0415 Tank Engines with Drummond Boiler

[Peter Bedding]

If I have read the various history record books correctly, the three 0415 tank locos that eventually worked the Lyme Regis branch were obliged to take their turn sharing the surviving boilers)

 

(May 6th. Self edit. Delete false information on Drummond Boilers. My mistake).

 

Attempting to research the prototype practice during the pre-nationalisation Era 3, I referred to Google Images for information. Photos on line show the Drummond boiler on each of the three locos, one clad in Maunsell Green, and the other two when clad in Bulleid black . 

 

I guess that result was predictable, but I am curious to know how Hornby and Oxford Rail have decided. Is there a Forum reader able to divulge this advance intelligence?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

PB

[phil-b259]

If I have read the various history record books correctly, the three 0415 tank locos that eventually worked the Lyme Regis branch were obliged to take their turn sharing the unpopular single sole-surviving Drummond boiler, because of a shortage of Adams boilers.

 

Attempting to research the prototype practice during the pre-nationalisation Era 3, I referred to Google Images for information. Photos on line show the Drummond boiler on each of the three locos, one clad in Maunsell Green, and the other two when clad in Bulleid black . 

 

I guess that result was predictable, but I am curious to know how Hornby and Oxford Rail have decided. Is there a Forum reader able to divulge this advance intelligence?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

PB

IIRC the two Radial tanks the Southern railway retained in the 20s and 30s had Drummond boilers fitted. The 3rd one was sold to the East Kent Railway with its original Adams boiler and it was still varying this when the SR repurchased it after WW2. I was led to believe that one of the key reasons the Bluebell selected the same loco was precisely because of its Adams boiler, the current condition of which is why it hasn't been overhauled in around 25 years (basically a new one is required).

 

Whether during BR service the Adams boiler found its way onto the other two radials at some stage is not something I can comment on, other than to say it wouldn't have been unusually - though with such a small class the chances of two out of the three being in the works was much less than might be the case with other classes.

[Peter Bedding]

IIRC the two Radial tanks the Southern railway retained in the 20s and 30s had Drummond boilers fitted. The 3rd one was sold to the East Kent Railway with its original Adams boiler and it was still varying this when the SR repurchased it after WW2. I was led to believe that one of the key reasons the Bluebell selected the same loco was precisely because of its Adams boiler, the current condition of which is why it hasn't been overhauled in around 25 years (basically a new one is required).

 

Whether during BR service the Adams boiler found its way onto the other two radials at some stage is not something I can comment on, other than to say it wouldn't have been unusually - though with such a small class the chances of two out of the three being in the works was much less than might be the case with other classes.

 

Many thanks Phil for correcting my own poor memory. This morning - by reference to Bradley - I did the extra research that I should have done first. Although I am still curious to know whether Hornby and Oxford will include the two boiler options with the appropriate era model.