The Highland Railway Drummond 0-6-4T or X class were large tank engines designed by Peter Drummond, originally intended for banking duty.
Construction The first four were built by the North British Locomotive Company and delivered in 1909. A second batch of four was delivered in 1911.
Design The design was derived from the Class K 0-6-0 tender engines and leading dimensions were very similar, although the boiler and firebox are recorded as 'larger' by an unspecified amount.
Reputation They were not popular with crews, many finding them heavy and clumsy and several having problems with water capacity. Their axleboxes also consistently ran hot as well.
Numbering HR No. Built LMS No. Withdrawn Notes 39 1909 15300 64 1909 15301 Renumbered 66 in 1909 65 1909 15302 Renumbered 68 in 1909 69 1909 15303 29 1911 15304 Renumbered 43 in 1913 31 1911 15305 42 1911 15306 44 1911 15307
Transfer to LMS All entered London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) ownership in 1923 and were renumbered 15300–7 with the power classification 4; this was revised to 4P in 1928. Six locomotives (LMS nos. 15300–3/5/7) received the LMS red livery but were later repainted black; the other two (LMS nos. 15304/6) went directly from HR green to LMS black. Withdrawal commenced in 1932, and was completed in 1936.
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