The Bigbee Line Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Whilst doing some "On Line Train Spotting" I came across some images of Poplar in 1963. http://www.flickr.com/photos/78089679@N03/8420078914/in/set-72157632623842228 Amongst the images are a couple of B.E.T.No.1, Thanks Tony "Saxicola Torquata" for the images There is an example at the NRM from the North Staffs. Thanks to the NRM for the image http://www.nrm.org.uk/OurCollection/LocomotivesAndRollingStock/CollectionItem.aspx?objid=1978-7004 It looks like a wagon based vehicle, small enough to fit on a wagon turntable. Has anyone modelled such a creature? 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparks Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 The RCTS also has some nice photos from ground level. Drawings were published in Scale Model Trains (I think) some years ago. As you say, the locos were based on standard open wagon parts to replace all the steam shunting locos sent to France in WWI. It should therefore be relatively simple to make one using 4mm scale wagon parts. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 The North Staffordshire one was built to cover shunting duties at Bolton's copper works at Oakamoor on the Churnet Valley line. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJS1977 Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 Heysham Power Station had two battery locos, converted from the overhead locos which used to work at Kearsley. One in each configuration are now at the Electric Railway Museum at Coventry. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Holliday Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 HIgh Level already do a kit for the Lancashire & Yorkshire Battery Loco and they are working on the next one - the NSR one I think - or at least they were at the last Scaleforum. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted March 14, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 14, 2014 The one in the photograph (B.E.L. 1) was used because the tracks it was used on are only accessible via a wagon lift that was limited to about 12 tons. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted March 14, 2014 Author Share Posted March 14, 2014 The one in the photograph (B.E.L. 1) was used because the tracks it was used on are only accessible via a wagon lift that was limited to about 12 tons. Thanks for that gem of information, what can I say, wow, railways never cease to amaze. Just need some pictures of the wagon lift now. That's something I've not seen modelled. (A challenge on the way, banging in my place marker now) 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted March 14, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 14, 2014 It would make a great subject for a boxfile layout. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparks Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 The RCTS also has some nice photos from ground level. Drawings were published in Scale Model Trains (I think) some years ago. As you say, the locos were based on standard open wagon parts to replace all the steam shunting locos sent to France in WWI. It should therefore be relatively simple to make one using 4mm scale wagon parts. I can't find the reference for the Scale Model Trains article (isn't in my index for some reason) but a photo of the Midland example when new appeared in the Railway Magazine for March 1916, and there's an article about the NSR example in Railway Bylines for August 1998. The RCTS shots of BEL No.1 (you have to pay for them but they are detailed shots) can be found here:- http://www.rcts.org.uk/features/archive/search.htm?company=&subtype=&class=&location=West+India+Docks&srch=&page=0 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
creweboy Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 Always found the two BR Battery Locos fastinating, since I saw a photo of BEL No 1 in the 1965 Combine Volume. Attached is a photo of my 4mm scale Scratchbuilt BEL No1. Unmotorised but due to be relettered and motor added soon. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenton Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 I think this topic needs a link to High Level Kits BEL2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparks Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Not the best photo, but I recently came across this engraving from The Engineer of the NSR loco (BEL2?) at Oakamoor in 1932:- Original article here:- http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/The_Engineer_1932/10/07 page 361. Several other shots at Oakamoor here:- http://www.nsrailway.co.uk/historical%20pictures/oakamoor/gallery.htm So would I correct in thinking that the Midland Loco became BEL1 and the North Staffordshire loco became BEL2 in BR days? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
L49 Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 If anyone saw Sidney Street around the shows in the mid 2000s, you may have caught a glimpse of BEL1 scuttling around and riding up and down in the wagon hoist. Ours was scratchbuilt using custom made etches on a spud, but I would urge caution when using the drawings, as we found, they don't quite scale right, and BEL1 was not as symmetrical as she looked. Of course there is now an almost RTR version available from ERTL (runs away to hide!!!) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
