peacock 3932  of 1880

 

Neilson - unknown

[Corbs]

Whilst not a Dowlais loco, here's another inside cylinder 0-4-0 from the Millom Hematite Ore and Iron Co.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/12a_kingmoor_klickr/5878389218/in/album-72157626654796031/

[br2975]

Another of the Dowlais 0-4-OT locos.

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Brian R

[Caledonian]

Go on then, any notion of the livery?

[petethemole]

Green with yellow/black lining, IIRC. I found a reference to it several years ago when I was curious about the prototype for the Hornby loco, but don't remember where. Hornby did a batch of KGV in the green livery; I got one off EBay. I am unable to vouch for the accuracy of the shade of green.

[br2975]

Seeing as how the works was served by (amongst others) the Rhymney Railway / Great Western Railway 'Taff Bargoed Joint Railway', perhaps one of their shades of green ?

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Brian R

[petethemole]

I think this was my source: http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/Dowlais_Works_locomotives.htm

[Corbs]

'Sandyford' is interesting. Similar design but enlarged to an 0-6-0T. Looks better proportioned to me.

 

[Tiptonian]

Thanks to everyone for their replies. I find the Ifor built locos quite fascinating.

[Killian keane]

Heres no. 3 Mountaineer

A open modelling challenge for anybody determined enough to make those beautiful wheels

Edited October 15, 2017 by Killian keane

[The Johnster]

Some of the early locos that ran on the system, in addition to the various Dowlais ones from Neath Abbey works, included those owned by the Penydarren and Cyfarthfa works and some very odd beasts.  A low tunnel necessitated hinged removable chimneys for some of them, and Hirwaun Iron Works supplied some articulated beasts dating back into the 1820s hauled by horse and waggon over the mountain between, which sounds like a heroic undertaking; there were a few from Robert Stephenson as well.  The original Trevithick Penydarren locomotive was not a great success, indeed it's main purpose had been to prove that a steam locomotive could haul 25 tons of iron in 'drams' to Abercynon Basin to satisfy a bet between Samual Homphray and Richard Crawshay (£5), but the engine part served for some years as a mobile engine capable of being moved around the system on a set of wheels, to drive machinery via belt drive rather than as a locomotive.

 

This is a whole subject worthy of both a book and a museum standard layout if anyone is up for the challenge; just don't look at me!

Edited October 15, 2017 by The Johnster

[Killian keane]

Unless I am very much mistaken this site seems to produce kits for a couple of these, does anybody know how legit they are?

http://www.robprestonlocomotives.co.uk/models.php

[Regularity]

Limited edition hand made live steam: Scale is listed as 1:11.3, so I presume this is 5” gauge?

[Andy Kirkham]

I see from this list http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/Dowlais_Works_Locomotives_List.htm that the final three locomotives were Hudswell, Clarke diesels numbered 1, 2 and 3.

 

I don't suppose anybody knows which of those three this one is:

 

OCT 74B Shunter emerging from the Ivor Works, Dowlais, September 1974 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr

 

That guy stepping down from the cab is rather inconsiderately obscuring the number.

[Ruston]

2 loco photos ivge got for Dowlais

 

Beyer Peacock 3932  of 1880

 

Neilson - unknown

neilson - dowlais iron.jpg

The Beyer Peacock looks very similar to The Dowlais Peckett Magpie (w/n 429 of 1883) The Peckett was the only one of its class built, so I wonder if Dowlais ordered it to be specially built as a copy of the Beyer Peacock design? There is a photo of Magpie in the Peckett book, by Andrew Smith and published by the IRS and the two look almost identical, except for the positions of the dome and tank filler being reversed and Magpie having a taller chimney.