Beyer
Peacock 0-4-0 saddle tank (formerly with crane) built 1879, number 1827
A
small locomotive originally built in 1879 by Beyer Peacock of Manchester
as an 0-4-2ST with a crane mounted on the extended frames at the rear.
The date at which the crane was removed is not known, but it was used as
shunter for Beyer Peacock's Gorton works where it had been built. There
is a similarity with the well known 0-4-0ST design built by the Lancashire
& Yorkshire Railway for use on its docks, and later elsewhere on the
former LMS system. The design of the L&YR "pug" is reputed to have
been based on this little Beyer Peacock locomotive. Number 1827 was retired
from shunting at Gorton and preserved in 1966.
Number
1827, usually known simply as "the Beyer", moved to Foxfield from the Cambrian
Railway Society headquarters at Oswestry in summer 1996. It had been in
active use at the Oswestry steam events but has been put to harder work
at Foxfield on passenger and demonstration freight trains, often working
in tandem with another small locomotive such as Robert
Heath "No6".
Above: Beyer Peacock 0-4-0ST number 1827 in 1958
Two
members of the L&YR dock "pugs" which are reputed to be derived from
this design are preserved: L&YR number 68 (later LMS 11218 and BR 51218)
is currently at the Keighley
& Worth Valley Railway and number 19 is currently at the
Ribble
Steam Railway - individual details are at: http://www.rsr.steamrailways.com/stocklist/no19.htm