Present Your Case
If there’s a locomotive that you think needs to be offered ready-to-run, here’s the place to voice your opinion…
Locomotive: North London Railway ‘75’ 0-6-0T
Gauge: ‘OO’
Proposed by: R.V. Comber, by e-mail
What is it?
The North London Railway’s Bow Works was one of the smallest railway works in the country, but one of its finest products was the 0-6-0T, of which 30 were built between 1879 and 1905 to the design of J.C. Park.
These handsome little powerhouses, called the ‘75’ class, were built to cover a wide range of duties, from local passenger turns between Woolwich North and Fenchurch Street to shunting and goods work in the East India Docks.
All 30 were taken over by the London & North Western Railway in 1922 and again by the LMS the following year. BR eventually inherited 14, and the last were not withdrawn until 1960.
What would make it viable?
There aren’t many ‘OO’ gauge 0-6-0Ts with outside cylinders and at the very least this model would be interesting to look at! It would suit all manner of small layouts, particularly those depicting docksides and shunting.
Another bonus is that, despite their longevity, the ‘75s’ were subject to very few changes over the years. There would be very few tooling changes – maybe different chimneys – which would make it a very economical model to produce.
There are numerous livery options too. In North London days, numbers were carried on tank side numberplates, whereas the LNWR painted its numbers on the tank side. There were different LMS liveries, not to mention two BR styles.
Of course, the biggest ‘X factor’ with these locomotives is that they were employed on the Cromford & High Peak Railway. Two were transferred in 1931 and their power and short wheelbase made them an attractive locomotive to the operating authorities. Rowsley shed received four and the last, No. 58850, was not withdrawn until 1960. BR’S other ten were withdrawn from Devons Road (Bow) and Birkenhead Mollington Street in the 1950s.
Can I see a real one?
Yes. No. 58850 was overhauled at Derby after withdrawal as it had been acquired by the Bluebell Railway. It’s still at the Bluebell and though it’s been out of action for many years, it’s now undergoing cosmetic restoration.