Highland Railway Ben Class

Infobox Locomotive
name = Highland Railway Small Ben
powertype = Steam


caption =
builder = Dübs & Co. (8) HR Lochgorm Works (12)
builddate = 1898–1906
whytetype = 4-4-0
uicclass = 2'Bn
gauge = RailGauge|ussg
boilerpressure = convert|175|psi|MPa|2|abbr=on|lk=on
cylindercount = Two, inside
cylindersize = 18¼×26 in (464×660 mm)
leadingsize = convert|42|in|m|3|abbr=on
driversize = convert|72|in|m|3|abbr=on
weight = convert|46.85|LT|t|lk=on
valvegear = Stephenson
tubearea = convert|1061|sqft|m2|abbr=on
fireboxarea = convert|117|sqft|m2|abbr=on
firearea = convert|20.5|sqft|m2|abbr=on
tractiveeffort = convert|17890|lbf|kN|1|abbr=on|lk=on
railroad = HR, LMS, BR
railroadclass = HR: C LMS: 2P
retiredate = 1931–1953
disposition = All scrappedInfobox Locomotive
name = Highland Railway Large Ben
powertype = Steam


caption = Only differences shown
builder = North British Locomotive Company
builddate = 1908–1909
boilerpressure = convert|180|psi|MPa|2|abbr=on|
weight = convert|52.30|LT|t|abbr=on
tubearea = convert|1516|sqft|m2|abbr=on
fireboxarea = convert|132|sqft|m2|abbr=on
firearea = convert|20.25|sqft|m2|abbr=on
railroadclass = HR: U
retiredate = 1932–1937The Highland Railway Ben Class were small 4-4-0 passenger steam locomotives. There were actually two separate 'Ben' classes, usually referred to as the 'Small Bens' and the 'Large Bens'.

Introduction

Despite the large and small tags, there was actually little difference between the two groups, the most crucial being larger boilers with an increase in tube heating surface. Cylinder and wheel dimensions were identical.

The class was originally designed by Peter Drummond, whose elder (and better known) brother Dugald had been in the company's locomotive department in earlier years and was at that time Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London and South Western Railway.

In appearance they were fairly typical Drummond family products with the stiffener across the cab roof. They were also inside cylindered, almost uniquely among HR bogie locomotives.

Build details

First batch

The first 8 locomotives were of the Small Ben type and were built by Dübs and Company of Glasgow in the period 1898 to 1899. They were:

Large Bens

In 1908 a larger version appeared, initially four examples from North British Locomotive:

Numbers 66 and 68 were renumbered 64 and 65 in 1909. In that year, two more were built by North British Locomotive:

Grouping and Nationalisation

All of these locomotives survived to be taken over by the LMS at the Grouping in 1923. The Large Bens were all withdrawn between 1932 and 1937. The first of the Small Bens was withdrawn in 1931, but ten survived into British Railways ownership. The last of these, 54398 "Ben Alder", was withdrawn in 1953 and placed in storage in the hope that it would be preserved.

Preservation

None were preserved. Unfortunately the hopes for 54398 came to nothing, and it was eventually cut up in 1966. However, the possibility of building a new HR Ben Class steam locomotive for Scottish Railway Preservation has been raised.

ources

* H.A. Vallance (1938) "The Highland Railway"
* Ian Allan "ABC of British Railways Locomotives, 1948 edition" part 3, page 44
* Hugh Longworth (2005) "British Railways Steam Locomotives 1948-1968)

External links

* [http://www.railuk.co.uk/steam/getsteam.php?id=13520 Rail UK database no. 54398]