Spa Valley Railway - Stock List

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

Topham

Works No. 2193
Bagnall 0-6-0ST Built 1922,
Bagnall at Stafford, England
Wheel Diameter - 3ft 9in over a 12ft wheel base
Cylinders - 17in x 24in
Walschaerts valve gear
Tractive Effort - 18,500lbs at 75% boiler pressure
Weight in working order - 45 tons
Boiler Pressure - 160 PSI

Built in 1922, "Topham" was the only one of that particular class built, and went to work in West Cannock Colliery on 27 November 1922, having cost £3,600. At the time it was Bagnall's largest industrial locomotive. The name came from one of the families that had shares in the colliery. Under the control of the "NCB", "Topham" moved to the nearby Cannock Wood Colliery in 1970, before returning home prior to preservation at the Foxfield Light Railway, in November 1972. Used frequently on passenger trains until sale to the North Downs Steam Railway, Dartford in 1987. Withdrawn from service for a major overhaul in 1990, it was moved with the railway to the Spa Valley in 1996.

Painted in Blackberry Black, with red lining from new, the maker's were very proud of the locomotive, with it appearing in much publicity material, although being unique.

Current Status - Requires Heavy Overhaul and Rebuild

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