🔗Richmond-Vale-Railway-Archive-Album-Image-33332[linkphoto]Richmond-Vale-Railway-Archive-Album-Image-33332[/linkphoto][/link]
The locomotive pictured from the Richmond Vale archive Album, is a remarkably interesting machine being a WW1 British built Ministry of Munitions 2-8-0 ex ROD (Railway Operating Department) loco. It is 1 of 13 purchased by J & A Brown of New South Wales Australia from the British Govt, for use on the Richmond Vale Railway serving the J A Brown Collieries. These locomotives were basically a Great Central Railway (GCR) 8K class 2-8-0 such as the preserved 63601 at Loughboro, the design dating back to 1911.
🔗Personal-Album-856-Image-33333[linkphoto]Personal-Album-856-Image-33333[/linkphoto][/link]
The design was chosen by the Ministry of Munitions based on its simple rugged design and ability to deliver. 566 were built for the ROD by the govt in WW1, many seeing service overseas, however many were built and saw little or no use as the war ended but locos were still being finished.
The ROD locos were stored after the war but tried out by many UK companies such as the LNWR, CR, GWR, LSWR etc... however most were handed back. Eventually the government agreed that the LNER would take more or less the whole fleet less those already disposed of such as the 13 for Australia, 46 to China and the GWR locos etc at a knock down price. The locomotives ran as class O4 under the LNER and BR lasting well into the 60s. Various rebuilds were tried but many remained unaltered. The power class given by BR was 8F based on the excellent Tractive effort of 31,326Lb.
However the 13 J & A Brown locos lasted into the 70s hauling coal trains in NSW around the Richmond Vale System with the last 2 locos only dropping their fires on the 28th June 1973.
The fleet was scrapped between 1968-73 but 3 locomotives were sold and survive in preservation today.
RODs were built by a number of companies- North British Loco, Kitson, Robert Stephenson and even the GCR at Gorton. Aprrox 641 locos built inc the GCR locos.
The Brown locos were allocated number 12- 24.
🔗Personal-Album-856-Image-33334[linkphoto]Personal-Album-856-Image-33334[/linkphoto][/link]
These are a personal favourite so excuse my long description which I hope you found interesting. :thumbsup: They are regarded as perhaps one of the finest looking 2-8-0 locos ever built and have a huge following. They were handsome but basic and easy to maintain. They suffered from weak front frames which could be seen dipping down hill after a heavy shunt or accident.
Photograph:
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh Creeper!!!!!