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RH&DR Canadian Pacifics

Discussion in 'Miniature Railways' started by Hicks19862, Apr 24, 2025.

  1. Hicks19862

    Hicks19862 Member

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    I’ve read that construction of Winston Churchill and Dr Syn was started at Davey Paxman’s, like the majority of the RH&DR steam locomotives, before they were finished as Canadian outline Pacifics at the Yorkshire Engineering company.

    Were they intended to be Canadian outline from the outset? Or were they started at Paxman’s with the intent of having a British outline like the other Romney engines?
     
  2. ross

    ross Well-Known Member

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    According to RHDR legend:
    When the Dungeness extension was proposed, and indeed when it was built, the line ran across miles of exposed shingle- quite unlike today. It was thought that the cabs of the existing locomotives would offer insufficient weather protection-at this stage Howey and Greenly still believed that the railway could offer practical public transport- especially in winter.
    To this end, a pair of locomotives were commissioned, to be built at New Romney by Jackson, Rigby Engineering in time for the opening of the Dungeness extension. Nos 9 and 10 were to be based on the design of Canadian Pacific Railway no2300, Howey's typically idiosyncratic choice. Jackson Rigby Eng. were makers of components for small engines and supplied copies of Greenly drawings, and Greenly was involved with the company.
    The Dungeness extension was opened in August 1928.
    The relationship between Howey and Greenly was already strained, and difficulties regarding Greenly's possibly conflicting interests as the line's engineer, the locomotive's designer and his role in a contracting company led to increased friction between the two men, culminating in a 1929dispute regarding ownership of the drawings for the two locomotives. It did not end well.
    Thereafter, boilers were ordered, in spite of Howey's views of Germany and the Germans, from Roland Martens (manufactured by Krauss?) and supplied to the Yorkshire Engine Company of Sheffield along with the manufactured parts for 9 and 10, accumulated by Jackson Rigby. The duo were eventually completed by Yorkshire Engine Co. and delivered in 1931
     
  3. 21B

    21B Part of the furniture

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    I think in the book “One Man’s Railway” it is said that the inspiration for a Canadian outline loco(s) came from footplate trips on Canadian Locos as Howey transited back overland from one of his annual trips to Australia. (His money came from his Grandfather I think or maybe his father I forget, having bought a bit of land that ended up being a large chunk of the centre of I think Melbourne).
     
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  4. Hicks19862

    Hicks19862 Member

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    Thanks for the info!
     

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