Spa Valley Railway

Spa Valley Railway, West Station, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5QY
Telephone: 01892 537715
Email enquiries@spavalleyrailway.co.uk

(Photo ©D.Staines)

L&SWR "Beattie" Well Tank No. 30587

Built - 1874
Builder - Beyer Peacock & Co. Gorton, Manchester
Wheel Arrangement - 2-4-0WT
Wheel Diameter - 5ft 7in
Length - 31ft 4¾in (16ft 6in wheelbase)
Cylinders - 16½in x 20in
Inside Stephenson valve gear
Tractive Effort - 11,053lbs
Weight in working order - 37 tons 16cwts
Boiler Pressure - 160 PSI

Designed as part of a class of 85, 30587 was designed by Joseph Beattie for the London and South Western Railway (L&SWR). Built in June 1874, costing £2750, 298 (as it was then known) worked trains around the suburbs of London, out of Waterloo. At this time their appearance was quite different to what they do now. When out-shopped the engines possessed a tall copper capped chimney, brass dome cover and a open backed cab. Over time, during overhauls, these were replaced, resulting in the appearance today.

As trains became heavier around London, the Beattie's usefulness became less and they were soon replaced by the larger 4-4-2 Adams tanks. The Beatties were moved out to the country branchlines but their water capacity soon proved a problem and this resulted in some being converted to tender engines. 298 was shedded at Exeter to work the Exmouth, Seaton, Chard and Sidmouth branchlines. However in the 1890s, all but three were withdrawn from service. These three would survive up to the 1960s as they established themselves as a vital asset for working the tightly curved Wenfordbridge china clay lines, lasting another 67 years. Many attempts to replace the Beatties by both the L&SWR and Southern Railway (SR) resulted in force starts. No suitable replacements could be found, so the Beatties continued to be overhauled at Eastleigh and sent back to Cornwall, until 1962 when the Western Region (WR) took control of the branchline and replaced the engines with three 1369 class Pannier tanks.

30587 (as it was renumbered by British Railways) was withdrawn by BR in December 1962 and it travelled to Eastleigh with sister engine 30585 (now preserved at Buckinghamshire Railway Centre). From here the pair operated two railtours around the London area before being preserved. The third member (30586) was scrapped. 30587 was selected to be part of the National Collection and spent the latter half of 1964 being moved around various steam sheds on the Southern Region. It was placed in store at the Pullman Works at Preston Park, Brighton, as part of a reserve collection. From here it moved to the Dart Valley Railway, Buckfastleigh, in April 1978, where it was displayed inside their museum.

In 2001, 30587 was removed from the museum and taken to the the Flour Mill Workshops in the Forest of Dean, where it was restored to running order over 12 months. It returned to steam in November 2002 and made a welcome return to its former stomping ground on the Bodmin and Wenford Railway. 30587's sister, 30585 has also been overhauled and in 2006, the pair were re-united for the first time since 1962 at Bodmin. In May 2007, 30587 made its first visit to Kent to star in our 10th anniversary steam gala.

Livery - BR Unlined Black

Current Status - Visited from Bodmin and Wenford Railway from 5th until 20th May

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