Highland Railway X Class

The Highland Railway Drummond 0-6-4T or X class were large tank engines originally intended for banking duty. They were designed by Peter Drummond.

HR X class
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerPeter Drummond
BuilderNorth British Locomotive Company
Serial number18805–18808, 19013–19016
Build date1909–1911
Total produced8
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte0-6-4T
 • UICC2′ n2t
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver dia.5 ft 0 in (1.524 m)
Trailing dia.3 ft 3 in (0.991 m)
Loco weight69.0 long tons (70.1 t; 77.3 short tons)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity4.5 long tons (4.6 t; 5.0 short tons)
Water cap.1,970 imp gal (9,000 L; 2,370 US gal)
Firebox:
 • Grate area22.5 sq ft (2.09 m2)
Boiler4 ft 6+14 in (1.38 m)
Boiler pressure180 lbf/in2 (1.24 MPa)
Heating surface:
 • Firebox120 sq ft (11 m2)
 • Tubes1,148 sq ft (106.7 m2)
 • Total surface1,268 sq ft (117.8 m2)
CylindersTwo, inside
Cylinder size18+12 in × 26 in (470 mm × 660 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort22,082 lbf (98.23 kN)
Career
OperatorsHRLMS
ClassHR: X
Power classLMS: 4P
Withdrawn1932–1936
DispositionAll scrapped

Construction

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The first four were built by the North British Locomotive Company and delivered in 1909. A second batch of four was delivered in 1911.

Design

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The design was derived from that of the class K (0-6-0) tender engines and leading dimensions were very similar although the boiler and firebox are recorded as being 'larger' but by an unspecified amount.

Reputation

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They were not popular with their crews, many thought them heavy and clumsy, and several crews had problems with water capacity. It seems their axleboxes were not well-proportioned either as there are reports of consistent hot box problems.

Numbering

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HR No. Built LMS No. Withdrawn Notes
39 1909 15300 December 1936
64 1909 15301 October 1934 Renumbered 66 in 1909
65 1909 15302 August 1933 Renumbered 68 in 1909
69 1909 15303 October 1932
29 1911 15304 October 1932 Renumbered 43 in 1913
31 1911 15305 November 1934
42 1911 15306 November 1935
44 1911 15307 November 1934

Transfer to LMS

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They all survived to be taken over by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) at the 1923 Grouping. The last was withdrawn in 1936.

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. p. 200.
  • Haresnape, Brian; Rowledge, Peter (1982). Drummond Locomotives, a pictorial history. Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allan Limited. ISBN 0-7110-1206-7.