815
| 815 | |
|---|---|
| Status | Under construction |
| History | |
| Built | Circa 2027 |
| Technical | |
| Wheel Arrangement | 2-8-4T |
| Locomotives | |
815 is a new-build locomotive under construction for use on the Welsh Highland Railway. It is an improved replica of the ZA/5 type used by the Indian Railways on the Dholpur–Sarmathura Railway in Rajasthan. The locomotive is being constructed by a team based in Somerset.
Original locomotives
[edit]The original ZA/5 locomotives were built by Hunslet in 1959 for the 2 ft 6 in gauge lines of the Central Railways of India. The letter Z indicated narrow gauge, the A a 2-8-4 locomotive and the 5 that it was the fifth locomotive class of type ZA. Two locomotives were built numbered 809 and 810.
New build
[edit]Design
[edit]The new locomotive will be numbered 815 as the next locomotive in the series which ended in India with 814. It will incorporate a number of changes to the original design and will thus be designated ZA/6.
Original drawings were obtained form the Hunslet archives at Statfold. Changes to the design include those required to make it suitable for use on 2 ft gauge and the Welsh Highland loading gauge. Other changes will be made to the valves and valve gear to improve efficiency.
It is expected the locomotive should have similar haulage capacity as an NG15. The tractive effort is slightly less, but weight is also less as there is no tender.
Construction
[edit]Construction started in a garage in Somerset where it should reach rolling chassis stage by Summer 2026. After this it is expected to move to Boston Lodge for the fitting of the boiler. This will create space in Somerset for the construction of the tanks and cab.
The locomotive is expected to enter service in 2028.
References
[edit]- How's it all going? 2025 Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways Trust