DHR B Class 778 explained

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway 19
(All-India No. 778)
Powertype:Steam
Builder:Sharp, Stewart & Co.
Serialnumber:3518
Uicclass:B n2t
Driverdiameter:263NaN3
Boilerpressure:1402NaN2
Firearea:9square feet
Totalsurface:316square feet
Superheatertype:None
Cylindercount:Two, outside
Cylindersize:11x
Tractiveeffort:77502NaN2
Operatorclass:DHR B Class
Numinclass:3rd of 34
Nicknames:Little Blue
Locale:Statfold Barn Railway
Withdrawndate:1960
Currentowner:Darjeeling Tank Locomotive Trust
Disposition:Under renovation (awaiting new boiler)
Website:www.darjeelingtank.org.uk

DHR 778 (originally number 19) is a narrow-gauge steam locomotive, that was built in 1889 for the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. It is preserved in the United Kingdom, and is the only DHR locomotive outside of India. The engine has the oldest locomotive boiler still in use anywhere in the world.[1]

History

DHR 778 is a DHR B Class, a design built between 1889 and 1927. A total of 34 were built. By 2005 only 12 remained in use (or under repair) on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. The class was designed by Sharp, Stewart and Company of Glasgow and built by them, their successors the North British Locomotive Company (NBL), and three each by Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW, Philadelphia, USA), and the DHR works at Tindharia.

Number 778 (originally No.19) was built in 1889 by Sharp Stewart & Co at the Atlas Works in Glasgow. It is the only DHR locomotive outside of India. After many years out of use at the Hesston Steam Museum, it was sold to enthusiast Adrian Shooter in the United Kingdom and restored to working order. It was based on Beeches Light Railway, a private railway in Oxfordshire, and has also run on the Ffestiniog Railway, the Leighton Buzzard Light Railway, the Launceston Steam Railway and the South Tynedale Railway.[2] 778 is the only B class with a tender.

Locomotive was basedat the Beeches Light Railway until the Shooter's death in December 2022. On 21 June 2023, the locomotive was purchased at auction for £250,000 by The Darjeeling Tank Locomotive Trust (DTLT), with supporters raising the required money three months beforehand. Following the sale, the locomotive and its two matching carriages were relocated by the Trust to the Statfold Barn Railway near Tamworth, Staffordshire.

Special events

In mid-2011, for the 40th anniversary of the Froissy Dompierre Light Railway in France, three Britain-based locomotives visited, including locomotive 778.[3]

In 2013, locomotive 778 ran as a part of Indian Extravaganza Fest in Bedfordshire in East England, [4] and in 2014 it was the main attraction at the South Tynedale Railway's Indian Summer Event[5]

Further reading

1980s

2010s

2020s

2023

Pre-auction
Post-auction

2024

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Catch the Darjeeling B at Launceston Steam Railway before the end of the season. 2019-09-12. 2023-07-25. Cornish & Devon Post. x-ray inspection of the original boiler showed that there was virtually no wastage. No.19 now has the distinction of having the oldest locomotive boiler in use anywhere in the world..
  2. Web site: Slumdog Millionaire comes to the North Pennines!. 2014. 2021-05-16.
  3. Web site: British-based Trio Steam in France. 2011. 2021-01-23. Rail.co.uk. 40th anniversary of the Froissy-Cappy-Dompierre line entering preservation. … invitations extended to The Greensand Railway Museum Trust's Baldwin 4-6-0T WDLR No. 778 and Adrian Shooter's Darjeeling Himalayan Railway B-Class 0-4-0ST No. 19 (SS 3518/1888) to visit..
  4. Web site: Historic Indian steam locos to run again in England amid extravaganza on weekend. 4 May 2013.
  5. Web site: Indian Summer Comes to Alston. 2014. 2021-05-16.

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