Sharp Stewart 0-4-0ST No 19

From Festipedia, hosted by the FR Heritage Group

Built in 1889 by Sharp Stewart & Co. (Builder's number 3518) for the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, B Class No. 19 (778 under the all-India number scheme) was withdrawn from service, overhauled at Tindharia works, and sold to a private owner in the USA, before being acquired by the museum in Heston on his death. Severely damaged in a fire which destroyed much of the building in which it was kept, it was returned to service before being declared 'non-core collection' and put up for sale.

Acquired by Adrian Shooter for his private 2' gauge Beeches Light Railway in Oxfordshire which was then approaching completion and is based in many parts on the DHR, 19B was restored at Tyseley with a Sharp Stewart pattern tender being added and entered service on the BLR in 2004 with two Boston Lodge-built DHR-pattern coaches. It has subsequently been joined by the Boston Lodge-built Parlour Car "Carrabasset" based on the preserved example from the Sandy River and Rangely Lakes line.

19B retains her original wrought iron boiler of 1879. Apart from the tender, modifications for the BLR include the addition of both vacuum and two-line air braking, air sanding equipment, a turbo-generator set (matching the current DHR specification, the original headlights fitted to the class being Wells oil-burning flare lamps), a higher cab roof, FR-style 'chopper' couplings and mechanical lubrication.

The newly-completed engine on display at York Railfest
*Date: Wednesday 2nd June 2004 *Photo: Cyril Perrier

Darjeeling No. 19B on the Spiral at Dduallt
*Date: June 2005 *Photo: Tim Goodspeed

Darjeeling No. 19B at home on the Beeches Light Railway
*Date: Unknown *Photo: Barry Young

Restored No. 19 visited the FR in 2005 for the FR50 events together with its two newly built replica carriages. These were constructed, under contract, at Boston Lodge.