Worlds oldest working loco?

For info only

https://www.newsdrum.in/national/ra...st-working-steam-locomotive-eir-21-75260.html

russ

 

I've seen references to Fairy Queen EIR No.22 listed as the oldest. Mistake, or do we have two such ancient locos?

 

Two apparently, though debatable which one is the oldest. No. 21 Express was built by Stothert, Slaughter and Company in Bristol in 1855, while No. 22 Fairy Queen was built by Kitson Thompson and Hewitson in Leeds in the same year.

 

India suggests that The Express EIR 21 is the oldest. Fairy Queen EIR 22 comes a very close second. It does seem that 21 comes before 22. However it as remarkable that the two exist.

 

Well stone the crows! Congratulations to Indian Railways ..... and belated thanks to whoever managed to hide those two from the scrapmen before preservation was fashionable!

Are we absolutely certain Puffing Billy and Wylam Dilly won't hold a head of steam?

 

The GWS could use some more working locos at Didcot, how about bringing back Wantage Tramway's "Shannon"? I think that would be very close (but someone will now tell me that I'm wrong!)

 

Close - 1857.
Ray.

 

A youngster - 1857! Sweden have a Beyer Peacock 2-4-0 from 1856 that sees occasional use. In Switzerland an 0-4-6T from 1858 has been used in the recent past too. Both have been used on mainline charters too.

 

IIRC, it was mooted a few years back, but wasn't Shannon's firebox decreed 'past it'? The cousins have a couple of very early machines which have been coaxed into light-ish steam in living memory, following extremely detailed boiler inspections.

 

In that case, how about "Lion" making a comeback? I think that's ca. 1838 (in principle, though probably a lot of it isn't!)

 

Unfortunately so much of the 'original' would be lost in order to return Lion to service that Museums on Merseyside won't even consider it. Things that were acceptable in 1980, such as taking it taking it down the WCML to Rocket 150 would cause apoplexy these days. Probably best to just remember the fun we had while it lasted. Certainly it was the most fun I ever had with my trousers on!
Ray.

 

Expectations have changed a lot over 40-odd years, but how many bits of Lion that were safely used back then have actually deteriorated since then to the point where they would need to be replaced? And could they (in principle) be replaced now but the originals kept for display?

 

Apart from the usual 'expendables' like tubes I doubt that there has been much deterioration since Lion was last used. Unfortunately what was regarded as safe to use 40+ yrs. ago might not be regarded as such today and attitudes to the conservation of original material have also changed. Even in 1980 Lion was quite a fragile old lady. After she arrived (under her own power) from Newton -le-Willows the driving wheels were found to be cracked and were repaired by metal stitching at Southport before running to Rocket 150. Lion went 'on tour' after Rainhill, in 1981 and 1983/4? which resulted in a degree of 'wear & tear' so I can understand the owner's desire to give the loco a well-deserved retirement.
Some years ago a group was set up to build a replica of Lion's sister Tiger which could be built for not a great deal more without damaging the original. Unfortunately the idea seems to have 'died a death'.
Ray.

 

Shannon is owned by the NRM and it is therefore not up to GWS to decide it's future.
(But IIRC the firebox being cream crackered is correct).

 

Cheers for the confirmation of ownership. IIRC, the firebox was the main concern, know about since it last steamed, but a long way from the only one. I wonder how much was a reaction to what was occurring with the ever lengthening list of jobs (and bill for same!) on Flying Scotsman?

Just having checked the loco's history, it appears to GWR actually bought the loco when the WT closed. Had it passed to them, as did the WC&P 'Terriers' as 'principal creditor' I could see the interest, but shelling out hard cash, immediately after WWII and with Mr Attlee's nationalisation looming? I'm certainly not complaining they saved it ... just a bit bemused as to why!

 

At one time, in fairly recent years, the GWS announced they hoped to be able to repair the firebox using modern techniques for very little cost. I guess that either proved unfeasible or was vetoed on conservation-management grounds.

 

IIRC, it was the latter.

 

Stick a Swindon No.8 boiler on it, it'll be reight!

Richard.

 

Think there is a spare knocking about?

 

Looks like there'll be one arriving at Didcot in the near future... Let's see what support for the 4709 project is like after their debacle... It may still be spare.

Richard.