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British Railway (SR) - ‘A1X Class’ 0-6-0T No.32655 55 ‘Stepney’, 655, B655 & 2655) taken on shed Rolvenden taking water - 05/12/1953.
The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) A1 Class is an English class of 0-6-0T steam locomotive. Designed by William Stroudley, 50 members of the class were built in 1872 and between 1874 and 1880, all at Brighton Works.
Originally known as "A" class, these diminutive tank locomotives were designed in 1870 to haul commuter trains on the heavily congested lines in South and South-East London.
A1X (Terrier) Class 0-6-0T No. 32655 (55 Stepney’) designed by William Stroudley, built in 1875 at Brighton Works. In 1907 was fitted with mechanical push pull gear as an experiment with light push and pull trains as an alternative to unreliable rail cars. Rebuilt to A1X in 1912
In 1916 the locomotive was loaned to the Woolmer Instructional Military Railway (the forerunner of the Longmoor Military Railway) after which it brakes and LSW type mechanical push pull gear. It then became the second engine for working the Lee on Solent branch until the line closed. It was withdrawn in 1925 and stored at Preston Park as surplus to requirements but was then reinstated in 1927 as B655.
As SR 2655 it then worked from Fratton on the Hayling Island line until 1938 when the return of several engines from the Isle of Wight created a surplus and 32655 moved on hire to the Kent and East Sussex Railway. The hire lasted until the decline of war traffic in 1945 when the engine returned to Fratton. Finally, was withdrawn by British Railways in 1960 and was sold for £750 to the Bluebell Railway on 17 May 1960. Currently preserved but on long term static display at Sheffield Park engine shed.
Photographer unknown – Copyright: RCTS - taken on shed at Rolvenden on 01/12/1953.
British Railway (SR) - ‘A1X Class’ 0-6-0T No.32655 55 ‘Stepney’, 655, B655 & 2655) taken on shed Rolvenden taking water - 05/12/1953.
The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) A1 Class is an English class of 0-6-0T steam locomotive. Designed by William Stroudley, 50 members of the class were built in 1872 and between 1874 and 1880, all at Brighton Works.
Originally known as "A" class, these diminutive tank locomotives were designed in 1870 to haul commuter trains on the heavily congested lines in South and South-East London.
A1X (Terrier) Class 0-6-0T No. 32655 (55 Stepney’) designed by William Stroudley, built in 1875 at Brighton Works. In 1907 was fitted with mechanical push pull gear as an experiment with light push and pull trains as an alternative to unreliable rail cars. Rebuilt to A1X in 1912
In 1916 the locomotive was loaned to the Woolmer Instructional Military Railway (the forerunner of the Longmoor Military Railway) after which it brakes and LSW type mechanical push pull gear. It then became the second engine for working the Lee on Solent branch until the line closed. It was withdrawn in 1925 and stored at Preston Park as surplus to requirements but was then reinstated in 1927 as B655.
As SR 2655 it then worked from Fratton on the Hayling Island line until 1938 when the return of several engines from the Isle of Wight created a surplus and 32655 moved on hire to the Kent and East Sussex Railway. The hire lasted until the decline of war traffic in 1945 when the engine returned to Fratton. Finally, was withdrawn by British Railways in 1960 and was sold for £750 to the Bluebell Railway on 17 May 1960. Currently preserved but on long term static display at Sheffield Park engine shed.
Photographer unknown – Copyright: RCTS - taken on shed at Rolvenden on 01/12/1953.