Cambrian 0-4-2 Locomotives in Great Britain

Class Milford (Locobase 20129)

Data from "The Locomotive History of the Cambrian Railways", Locomotive Magazine, Volume 19 (15 October 1913), pp. 233. Works number was 1123 in 1859.

This saddle tank had the leading driver layout and driver diameter to serve as local passenger motive power on the CR after its stint as one of Thomas Savin's construction locomotives.

The CR operated the engine until the 1890s; it was scrapped in 1895.

Class Wynnstay (Locobase 20127)

Data from "The Locomotive History of the Cambrian Railways", Locomotive Magazine, Volume 19 (15 September 1913), pp. 208-209. See also "The Late Mr Thomas Savin", Bye-Gones: Relating to Wales and the Border Counties, (31 July 1889), p. 188. Works numbers were 1146-1148 in 1859, 1224-1226 in 1860.

The author of this multi-part history begins by explaining that the Cambrian Railways were formed under two Acts (1861, 8865) that amalgamated several South Wales railways including the Oswestry & Newtown (30 miles/48 km, opened 1860), Llanidoes & Newtown (12 1/2 miles/20.1 km, 1859), Newtown & Machyalleth (23 miles/37 km, 1863), Oswestry, Ellesmere & Whitechurch (18 miles/29 km, 1863), and the Aberystwyth & Welsh Coast (86 miles/138 km, 1863). The CR also operated the Mid-Wales Railway--an extension of the Llanidoes & Newtown--from 1888 (amalgamated 1904), the short Van mineral railway in 1896. Other lines were the Ellesmere & Wrexham (1895), Tanat Valley (1904), 30"-gauge Welshpool & Llanfair, and the Mawddwy Railway.

The CR was a short line with a 95 1/2 mile (153.8 km) trunk line between Whitchurch and Aberwystwyth with steep gradients like the 14-mile (22.5 km) climb from Machynlleth to Talerddig Summit that culminated in 1.9% pitch-ups over the last 3 1/2 miles (5.6 km). Thomas Savin, a railroad contractor operating in both North and South Wales, established such a dominant position in partnership with a Mr Ward of Donnett that the former's obituary proclaimed "for some years there were no more familiar names in Wales than those of 'Savin and Ward.'"

Among the CR's first locomotives was this sextet of front-running passenger engines delivered in 1859-1860. They weren't big and as delivered, offered only a weatherboard for crew protection (the cab came later). But they were serviceable and most lasted on the CR until the late 1890s. The CR sold off the Wynnstay (4) and Glansevern (6) early, but the Montgomery (5) and Llanerchydol (7) lasted until 1895 and Leighton and Volunteer were scrapped in 1899.