Wrexham, Mold & Connah's Quay 0-6-2 Locomotives in Great_Britain

Class 12 (Locobase 10513)

Data from "Locomotives of the Wrexham, Mold & Connah's Quay Ry," The Locomotive Magazine, Vol XI (15 May 1905), p. 111-112. Works numbers (12-13) were 2649-2650 and 2962-2963 represented 15-16 when they were delivered in 1888.

This class of radial tanks was larger than earlier goods engine because of the increase in traffic over this short line. BP delivered the first two with saddle tanks of the capacity shown in the specifications; the later 15-16 had larger saddle tanks of 1,300 Imp. gallons (1,560 US gallons) capacity. The four locomotives were delivered with copper stacks (chimneys), but these were later replaced when worn out with cast-iron pipes.

Class 17 (Locobase 10531)

Data from "Locomotives of the Wrexham, Mold & Connah's Quay Ry," The Locomotive Magazine, Vol XI (16 October 1905), p.167. Works numbers were 3866-3867.

The W M & CQ had procured saddle radial tanks from Beyer, Peacock over the years and produced its own radial tanks out of earlier locomotives. This pair of side tanks, however was more powerful and heavier than earlier engines. It was in fact very similar to the Great Central radial tanks of the day, which is less surprising when one finds that Harry Pollitt supplied designs for such engines to the W M & CQ.

Wrexham needed more power and rented 3 from the Great Central, which were essentially identical except for having 18 1/2" cylinders. These were used to operate over the Wirral Railway from Bidston to Seacombe.

16 & 17 would be the last new locomotives built for the W M & CQ before it was taken over by the Great Central in January 1905.

NB: The direct heating surface (including the firebox heating surface) is an estimate calculated by subtracting the calculated tube heating surface from the reported total evaporative heating surface.

NB: The direct heating surface (including the firebox heating surface) is an estimate calculated by subtracting the calculated tube heating surface from the reported total evaporative heating surface.

Class Queen (Locobase 10494)

Data from "Locomotives of the Wrexham, Mold & Connah's Quay Ry," The Locomotive Magazine, Vol XI (15 March 1905), p. 41.

This locomotive had a long history with two railroads and was rebuilt completely twice, even as it used 3 or 4 different wheel arrangements. Queen started out as engine 830 on the London & North Western in 1854; its arrival on the W M & CQ in 1873 was accompanied by 861 and was preceded by a thorough overhaul.

Only in service a few years then withdrawn, Queen was reconfigured in 1881 as an eight-coupled engine in an attempt to wring out more adhesive power. But the railway couldn't stand the stress of four coupled axles so the engine was converted to an 0-6-2ST. In 1892, following a wreck that demolished the Queen, it was rebuilt with a domed boiler and it is those specifications that are shown above.

The WM & CQ was not done, however. In 1903, the railway added back the 4th axle, extended the coupling rods, converting the 6 into an 0-8-0ST. Boiler pressure increased to 170 psi and the new boiler had 131 1 3/4" tubes (instead of the earlier layout of 111 2" tubes). Water and coal capacity also increased. Its efficiency, compared to the earlier attempt at an 8-coupled tank,"...has been greatly enhanced."

As such, Queen - now simply #6 -- remained in service until October 1923.