Cambrian Railways Numbers

[Quarryscapes]

Oh how this is a confusing subject! 

 

Firstly Works numbers. This should be relatively easy. I need all of them!

 

Secondly, and much less easy, I need to know the style of numberplate, and there were several. 

 

Early locomotives carried a rectangular plate, I'm Ok for these. Ex Mid Wales locos carried a cast plate, I'm ok with these. But later on 3 distinct numbering systems were in use. 

 

There are 3 options: Oval 'Cambrian Railways' with number; Oval 'Cambrian Railways Oswestry Works Rebuilt' with number and rebuilt date and finally cast numerals. 

 

Here is what I have so far: 

 

With cast numerals only:

 

2, 8, 11, 19, 22, 24, 25, 26, 34, 36, 44, 56, 58

 

With Cambrian Railways oval:

 

5, 7, 79, 83, 91, 94, 101

 

With Rebuilt oval:

 

4, 14, 15, 28, 29, 34, 42, 43, 48, 55, 56, 59, 65

 

Notice there are duplicated numbers! The Cambrian renumbered a bewildering amount of times! 

 

So can anyone point me in the direction of photographic evidence of which plate was carried by any locomotive not covered above? 

[ChrisN]

Hi,

What photographic evidence/ books have you got?  That way I would know if I was able to help at all.

[Quarryscapes]

I have:

 

Cambrian Railways Album 1+2,, Russell's Absorbed locos, The Wrexham & Ellesmere Railway, The Tanat Valley Railway (both books of the same name), Great Western Way and the Oakwood Mawddwy, etc book.  

[The Stationmaster]

Part Ten of the RCTS history lists virtually all the builders' numbers for the entire Cambrian fleet taken into GWR stock and, I think, the earlier classes as well.

[ChrisN]

Not sure if this is the same book/text but British Pre-Grouping Railways, part 14D lists most of the works numbers as well.

 

I have Kinder, Christenson and Miller and Christenson so I will look through and see what I can find.  I also have 'A New History...' but I am not sure that it as any new photos in it.

[corneliuslundie]

Have you put this query on the HMRS or WRRC websites?

[Quarryscapes]

Have now acquired Peter Johnson's book, all the works numbers are in there. Plenty of photos I haven't seen before too, though not many of those are from the period where the oval plates were fitted. I will have to examine and go through my notes. Sadly not many of the photos are dated, and the well known photo of Sharp Stewart 0-6-0 on a passenger train at Llanymynech is labelled as being Jones Goods No. 15, which of course it isn't. 

[ChrisN]

Hi,

Although it is not photographic evidence, Christensen and Millar Vol II in their chapter on Locomotives and rolling stock has descriptions of what plates were added and when.