Vale of Neath Railway 0-6-0ST locomotives

Vale of Neath Railway 0-6-0ST locomotives were 0-6-0 saddle tank steam locomotives for working the heavy goods traffic on the Vale of Neath Railway and its associated lines in Wales. The first of 13 broad gauge locomotives entered service in 1854 and the last was withdrawn in 1886. The remaining four were standard gauge locomotives.

The Vale of Neath Railway was amalgamated into the Great Western Railway on 1 February 1865. The broad gauge locomotives retained their old numbers, but the standard gauge ones were renumbered.

Broad gauge

Rebuilt 4-4-0STs

Vale of Neath 0-6-0ST
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Daniel Gooch Builder Robert Stephenson & Co.
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-6-0ST Gauge 7 ft (2,134 mm) Cylinder size 17.5 in × 24 in (444 mm × 610 mm)

• 7 (c.1858 – 1874)
• 8 (c.1858 – 1880)
• 9 (c.1858 – 1878)

Three small-wheeled 4-4-0ST locomotives had been built by Robert Stephenson and Company in 1854, but by 1858 they had all been rebuilt as 0-6-0STs and, as such, the last was withdrawn in 1880.

Small Vulcan locomotives

Vale of Neath 0-6-0ST
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Daniel Gooch Builder Vulcan Foundry Serial number 362–364
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-6-0ST Gauge 7 ft (2,134 mm) Driver dia. 4 ft 9 in (1,448 mm) Wheelbase 15 ft 7 in (4.75 m) Cylinder size 17 in × 24 in (432 mm × 610 mm)

• 10 (1854 – 1880)
• 11 (1854 – 1878)
• 12 (1854 – 1884)

The first 0-6-0STs delivered to the Vale of Neath Railway came from the Vulcan Foundry in 1854. Built to the same design as the South Devon Railway Tornado class with 900-imperial-gallon (4,100 L; 1,100 US gal) water tanks. The last one was withdrawn in 1884.

Large Vulcan locomotives

Vale of Neath 0-6-0ST
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Vulcan Foundry Serial number 409–411
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-6-0ST Gauge 7 ft (2,134 mm) Driver dia. 4 ft 9 in (1,448 mm) Wheelbase 15 ft 3 in (4.65 m) Cylinder size 18 in × 24 in (457 mm × 610 mm)

• 13 (1856 – 1875)
• 14 (1856 – 1872)
• 15 (1857 – 1874)

A second batch of 0-6-0STs with longer 1,500-imperial-gallon (6,800 L; 1,800 US gal) tanks were delivered in 1856. They also had a shorter wheelbase, larger cylinders and different valve gear. They were altered to 0-6-0 tender locomotives after 1860 and were all withdrawn by 1875.

Slaughter, Grüning locomotives

Vale of Neath 0-6-0ST
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Daniel Gooch Builder Slaughter, Grüning & Co.
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-6-0ST Gauge 7 ft (2,134 mm) Driver dia. 4 ft 6 in (1,372 mm) Wheelbase 15 ft 7 in (4.75 m) Cylinder size 17.5 in × 24 in (444 mm × 610 mm)

• 16 (1861 – 1886)
• 17 (1861 – 1885)
• 18 (1861 – 1872)
• 19 (1861 – 1875)

Four more broad gauge 0-6-0STs were delivered in 1861, this time from the Bristol builders, Slaughter, Grüning and Company, similar to the South Devon Railway Dido class that they had built the previous year. The last one was withdrawn in 1886.

In 1865 No. 16 was hauling a train of coal wagons at Swansea when it fell into the harbour, a moving bridge having been left open. The two men on the locomotive were killed.

Standard gauge

Four standard gauge 0-6-0 tank locomotives were built by two different manufacturers, two by Robert Stephenson and Company, and two by the Vulcan Foundry.

• 20 (GWR No. 413)
• 21 (GWR No. 414)
• 22 (GWR No. 415)
• 23 (GWR No. 416)

References

• Reed, P. J. T. (February 1953). White, D. E. (ed.). The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, Part 2: Broad Gauge. Kenilworth: RCTS. pp. B31–B32. ISBN 0-901115-32-0.
• MacDermot, E. T. (1931). History of the Great Western Railway, volume II 1863-1921. London: Great Western Railway.
• Waters, Laurence (1999). The Great Western Broad Gauge. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-7110-2634-3.