Russell (locomotive)

Russell

Russell running on the Welsh Highland Railway (Porthmadog) in 1995
Type and origin
Power type Steam
Builder Hunslet Engine Company
Serial number 901
Build date 1906
Specifications
Configuration 2-6-2T
UIC class 1′C1′ n2t
Driver dia. 28 in (711 mm)
Boiler pressure 160 lbf/in2 (1.10 MPa)
Cylinders Two, outside
Cylinder size 11 in × 15 in (279 mm × 381 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort 7,425 lbf (33.03 kN)

Russell is a narrow gauge steam locomotive originally built in 1906 for the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways (NWNGR), but most famously associated with the original Welsh Highland Railway (WHR), and currently undergoing a rebuild at the Welsh Highland Railway (Porthmadog).
There have been a number of books written either about, or containing details of the engine, but the succinct parts are detailed below.

History

Russell approaching Gelert's Farm halt

Russell has a complex history.

Design

A 2-6-2T steam locomotive, the design of Russell is more closely related to Hunslet No 865 of 1905 otherwise known as Leeds Number 1, although certain engineering aspects can be more readily associated with design of locomotives supplied to the Sierra Leone Government Railway. One of the driving wheel centres bears the initials SLR, however this has been found to have been a later replacement and not as originally supplied. Originally built with air train brakes, it was converted to vacuum train brakes following the linking of the Welsh Highland and Ffestiniog Railways.

Fiction

A character, Fearless Freddie, based on this locomotive, appears in the children's TV series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.

References

  1. Boyd, James I.C. (1972). Narrow Gauge Railways in South Caernarvonshire, Volume One: The Embankment Tramway, Gorseddau Tramway, Festiniog and Blaenau Railway, Croesor Tramway, Bettws-y-Coed & Festiniog Railway, North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways and Portmadoc, Beddgelert and South Snowdon Railway. The Oakwood Press.
  2. Richards, Alun John (2001). The Slate Railways of Wales. Gwasg Carreg Gwalch. pp. 158–159.
  3. Lee, Charles E. (1945). Narrow-Gauge Railways in North Wales. The Railway Publishing Co. Ltd.
  4. 1 2 3 Mitchell, Vic and Smith, Keith (2006). Dorset & Somerset Narrow Gauge. Middleton Press.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Boyd, James I.C. (1989). Narrow Gauge Railways in South Caernarvonshire, Volume Two: The Welsh Highland Railway (Second ed.). The Oakwoo Press.

See also

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