Highland Railway Jones Goods Class
Encyclopedia
The Highland Railway Jones Goods class was a class of steam locomotive
, and was notable as the first class with a 4-6-0
wheel arrangement
in the British Isles. Fifteen were built, and one has survived to preservation.
The 4-6-0 wheel arrangement had its origins in the United States
, and its introduction to Britain was the work of the Highland Railway
's locomotive superintendent David Jones
. When the 'Jones Goods' first appeared they were felt to be somewhat daring as they were such an advance on anything that Jones or the Highland Railway had previously built. Boiler pressure was 175 lbf/in2 — the previous highest being 160 lbf/in2. Outside cylinders were 20-inch bore by 26-inch stroke (508 mm × 660 mm) – the previous largest being 18-inch by 24-inch (457 mm × 610 mm). Driving wheel
s were 5 feet 3 inches (1600 mm) — the HR standard for freight locomotives. Additionally the boiler and chassis were significantly longer than anything previously attempted by the company. It was also the first tender locomotive
for the railway not to have Allan double frames and inclined cylinders beside the smokebox
.
Fifteen locomotives were built by Sharp, Stewart and Company and delivered between September and November of 1894, numbered 103 to 117. At the time, these were the most powerful main line engines in the country. Originally intended principally as freight engines, they were often called upon for passenger duties during the wide fluctuations of traffic which occurred on the Highland Railway, particularly during the summer season.
Although the type was a notable success for Jones, an accident while testing one of the locomotives caused one of his legs to be severely scalded. Although he recovered, he was permanently affected and by the end of December 1896 had retired due to ill-health.
The class was numbered 17916–17930 and given power classification '4F' by the LMS
. They were withdrawn between 1929 and 1940.
Number 103 (LMS 17916) was set aside for preservation by the LMS in 1934. It was restored to working order by British Railways in 1959 and spent several years operating enthusiasts' tours. During this time, it appeared in the 1965 film Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines
. It was finally retired in 1966 and is today in the Glasgow Museum of Transport
. In addition to being the first ever British 4-6-0, no. 103 has since 1966 also had the less happy distinction of being the only surviving former Highland Railway locomotive.
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
, and was notable as the first class with a 4-6-0
4-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles in a leading truck, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels. This wheel arrangement became the second-most popular...
wheel arrangement
Wheel arrangement
In rail transport, a wheel arrangement is a system of classifying the way in which wheels are distributed beneath a locomotive.. Several notations exist to describe the wheel assemblies of a locomotive by type, position, and connections, with the adopted notations varying by country...
in the British Isles. Fifteen were built, and one has survived to preservation.
The 4-6-0 wheel arrangement had its origins in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and its introduction to Britain was the work of the Highland Railway
Highland Railway
The Highland Railway was one of the smaller British railways before the Railways Act 1921; it operated north of Perth railway station in Scotland and served the farthest north of Britain...
's locomotive superintendent David Jones
David Jones (railway)
David Jones was locomotive superintendent for the Highland Railway in Scotland. He was credited with the design of the first British 4-6-0 which was strongly influenced by a Scottish locomotive design for Indian Railways....
. When the 'Jones Goods' first appeared they were felt to be somewhat daring as they were such an advance on anything that Jones or the Highland Railway had previously built. Boiler pressure was 175 lbf/in2 — the previous highest being 160 lbf/in2. Outside cylinders were 20-inch bore by 26-inch stroke (508 mm × 660 mm) – the previous largest being 18-inch by 24-inch (457 mm × 610 mm). Driving wheel
Driving wheel
On a steam locomotive, a driving wheel is a powered wheel which is driven by the locomotive's pistons...
s were 5 feet 3 inches (1600 mm) — the HR standard for freight locomotives. Additionally the boiler and chassis were significantly longer than anything previously attempted by the company. It was also the first tender locomotive
Tender locomotive
A tender or coal-car is a special rail vehicle hauled by a steam locomotive containing the locomotive's fuel and water. Steam locomotives consume large quantities of water compared to the quantity of fuel, so tenders are necessary to keep the locomotive running over long distances. A locomotive...
for the railway not to have Allan double frames and inclined cylinders beside the smokebox
Smokebox
A smokebox is one of the major basic parts of a Steam locomotive exhaust system. Smoke and hot gases pass from the firebox through tubes where they pass heat to the surrounding water in the boiler. The smoke then enters the smokebox, and is exhausted to the atmosphere through the chimney .To assist...
.
Fifteen locomotives were built by Sharp, Stewart and Company and delivered between September and November of 1894, numbered 103 to 117. At the time, these were the most powerful main line engines in the country. Originally intended principally as freight engines, they were often called upon for passenger duties during the wide fluctuations of traffic which occurred on the Highland Railway, particularly during the summer season.
Although the type was a notable success for Jones, an accident while testing one of the locomotives caused one of his legs to be severely scalded. Although he recovered, he was permanently affected and by the end of December 1896 had retired due to ill-health.
The class was numbered 17916–17930 and given power classification '4F' by the LMS
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
. They were withdrawn between 1929 and 1940.
Number 103 (LMS 17916) was set aside for preservation by the LMS in 1934. It was restored to working order by British Railways in 1959 and spent several years operating enthusiasts' tours. During this time, it appeared in the 1965 film Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines
Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines
Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines, Or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 Hours 11 Minutes is a 1965 British comedy film starring Stuart Whitman and directed and co-written by Ken Annakin...
. It was finally retired in 1966 and is today in the Glasgow Museum of Transport
Glasgow Museum of Transport
The Glasgow Museum of Transport in Glasgow, Scotland was established in 1964 and initially located at a former tram depot in Pollokshields. From 1987 the museum was relocated to the city's Kelvin Hall...
. In addition to being the first ever British 4-6-0, no. 103 has since 1966 also had the less happy distinction of being the only surviving former Highland Railway locomotive.
External links
- http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~emgeedee/jones.htm