NCB No 1
Built by Neilson Reid possibly earlier than in 1902, which was the date on the sales ledger for the Coltness Iron Co. of Newmains, Lanarkshire.
No.1 was transferred to the National Coal Board Scottish Division (NCB) as part of the Scottish coal industry nationalisation and worked from Twechar. It was fitted with electric lighting powered from a Stones turbo-generator mounted on a plate above the RH side bunker. The reason being that the remaining collieries were in full production and the railway system was working on a 24 hour basis with certain pugs treble shifted. A partial overhaul was undertaken to improve the locomotive’s mechanical condition.
It was then transferred to Bedlay during April 1965 where it suffered a crosshead failure and was sidelined due to the many serviceable pugs being available from closed collieries.
In 1968 the loco was donated to the SRPS and stored at Falkirk. Eventually, the loco was restored at the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway and it became a fully licenced Thomas the Tank Engine replica. Oh dear.
At least it rejoices in the name "Lord Roberts", named as far as I can ascertain, after Field Marshal Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts ,one of the most distinguished commanders of the British Empire.
From a slide by Ray Gell in my collection.
NCB No 1
Built by Neilson Reid possibly earlier than in 1902, which was the date on the sales ledger for the Coltness Iron Co. of Newmains, Lanarkshire.
No.1 was transferred to the National Coal Board Scottish Division (NCB) as part of the Scottish coal industry nationalisation and worked from Twechar. It was fitted with electric lighting powered from a Stones turbo-generator mounted on a plate above the RH side bunker. The reason being that the remaining collieries were in full production and the railway system was working on a 24 hour basis with certain pugs treble shifted. A partial overhaul was undertaken to improve the locomotive’s mechanical condition.
It was then transferred to Bedlay during April 1965 where it suffered a crosshead failure and was sidelined due to the many serviceable pugs being available from closed collieries.
In 1968 the loco was donated to the SRPS and stored at Falkirk. Eventually, the loco was restored at the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway and it became a fully licenced Thomas the Tank Engine replica. Oh dear.
At least it rejoices in the name "Lord Roberts", named as far as I can ascertain, after Field Marshal Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts ,one of the most distinguished commanders of the British Empire.
From a slide by Ray Gell in my collection.