NBR 141 Class explained

NBR 141 Class
Powertype:Steam
Designer:Thomas Wheatley
Builder:NBR, Cowlairs
Builddate:1869
Totalproduction:2
Leadingdiameter:4feet
Driverdiameter:6feet
Fueltype:Coal
Watercap:1650impgal
Cylindercount:Two, inside
Cylindersize:16x
Operator:North British Railway
Operatorclass:141
Numinclass:2
Fleetnumbers:141, 164
Withdrawndate:1915
Scrapdate:1923
Disposition:All scrapped

The NBR 141 Class consisted of two steam locomotives built by the North British Railway (NBR) in 1869. They were the direct antecedents of the NBR 224 Class .

History

Thomas Wheatley became locomotive superintendent of the North British Railway (NBR) at the start of February 1867. During his tenure of seven years, he provided the NBR with 185 new locomotives; but only eight of these were suitable for hauling express passenger trains, the first two of which were these s, nos. 141 and 164, which were built in 1869; the remaining six were the s of the 224 and 420 Classes, introduced in 1871 and 1873 respectively.

Originally the 141 Class had leading wheels of 4inchesft0inchesin (ftin) diameter, coupled wheels of 6inchesft6inchesin (ftin) diameter, and cylinders measuring 16by. The boilers were domeless, with the safety-valves mounted above the firebox. The frames were single, the driving wheel splashers had eight slots; there was no cab, but a weatherboard with two circular windows. The six-wheel tender held 1650impgal of water. They were very good locomotives, and when the cylinder diameter was increased by 1inch, the performance was not adversely affected.

Rebuilding

On the NBR, locomotives were generally rebuilt when their boilers wore out. Matthew Holmes, locomotive superintendent of the NBR between 1882 and 1903, rebuilt both locomotives in 1890; amongst the improvements were a domed boiler, Westinghouse brake and a cab. In later years, no. 141 was used on trains between Glasgow and .

Final years

Every six months, the NBR renumbered some of its older locomotives into a "duplicate list", in order to vacate numbers for new construction. Accordingly, in 1912, nos. 141 and 164 were placed on the duplicate list, becoming nos. 1158/60 respectively. They were both withdrawn from service in 1915 and scrapped in 1923.

Summary

Original number Built Rebuilt Renumbered (year) Withdrawn
141 1869 1890 1158 (1912) 1915
164 1869 1890 1160 (1912) 1915
The locomotives may have been named after 1875 – it has been stated that Drummond, who replaced Wheatley in 1875, named NBR engines "including those already in service".

References