Fletcher-Jennings Steam Locomotives

[hartleymartin]

Is there much known about the 240-something locomotives produced by Fletcher Jennings? I am aware of only four surviving prototypes:

1.) Talyllyn - 2'3" 0-4-2
2.) Dolgoch - 2'3" 0-4-0
3.) Townsend Hook - 3'2-1/4" 0-4-0
4.) Captain Baxter - SG 0-4-0

There is a certain "family resemblence" between Townsend Hook and Captain Baxter. I'd like to know more about other locomotives surviving or otherwise.

[John_Miles]

They made some of the locomotives on the Severn & Wye Railway in the Forest of Dean. From memory they were mostly outside cylinder 0-6-0Ts which made them look rather front heavy.

[EddieB]

A potted history is that manufacturing of locomotives started in 1840 under the name of Tulk and Ley.  Fletcher Jennings & Co. took over in 1857, becoming Lowca Engine Works in 1884 and New Lowca Engine Works in 1905.  Locomotive production declined, with only nine locomotives built after the last change of name before the factory was gutted by fire in 1912 and production ceased.  The firm was wound up in 1927 and it appears the records were destroyed.  A fuller (still brief) account is given in "British Steam Locomotove Builders" (James Lowe) and various historians have compiled locomotive lists (including one published by David Cole/Union Publications in the 1960s), generally giving a total production figure of 247.

 

A more comprehensive history is given in the book "Steam from Lowca" (Ian Kyle) and there is some information given in "The Crampton Locomotive" (Mike Sharman) concerning the locomotives built under that patent.  I remember an article a couple of years ago in one of the magazines ("Steam Railway", IIRC) regarding some of the surviving locomotives built by the firm.

 

Reading the original post, I was aware of one other survivor and a quick search has turned up a couple more.

 

First comes "STEN STURE" owned by the Museijärnvägen Skara - Lundsbrunn and located in the roundhouse at Skara, Sweden.  Unfortunately this locomtive is best described as a "long-term restoration project" and was in a dismantled state when I arranged to visit in 2006.

 

From the groups website (http://www.sklj.se/avd/maskin/fordon/steem/fuj1.htm) comes an English translation of the loco's history:

 

"This locomotive was manufactured in 1873 by Fletcher and Jennings & Co for the Ulricehamn Wartofta Järnväg (UWJ). It was given the number 1 and the name "Sten Sture", which is the name of an old king. "Sten Sture" also had a sister machine delivered at the same time, which was given the number 2 and the name "Bogesund". Both engines had the 0-6-0 wheel arrangement and had a saddle mounted tank. It weighed in at 14 tons but were still considered to have fairly good tractive effort.

 

"In 1907 both engines were sold to the limestone quarry at Stenåsen. There the "Sten Sture" was substantially rebuilt. The saddle mounted tank was replaced with two side mounted tanks, and the firebox, the tubes and the wheel rims were replaced.

 

"In 1930 the locomotives were transferred to the Falköping-Uddagårdens Järnväg (FUJ). There "Sten Sture" acted as stand-in for sister engine "Bogesund" from 1930 to 1945. It was then used until 1954 when FUJ was nationalised and rebuilt to standard gauge. The company Yxhult/Ytong AB who had owned the FUJ prior to nationalisation decided to preserve "Sten Sture" and transferred it to Yxhult where it was stored indoors from 1959.

 

"In 1982 the "Sten Sture" was moved once again to Skara where it was put on public display in the roundhouse. In 1992 a major overhaul began. Thanks to the storage indoors the locomotive has not rusted away but is in quite good condition. The boiler however needs a lot of attention and the wheel rims are completely worn out, both due to hard use during the last active years.

 

"The restoration process ground to a halt when more urgent project had to be delt with. But in the near future it is intended that the overhaul will be resumed. The biggest problem to overcome in terms of economy will be the cost to replace the wheel rims. A set of six wheel rims has to be manufactured. Any help with this problem will be greatly appreciated."

 

There appear to be two further locomotives still surviving in Mauritius, as described here: http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/trains/mauritius02.htm

 

Edit: A third locomotive in Mauritius is reported towards the foot of this page: http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/trains/mauritius01.htm

 

Edit2: Another loco "WILLIAM FINLAY" - a sister (brother?) to "TOWNSEND HOOK" survives in the UK at a "secret" private location.  I think that makes nine in all!

Edited April 29, 2015 by EddieB

[Andy Kirkham]

Talyllyn (which of course was built as an 0-4-0ST) was an example of a Fletcher Jennings standard type several of which had been supplied to Ironworks in South Wales.

 

J.I.C. Boyd in his book on the Talyllyn, says that the Fletcher Jenning order book was loaned to him in the 1940s and that the surviving pages began at works No.21 of 1858

 

Locomotives of the Talyllyn design (although of various gauges) were supplied to:

 

Aberdare Iron Company : 28 and 35; two more were ordered but the Iron Company failed and they were sold elsewhere

John Brogden, Bridgend: 33 and 69

Plymouth Iron Co., Aberdare: 38 and 39

[long island jack]

 

#3 still going strong,seen at Shildon

 

Ray

Edited April 29, 2015 by long island jack

[Branwell]

One hour program on Radio Cumbria "Lowca's Legacy" - available for the next 29 days.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04kmml5

[Osgood]

And another std gauge one here:

 

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/130924-cafferata-gypsum-mine-newark-on-trent/

 

Can anyone provide more info on this locomotive from the IRS handbooks?  Hawton Gypsum Mine, Newark