Tom Rolt (locomotive)
Encyclopedia
Tom Rolt is a narrow gauge steam locomotive
constructed by the Talyllyn Railway
using parts from an Andrew Barclay locomotive built in 1949 for Bord na Móna
.
The new engine was built at Pendre
works on the Talyllyn Railway using the main frame, boiler, driving wheels, cylinders and other parts of the 0-4-0 well tank engine from Bord na Móna. The new engine became an 0-4-2 side tank and was named Tom Rolt after the author L. T. C. Rolt
who inspired the Talyllyn's preservation.
Tom Rolt is running in the standard Talyllyn Railway livery of deep bronze green lined with black borders and yellow lining.
books by the Rev. W. Awdry on the Skarloey Railway
. Tom Rolt formed the basis for the character Ivo Hugh.
Unlike the rest of the Talyllyn Railway engines Ivo Hugh only appeared in one story in which he was the new engine to arrive. His name, Ivo Hugh, is a reference to his real name, Tom Rolt, with even the same amount of letters and words. Also in the book of Thomas The Tank Engine
in which he appeared (New Little Engine) it was announced he was named after the former Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Skarloey Railway, Mr. Ivo Hugh. This is a reference to Tom Rolt being named after an L.T.C Rolt on the Talyllyn Railway.
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...
constructed by the Talyllyn Railway
Talyllyn Railway
The Talyllyn Railway is a narrow-gauge preserved railway in Wales running for from Tywyn on the Mid-Wales coast to Nant Gwernol near the village of Abergynolwyn. The line was opened in 1866 to carry slate from the quarries at Bryn Eglwys to Tywyn, and was the first narrow gauge railway in Britain...
using parts from an Andrew Barclay locomotive built in 1949 for Bord na Móna
Bord na Móna
Bord na Móna , abbreviated BNM, is a semi-state company in Ireland, created in 1946 by the Turf Development Act 1946. The company is responsible for the mechanised harvesting of peat, primarily in the Midlands of Ireland...
.
Bord na Móna
The engine began life working for the Bord na Móna. This is a semi-state company in Ireland, created in 1946 by the Turf Development Act 1946. The company is responsible for the mechanised harvesting of peat, primarily in the Midlands of Ireland. This company uses railways to carry vast amounts of peat.Talyllyn Railway
As passenger numbers continued to grow during the late 1960s the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society realised that further motive power was needed, especially as the rebuilt No. 1, Talyllyn was not performing well. However as the gauge of the Talyllyn Railway was so unusual they could not buy an engine with the correct gauge, so would have to buy and re-gauge an engine or make a new engine. In 1969 the Talyllyn railway purchased an 0-4-0 well tank engine from Bord na Móna unofficially named Irish Pete, in order to create the new locomotive they needed.The new engine was built at Pendre
Pendre railway station
Pendre railway station is a station on the Talyllyn Railway in Tywyn, Gwynedd in mid-Wales, and the site of the railway's loco and carriage sheds and works. It is 0 miles, 34 chains from . The wooden station building was rebuilt in the 1970s, and trains stop by request only. Pendre is...
works on the Talyllyn Railway using the main frame, boiler, driving wheels, cylinders and other parts of the 0-4-0 well tank engine from Bord na Móna. The new engine became an 0-4-2 side tank and was named Tom Rolt after the author L. T. C. Rolt
L. T. C. Rolt
Lionel Thomas Caswall Rolt was a prolific English writer and the biographer of major civil engineering figures including Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Thomas Telford...
who inspired the Talyllyn's preservation.
Tom Rolt is running in the standard Talyllyn Railway livery of deep bronze green lined with black borders and yellow lining.
In fiction
All the steam engines on the Talyllyn Railway (and diesel locomotive Midlander) appeared many times in The Railway SeriesThe Railway Series
The Railway Series is a set of story books about a railway system located on the fictional Island of Sodor. There are 42 books in the series, the first being published in 1945. Twenty-six were written by the Rev. W. Awdry, up to 1972. A further 16 were written by his son, Christopher Awdry; 14...
books by the Rev. W. Awdry on the Skarloey Railway
Skarloey Railway
On the fictional Island of Sodor in The Railway Series by Rev. W. Awdry, the Skarloey Railway is a narrow gauge railway which runs from the main line at Crovan's Gate to the passenger terminus at Skarloey. Beyond Skarloey the line continues to a slate quarry.In the stories, the railway is run by...
. Tom Rolt formed the basis for the character Ivo Hugh.
Unlike the rest of the Talyllyn Railway engines Ivo Hugh only appeared in one story in which he was the new engine to arrive. His name, Ivo Hugh, is a reference to his real name, Tom Rolt, with even the same amount of letters and words. Also in the book of Thomas The Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine is a fictional steam locomotive in The Railway Series books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher. He became the most popular character in the series, and the accompanying television spin-off series, Thomas and Friends.Thomas is a tank engine, painted blue...
in which he appeared (New Little Engine) it was announced he was named after the former Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Skarloey Railway, Mr. Ivo Hugh. This is a reference to Tom Rolt being named after an L.T.C Rolt on the Talyllyn Railway.