L49 Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Thanks for that gem of information, what can I say, wow, railways never cease to amaze. Just need some pictures of the wagon lift now. That's something I've not seen modelled. (A challenge on the way, banging in my place marker now) Following on from the above post, I have been having a trawl through Baby Deltic's photos of Sidney Street around the shows. I can't find any photos showing BEL No.1 on the layout, but there are a few of the wagon hoist in operation (or at least partly in operation, as I suspect BD was driving and taking photos at the same time... no change there then!!) I think BEL No.1 featured when the layout went into the Modeller, but I can't remember the date, I do know it was the year that they got Dad to do his bit for the annual DVD! http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/gallery/album/728-sidney-street/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium ColinK Posted January 7, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 7, 2015 Heysham Power Station had two battery locos, converted from the overhead locos which used to work at Kearsley. One in each configuration are now at the Electric Railway Museum at Coventry. Thanks for that. I used to see the Kersley locos regularly and thought they had been scrapped. Now I live quite close to Heysham! Looks like I'll have to go to Coventry! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold russ p Posted January 7, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 7, 2015 There used to be one at Garret's works in Leiston on what is now the sizewell branch. There is a photo of it in diesels in east Anglia Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jamie92208 Posted January 7, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 7, 2015 The Midland had one and I believe that dave Walker built a 7mm version to run on his Cromford layout. Jamie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieB Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 So would I correct in thinking that the Midland Loco became BEL1 and the North Staffordshire loco became BEL2 in BR days? The Midland Railway built one at Derby in 1914, which became LMS 1550 and renumbered as BEL No. 1 by BR in 1951. (It had been provisionally allocated the number 41550 in 1948, but it didn't carry this number). After working working on the wagon hoist at West India Dock, it was cut up at Poplar (by scrap dealers A. King of Norwich) in 1964. The North Staffordshire example was built at Stoke in 1917. It appeared to carry its original NSR No. 1 until 1954, when it was renumbered BEL 2. It spent its life at Oakamore until withdrawal in 1963. Happily it has been preserved and forms part of the National Collection. The Battery Electric steeple cab was once widespread, if not particularly common. Several examples were built for industry both here in the UK and in other countries. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium keefer Posted January 7, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 7, 2015 Have to check my books but I think there was one at Guardbridge mills in Fife. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roythebus Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Remember London Underground has a large fleet of battery electric locos, BR had the converted 501 motor coaches for use on the Northern City line during rebuilding. they were capable of over 50 mph on battery power on the surface. I speak from experience. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieB Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Have to check my books but I think there was one at Guardbridge mills in Fife. Yes, it was built by English Electric in 1924 and sold for scrap in 1973. There used to be one at Garret's works in Leiston on what is now the sizewell branch. There is a photo of it in diesels in east Anglia Built by Metropolitan Vickers in 1927 and acquired second hand from County Durham in 1962, it was also scrapped in 1973. Similar locomotives were being built in Italy into the 1940s. This is Industrie Elettriche (TIBB 4758/1940) at a factory near Domodossola in 1981. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium keefer Posted January 8, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 8, 2015 (edited) Yes, it was built by English Electric in 1924 and sold for scrap in 1973 Thanks for that EddieB, it's covered in the Oakwood press 'St Andrews Railway' but couldn't find my copy to check Edited January 8, 2015 by keefer 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshall5 Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 There are two 4w battery electrics, a Greenwood & Batley from Stourport power station, and an English Electric from GEC cosmetically restored and on display at the Ribble Steam Railway, Preston. Ray. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJS1977 Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Thanks for that. I used to see the Kersley locos regularly and thought they had been scrapped. Now I live quite close to Heysham! Looks like I'll have to go to Coventry! The engineer responsible for decommisioning Kearsley was a railway enthusiast and tried to rehome the locos. If I remember rightly, two went to Heysham and one went to the Musuem of Science and Industry at Manchester originally and was later evicted and lived a somewhat nomadic existence before arriving at Coventry. One of the Heysham locos also ended up at Coventry, but I don't know what happened to the other - it may still be at Heysham! Another oddity of the Kearsley system was that on at least one occasion Blackpool Tramway had sent a tram away for a major overhaul. Rather than test it at Blackpool and run the risk of it failing in the middle of the Prom,they sent it to Kearsley (which operated on the same voltage) and ran it round the power station! (information provided by my father, who used to work at Kearsley PS on occasion). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted January 8, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 8, 2015 I understand that all four Kersley locomotives survive. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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