Highland Railway Loch Class

The Highland Railway Loch class locomotives were large 4-4-0s normally used north of Inverness. They were introduced in 1896, to the design of David Jones. Fifteen were built by Dübs and Company in Glasgow, all going into traffic between July and September 1896. Three more were built in 1917 by Dübs' successor, the North British Locomotive Company (NBL).

Highland Railway Loch or B class
Highland Railway 125 Loch Tay
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerDavid Jones
BuilderDübs & Co. (15)
North British Locomotive (3)
Serial numberDübs:3392–3406
NBL: 21456–21458
Build date1896 (15), 1917 (3)
Total produced18
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte4-4-0
 • UIC2′B n2
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Leading dia.3 ft 3 in (0.991 m)
Driver dia.6 ft 3+12 in (1.918 m)
Loco weight54 long tons 10 cwt (122,100 lb or 55.4 t)
Water cap.3,000 imp gal (14,000 L; 3,600 US gal)
Boiler4 ft 4+78 in (1.34 m) diameter
Boiler pressure175 lbf/in2 (1.21 MPa)
Heating surface1,295 sq ft (120.3 m2)
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size19 in × 24 in (483 mm × 610 mm)
Valve gearAllan
Valve typeNew: piston valves
Rebuilt: Balanced slide valves
Performance figures
Tractive effort17,070 lbf (75.93 kN)
Career
OperatorsHighland Railway
LMSBR
ClassHR: Loch; B (from 1901)
Power classLMS: 2P
Withdrawn1930–1950
DispositionAll scrapped

Design

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They had the typical Jones appearance with outside cylinders, domed cab roof, louvred chimney, but, as with the Jones Goods class 4-6-0, the Allan style front framing was dispensed with. Allan valve gear was still used.

Numbering

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Built by Dübs in 1896
HR number Name LMS number Withdrawn Notes
119 Loch Insh 14379 1948 Name removed in 1944; reinstated in 1946. BR allocated number 54379 never carried
120 Loch Ness 14380 1940
121 Loch Ericht 14381 1940
122 Loch Moy 14382 1940
123 Loch an Dorb 14383 1934
124 Loch Laggan 14384 1938
125 Loch Tay 14385 1950 BR allocated number 54385 never carried
126 Loch Tummel 14386 1938
127 Loch Garry 14387 1930
128 Loch Luichart 14388 1930
129 Loch Maree 14389 1931
130 Loch Fannich 14390 1937
131 Loch Shin 14391 1941
132 Loch Naver 14392 1947
133 Loch Laoghal 14393 1934 Renamed Loch Laochal at unknown date
Built by NBL in 1917
HR number Name LMS number Withdrawn Notes
70 Loch Ashie 14394 1936
71 Loch Garve 14395 1935
72 Loch Ruthven 14396 1934

These were needed primarily for the increased traffic on the Kyle line where they were the heaviest locomotives permitted. This period was when the initial traffic of the United States effort in World War I was flowing, and much was brought to the west coast of Scotland in an effort to reduce the effect of the U-boat menace. The trains ran from Kyle to Invergordon so it was a wholly HR traffic.

Transfer to LMS

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They passed to the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) in 1923. The LMS classified them '2P'. Withdrawal occurred from 1930 onwards.

Transfer to BR

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Only two survived into British Railways (BR) ownership in 1948. Neither received their allocated BR number before being withdrawn in 1948 ('Loch Insh') and 1950 ('Loch Tay').

References

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  • Baxter, Bertram (1984). Baxter, David (ed.). British Locomotive Catalogue 1825–1923, Volume 4: Scottish and remaining English Companies in the LMS Group. Ashbourne, Derbyshire: Moorland Publishing Company. pp. 194–195.
  • Casserley, H. C. & Johnston, Stuart W. (1974) [1966]. Locomotives at the Grouping 3: London, Midland and Scottish Railway. Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allan. p. 141. ISBN 0-7110-0554-0.