Highland Railway Ben Class


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 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.NameManufacturerBuiltWithdrawnLMS No.BR No.Notes
1Ben-y-GloeDübs & Co. 36851439754397Renamed Ben Y’Gloe in 1939. Withdrawn before BR number applied
2Ben AlderDübs & Co. 36861439854398Set aside for preservation, but scrapped in 1967
3Ben WyvisDübs & Co. 36871439954399
4Ben MoreDübs & Co. 368814400—
5Ben VrackieDübs & Co. 36891440154401Withdrawn before BR number applied
6Ben ArminDübs & Co. 369014402—
7Ben AttowDübs & Co. 36911440354403Withdrawn before BR number applied
8Ben ClebrigDübs & Co. 36921440454404

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. It was renamed before entering service.

Second batch

The Highland Railway built another nine during 1899–1900 at their own Lochgorm works:
HR No.NameBuiltWithdrawnLMS No.BR No.Notes
9Ben Rinnes14405—
10Ben Slioch14406—
11Ben Macdhui14407—
12Ben Hope14408
13Ben Alisky1440954409Withdrawn before BR number applied
14Ben Dearg1441054410Withdrawn before BR number applied
15Ben Loyal14411—
16Ben Avon14412—
17Ben Alligan14413—

Third batch

Finally, three more were built by the North British Locomotive Company of Glasgow in 1906.
HR No.NameNBL SerialBuiltWithdrawnLMS No.BR No.Notes
38Ben Udlaman1739814414—
41Ben Bhach Ard173991441554415Withdrawn before BR number applied
47Ben a'Bhuird174001441654416Withdrawn 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.NameNBL serialBuiltWithdrawnLMS No.BR No.Notes
61Ben na Caillich1826914417—Renamed Ben na Caillach in 1926
63Ben Mheadhoin1827014418—
66Ben Mholach1827114419—Renumbered 64 in 1909
68Ben a'Chait1827214420—Renumbered 65 in 1909
60Ben Breac Mhor1880314421—Renamed Ben Bhreac 'Mhor in 1924
62Ben a'Chaoruinn1880414422—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 it was eventually cut up in 1967; and so, none were preserved. However, a charitable organisation has been formed with the aim of building a working replica of 54398 Ben Alder.