The Highland Railway Ben Class were small 4-4-0 passenger steam locomotives. There were actually two separate 'Ben' classes, usually referred to as the 'Small Bens' and the 'Large Bens'.
Introduction
Despite the large and small tags, there was actually little difference between the two groups, the most crucial being larger boilers with an increase in tube heating surface. Cylinder and wheel dimensions were identical.
The class was originally designed by Peter Drummond, whose elder (and better known) brother Dugald had been in the company's locomotive department in earlier years and was at that time Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London and South Western Railway.
In appearance they were fairly typical Drummond family products with the stiffener across the cab roof. They were also inside cylindered, almost uniquely among HR bogie locomotives.
Build details First batch
The first 8 locomotives were of the Small Ben type and were built by Dübs and Company of Glasgow in the period 1898 to 1899. They were:
HR No. Name Manufacturer Built Withdrawn LMS No. BR No. Notes 1 Ben-y-Gloe Dübs & Co. 14397 54397 Renamed Ben Y’Gloe in 1939. Withdrawn before BR number applied 2 Ben Alder Dübs & Co. 14398 54398 Set aside for preservation, but scrapped in 05/1966 3 Ben Wyvis Dübs & Co. 14399 54399 4 Ben More Dübs & Co. 14400 — 5 Ben Vrackie Dübs & Co. 14401 54401 Withdrawn before BR number applied 6 Ben Armin Dübs & Co. 14402 — 7 Ben Attow Dübs & Co. 14403 54403 Withdrawn before BR number applied 8 Ben Clebrig Dübs & Co. 14404 54404 No. 1 was originally named Ben Nevis for its works portrait, an action that attracted the ire of the board as it was in the territory of a competitor (the North British Railway). It was renamed before entering service.
Second batch
The Highland Railway built another nine during 1899–1900 at their own Lochgorm works:
HR No. Name Built Withdrawn LMS No. BR No. Notes 9 Ben Rinnes 14405 — 10 Ben Slioch 14406 — 11 Ben Macdhui 14407 — 12 Ben Hope 14408 13 Ben Alisky 14409 54409 Withdrawn before BR number applied 14 Ben Dearg 14410 54410 Withdrawn before BR number applied 15 Ben Loyal 14411 — 16 Ben Avon 14412 — 17 Ben Alligan 14413 —
Third batch
Finally, three more were built by the North British Locomotive Company of Glasgow in 1906. HR No. Name NBL Serial Built Withdrawn LMS No. BR No. Notes 38 Ben Udlaman 17398 14414 — 41 Ben Bhach Ard 17399 14415 54415 Withdrawn before BR number applied 47 Ben a'Bhuird 17400 14416 54416 Withdrawn before BR number applied
Large Bens
In 1908 a larger version appeared, initially four examples from North British Locomotive, with two more the following year HR No. Name NBL serial Built Withdrawn LMS No. BR No. Notes 61 Ben na Caillich 18269 14417 — Renamed Ben na Caillach in 1926 63 Ben Mheadhoin 18270 14418 — 66 Ben Mholach 18271 14419 — Renumbered 64 in 1909 68 Ben a'Chait 18272 14420 — Renumbered 65 in 1909 60 Ben Breac Mhor 18803 14421 — Renamed Ben Bhreac 'Mhor in 1924 62 Ben a'Chaoruinn 18804 14422 — Renamed Ben Achaoruinn in 1926, then Ben a'Chaoruinn at unknown date
Grouping and Nationalisation
All of these locomotives survived to be taken over by the LMS at the Grouping in 1923. The Large Bens were all withdrawn between 1932 and 1937. The first of the Small Bens was withdrawn in 1931, but ten survived into British Railways ownership. The last of these, 54398 Ben Alder, was withdrawn in 1953 and placed in storage in the hope that it would be preserved.
Preservation attempts and revival Unfortunately, the hopes for 54398 – which included the intention to restore the locomotive to Highland Railway condition – came to nothing, and following storage at various locations (including Boat of Garten) it was eventually cut up on 05/1966; and so, none were preserved. However, a charitable organisation has been formed with the aim of building a working replica of 54398 Ben Alder. But the project was cancelled.
References
External links Rail UK database no. 54398