120 Beddgelert
Not the original WHR loco of this name, but was bought in by Welsh Highland Railway Limited to build up the stock of locomotives ready for full line operation.
This huge engine is one of a class based on a German design which was originally built for what is now Namibia. This design is marked by the large tender which carries over 2800 gallons of water and over five tonnes of coal.
In spite of its size and weight, this loco is remarkable for its axle load of less than 7 tons.
This example had worked widely over the narrow gauge lines until 1961
Rebuilding had started in 1997. The boiler cladding, super heater elements and the dome were removed around that time. The boiler was lifted off the frames. Now reduced to a kit of rusty parts, work is addressing the cleaning up or replacement of each component. Its rebuild was expected to take 2 1/2 years, but progress stopped due to a shortage of funds, and that resources are currently fully employed rebuilding firstly Gelert and then Russell, with the Lady Madcap project also proceeding concurrently.
The Loco was subsequently put up for sale, which was completed early 2009. The intention is to restore it and make available to WHRL
Loco Details
- Builder Anglo-Franco-Belge.
- Built 1949
- Works number 2667
- Type Tender locomotive
- Wheel arrangement 2-8-2
- Driving wheel diameter 34" 864mm
- Coal capacity 5½ tons
- Water capacity 2860 gallons (13000 litres)
- Heating surface 1028 square feet (95.5m²)
- Boiler pressure 171 psi (1.18MPa)
- Cylinders Two off, 15¾" x 17¾" (400mm x 450mm)
- Tractive effort 18820 pounds (83.7kN) at 85% boiler pressure
- Length over buffers 54 feet 4 inches (16.56m) inc. tender
- Weight 36.6 tons (loco) plus 31.2 tons (tender) in working order
- Maximum axle load 6.7 tons
- Arrived W.H.R. 1994
- Owners W.H.R. Ltd
Edited from information previously on the WHRL site.
