‘BITSA’ THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER!
The interesting photograph of Swanscombe No. 3 at its namesake cement quarry in 1970 (SR506) is not what it seems.
Swanscombe No. 3 was actually Hawthorn Leslie Works No. 3717 (1928), with No. 6 being HL Works No. 3860 (1935). So, how does No. 3 appear to be No. 6 in disguise?
The Swanscombe engineer in charge regarded the boiler as the basis of the locomotives under his care, unlike the usual convention where the frame was the basis. So, when boilers were switched between locomotives, the works plates went with it, hence No. 6’s boiler would appear to have been transplanted onto No. 3’s frames.
However, that wasn’t the only trick Swanscombe had up its sleeve! It was not unknown for the locomotives to swap saddle tanks, thus No. 3 could have donated its tank to No. 6 for whatever reason.
When the Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers (APCM) decided to have some of their fleet preserved, No. 6 was classed as being in the best condition and was donated to the Middleton Railway, while No. 3 was sold to Quainton. Both societies agreed to share the purchase cost of No. 3 and both went to their respective homes in 1971.
So far as No. 6 is concerned, we know the boiler is definitely that from HL Works No. 3860 and it is currently finishing a major overhaul before returning to Leeds. Most of the motion is stamped No. 3716, while the frame might be from either Nos. 3716, 3717 or 3719! These six locomotives were thoroughly mixed up during their years of service and our No. 6 is most definitely a ‘bitsa’! Ian Smith,
Middleton Railway Trust