[modeleng] Re: drawing identity

Alan,
 
I have not yet been able to identify for whom this engine was built.  I have 
printed the two images and I shall show them to some boffins on Friday.
 
That someone took the trouble to frame the drawing is suggestive of the engine 
having been built.  On the other hand, someone may just have liked the drawing 
sufficiently to have it framed.
 
The number at the top left hand corner may be the Neilson Reid order number, if 
so, I reckon this would date it to the first decade of the 20th century, based 
on the fact that the SDJR purchased a number of locos from Neilson Reid in 
1902, the last one having the order number 6034.
 
Although the basic design was common to many railways, certainly back to the 
1870's, there are more modern features, e.g. 18½-inch cylinders (just about 
the maximum size I imagine could be incorporated with the steam chest between 
the cylinders), steam sanding to just the driving wheels, and the shape of the 
cab.  It is this latter feature that I have not been able to match; the 
chimney style, smokebox and dome being reminiscent of what could be found on a 
number of railways.  The splashers, with the extra extension to accomodate the 
coupling rod bosses, should be an aid to identification.  It looks as if it 
was destined for a British railway.  The suggestion that it would carry a 
nameplate may indicate a very minor railway, even an industrial one, although I 
would have thought that tank engines would have been prefered for industrial 
use.  The fitting of vacuum brake indicates that its use was not to be 
restricted to loose-fitted freight.
 
The numbers on the drawing could help to identify the engine.  The Mitchell 
Library in Glasgow holds the old North British Locomotive Works archives, so a 
letter, phone call or e-mail to them, should help to pin-point the basic 
information relevant to the drawing.
 
Best wishes,
 
Jem Harrison
Basildon UK
--- On Sun, 25/1/09, Alan Stepney <alan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

From: Alan Stepney <alan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [modeleng] drawing identity
To: modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Sunday, 25 January, 2009, 5:48 PM

When taking some rubbish to my local tip yesterday, I spotted a drawing in 
the pile of "interesting things" they keep there.
For the princely sum of 50 pence, I obtained the drawing of a Neilson Reid 
locomotive in a rather tatty frame.
Having removed it from the frame,  I scanned it.

(Due to the size, it is in two parts.)

http://www.alanstepney.info/reid1.jpg
http://www.alanstepney.info/reid2.jpg

The only books I have dont give enough information on the company to 
identify the engine.

Has anyone any idea of the date, and for whom it was built?

Alan 

MODEL ENGINEERING DISCUSSION LIST.

To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, send a blank email to, 
modeleng-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in the
subject line.

MODEL ENGINEERING DISCUSSION LIST.

To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, send a blank email to, 
modeleng-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

Other related posts: