Bluebell Railway Locomotives

North London Railway Class 75 Goods Tank
27505, 0-6-0T built in 1880.

North London Tank

Photo courtesy of Lewis Nodes.

Go to another photo of this engine on the Bluebell
Neil Ferguson-Lee's gallery of photos of it at Wirksworth.

This powerful goods locomotive was built for shunting in the docks served by the North London Railway, and for the goods traffic emanating from the docks, and carried on the NLR's 14-mile main line. It undoubtably ventured out on occasions onto other companies lines with exchange traffic. The NLR subsequently became part of the LNWR and, at the grouping in 1923, the LMS. Several locos from this class became celebrities thanks to their use on the LMS's very steeply graded Cromford and High Peak line in Derbyshire.

When this, the last one of the class, was withdrawn from traffic in 1960 it was kept at Derby until coming to the Bluebell in 1962. Used by contractors for the demolition of the line from East Grinstead to Ardingly, it has since been used in the rebuilding of the same line, on the Bluebell's northwards extension. Requiring very major boiler work before it can again be steamed, in the interim it was placed on loan to other locations, and so both relieve space at Sheffield Park and act as an ambassador for the Bluebell in foreign parts.

In 1999 it went on loan to Barrow Hill Engine Shed, and on 6 May 2005 was moved to the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway at Wirksworth. Wirksworth is the nearest location to 27505's old stamping ground on the Cromford & High Peak Railway. It arrived back at Sheffield Park on 22nd October 2005, with the intention of commencing its overhaul fairly soon.

Class: 75
Wheels: 0-6-0T
Class Introduced: 1879
Designer: J. C. Park
Built: 1880, Bow Works
Total number built: 30
Numbers carried: NLR: 76, 116, LNWR: 2650, LMS: 7505, 27505, BR: 58850
Arrived on Bluebell Railway: 28 March 1962

Length: 28ft
Weight: 45 Tons 10 cwt
Water capacity: 1,000 Gallons (approx.)
Coal capacity: 1 Ton
Boiler Pressure: 160 lb/sq.in
Driving Wheels: 4ft 4in
Cylinders: (2, outside) 17" x 24"
Tractive Effort: 18,140 lbs
Engine Brake: Vacuum
BR power classification: 2F

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