LB&SCR Terriers
No 32678 (Knowle) is currently the
only one of the two Terriers resident on the K&ESR in traffic.
Knowle was built in July 1880 by the London Brighton and South Coast
Railway and subsequently carried the numbers Southern Railway No 678,
W4/W14 Bembridge and the British Railways number she currently carries,
No 32678.
More
about this locomotive
The Terriers are generally a popular
little loco with the footplate crews. They are renowned for their free
steaming, although the fireman does have to have his wits about him
as with a small fire and tiny boiler capacity they can very quickly
go "off the boil". Taller firemen can find them a bit
awkward to fire as the fire hole door is very low which can make it
difficult to see the state of the fire. The injectors can also
be a bit tricky as the water valve adjustment involves tightening a
wing nut to keep the valve in the correct position. With a water capacity
of only 500 gallons it is important that not too much is spilt on the
ground!
The Westinghouse brake pump is located
on the Fireman's side of the locomotive. This can make the loco
a little uncomfortable in hot weather because of the heat from it. The
Westinghouse pumps also have a tendency to spit oil and hot water at
anyone who dares to get close to it!
The Terriers are extremely powerful
for their diminutive size and are reputedly capable of speeds in excess
of 60mph. They are currently restricted to a maximum load of 85
tons on the K&ESR.
They are a fairly easy type of locomotive
to drive, although a heavy handed driver can make life difficult for
the fireman as the pressure can drop rapidly if the regulator is suddenly
opened wide. The regulator is a little on the stiff side and the
pole reverser gets in the way a bit in the backward direction which
can make life awkward when shunting. There is no balance weight
fitted to the reversing lever, therefore the unwary can be caught out
when the catch is released and the lever flies to the full forward gear
position.
Both of the Terriers are fitted
with Gresham and Craven vacuum brake ejectors as well as Westinghouse
air brakes.
All in all a nippy little loco which
is fun to work on, anyone who has worked on these engines will understand
how they earned the nickname Terriers!
No 3 Bodiam nears
the end of a major overhaul at Rolvenden MPD, Good Friday 2004.
No 3 is the oldest of the K&ESR
Terriers, she was built as long ago as December 1872. She carried
the LB&SCR No 70 Poplar also Rother Valley Railway / K&ESR No
3 Bodiam and BR 32670.
Bodiam is currently undergoing a
major overhaul which has included the fitting of a new boiler.. Bodiam
is expected to re-enter traffic late in 2004 or early 2005.
More
about this locomotive
Although she hasn't
moved since the picture above, much progress has been made by December
2005. Bodiam is expected to return to service early in 2006
Engineer Graham Clifford
is seen here hard at work. Won't be long until tea time Graham!
OTHER TERRIERS IN PRESERVATION
Spa Valley Railway
No 10 Sutton was built
in December 1876. Built by the LB&SCR as No 50 Whitchapel,
other numbers carried by this loco were SR B650, W9 Fishbourne, BR No
D515 and 32650. After 30 years on the K&ESR this loco has now moved
to the Spa Valley Railway at Tunbridge Wells awaiting overhaul.
Bluebell Railway
No
55 Stepney (32655) and No
72 Fenchurch (32636)
Isle of Wight Steam Railway
W8
Freshwater (32646) and
No 11 Newport (32640)
National Railway Museum
No 82 Boxhill
Bressingham Steam Museum
No 62 Martello (32662)
Canada's National Railway Museum
No 54 Waddon (680S)
The
Terrier Trust website has more history and pictures of the K&ESR
Terriers.
