THE INDUSTRIAL RAILWAY RECORD

No.26 - p115

© AUGUST 1969

SOME  AVONSIDE
NOTES  AND  QUERIES

K. P. PLANT

    "Two 0−4−0 saddle tank locos named "Princess Mary" and "Burntisland" have been landed at Victoria, B.C., in connection with the new Harbour Works. They are said to be the first British type locos in British Columbia." This frustratingly inadequate paragraph appeared in the September 1913 issue of "The Locomotive Magazine." Perhaps our Canadian readers can fill in some of the details, e.g. the name of the contractor, and whether any other locomotives were employed on this job.

    With regard to the identity of the locomotives, we know of two named BURNTISLAND but one (Black Hawthorn 884 of 1889) may be ruled out as it was with Happerfield & Willans Ltd of Newport (Mon) from at least 1913 until sold for scrap in July 1931. Another locomotive named BURNTISLAND (according to Avonside records) was Barclay 797 of 1897, said to be No.174 of Sir John Jackson Ltd., contractors. We cannot call a PRINCESS MARY to mind but (according to Avonside records) Peckett 956 of 1903 was named QUEEN MARY. If the two locos which went out to Canada were indeed Peckett 956 and Barclay 797, then they must have returned to Britain as both were repaired by Avonside in 1927 whilst in the ownership of Joseph Pugsley & Sons Ltd., the Bristol dealers. On 21st and 25th July respectively they were invoiced to Pugsley at "C" shed, King's Dock, Swansea for shipment; where they went we do not know. However, and this is unfortunate for our hypothesis, the Society's records show Peckett 956 with name MACDONALD and owned by the Derwent Valley Water Board in Derbyshire until September 1913 when it is said to have been sold to Bentley & Jubb, dealers. If this date is correct Peckett 956 could not have been the PRINCESS MARY mentioned in the first paragraph. But is this date an authentic one?

    Another locomotive repaired by Avonside in 1927 for Pugsley was also invoiced (on 20th July 1927) to Swansea for shipment. It was described as an 0−4−0 side tank "South Western Loco" with 12in by 18in cylinders, and during its overhaul it had been fitted with oilburning equipment. This consisted of a "Duplex" burner arranged to inject oil into a new special firebrick-lined combustion chamber in place of the ordinary ashpan; the oil tank was placed in the bunker. Now there were not many 0−4−0 side tanks on the London & South Western Railway, and even less with 12in by 18in cylinders. Class "S14TY No.147, however, would appear to fit the bill. According to "Locomotives of the L.S.W.R." (RCTS), No.147 was sold in May 1917 to the Ministry of Munitions. It went under its own steam to Gloucester for service in a local munitions factory to which spare parts were sent In June 1918; no later movement has been recorded. It seems possible that No.147 may have gone to the Quedgeley Royal Ordnance Factory (near Gloucester), and if offered for disposal local dealer Pugsley was close at hand to make a purchase. It goes without saying that further information would be most welcome. Would the Customs records or other shipping documents at Swansea give any clue to the destination of these three locomotives?