England Engines

From Festipedia, hosted by the FR Heritage Group

The first six steam locomotives for the FR were built by George England & Co., New Cross, South London.

The first four were designed by George England with input from Charles Menzies Holland. When delivered, the first two (Mountaineer and The Princess) were domeless. Initial trials proved this to be a mistake, and they subsequently had a dome added. The two later locomotives were fitted with a dome before being despatched.

The cost of the initial 2 engines were £1000 each and the second 2 £975 7s. 6d. They were designed to haul 40 tons on a 1 in 80 gradient at 8 mph. The locomotives as built had side tanks (with an interconnecting pipe) and a small weather board on which was mounted the pressure gauge. A single whistle was mounted on the dome. A bell survives for Mountaineer, but no photograph or drawing exists to show how this was fitted. Square sand boxes were provided operated from the footplate, but they leaked sand and caused gravity trains to stall. Therefore, the delivery pipes were removed.

Principle dimensions:- Cylinders 8" dia x 12"stroke, Boiler Pressure 140lbs, 115 tubes 1.25" O.D Tanks 237 gallons, Wheels 2ft dia, wheelbase 4ft 6" Weight 8T

After 4 years experience a further 2 engines were ordered to an improved design with a larger boiler and a saddle tank with greater water capacity. They cost £1003 4s. 10d each. The saddle tanks were actually enlarged before delivery, having been planned for 375 gallons, they were delivered as 418 gallons. Spectacle plates were fitted as standard, although they had been made to fit the 375 gal tanks and left a gap above the firebox when fitted to the new tanks. Other early features included cylindrical sandpots and a waisted smokebox.

Principle dimensions :- Cylinders 8 1/8" dia x 12" stroke, Boiler Pressure, 150lbs, 136 tubes 1 3/8" O.D., Tank 418 gallons, Wheels 2ft dia, wheelbase 5ft, Weight 10T

As well as working on the FR, they hauled trains on the Festiniog & Blaenau Railway in 1868 before its own locomotives arrived, and were used subsequently on hire as required.

The earlier locomotives (except Mountaineer, which was dismantled in 1879) were rebuilt to the saddle tank design and with a 160lbs boiler. By the start of the 20th Century , the only differences between the locomotives were the larger wheel diameter and longer wheelbase of the later 2 engines.

The England locomotives were as follows:

No. 1, The Princess, built 1863 (delivered as No. 2)

No. 2, The Prince, built 1863 (delivered as No. 4)

No. 3, Mountaineer, built 1863 (delivered as No. 1)

No. 4, Palmerston, built 1864 (delivered as No. 3)

No. 5, Welsh Pony, built 1867

No. 6, Little Giant, built 1867

Source: Boyd, The Festiniog Rly, Vol 2

In addition to the single England engines (above), George England also offered to build a Double Fairlie for the FR in 1868. The engine (Little Wonder) was built at England's works in 1869. However, by this time the works had gone out of business and had become the Fairlie Engine and Steam Carriage Company Limited.

[edit]See also

• Introduction of steam locomotives
• England Engine Tanks and Cabs
• England Engine Tenders
• England Engine plates
• Topsy - A live steam model England Engine built at Boston Lodge in 1869
• FR Locomotives
• Locomotives, Shunting