The CR (Caledonian Railways) 812 Class, is a class of 0-6-0 steam locomotive designed by John F. McIntosh and introduced in 1899. It used the boiler from the 721 "Dunalastair" Class 4-4-0 steam locomotives which were also designed by John F. McIntosh.
History[]
The CR 812's worked as mixed traffic engines, throughout their working lives, from shunting in city yards like Glasgow to pulling local freight and suburban passenger services. Like the rest of the passenger fleet on the CR, the first batch of 812's were painted in the famous Caledonian blue livery or royal blue as everyone else called it. The rest were painted black with red lining (and sometimes vermillion coupling rods). All Caledonian passenger and freight locos wore the same paint schemes throughout their lives in Scotland. This was until the railway eventually merged in 1923 with the LMS (London, Midland and Scottish Railway), which was one of the Big Four. Afterwards the locos wore LMS black and sported the letters "LMS" on their tenders, until the 1947 Transport Act was published and the Big Four were all merged to form BR (British Railways). The class operated under the BR Class 812 and started being withdrawn from service in 1948 until 1963, when the last few members of the class were scrapped.
Construction[]
Since the design was considered a development of an existing one and the need for locomotives was urgent, the company commissioned production directly from the drawing board. The need was so great that some had to be built by external contractors.
96 locomotives were built, as follows:
| Year | Quantity | CR Nos. | Builder | Builders No. | LMS Nos. | BR Nos. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1899 | 17 | 812–828 | CR, St. Rollox | Y054 | 17550–17566 | 57550–57566 | 828 preserved |
| 1899 | 10 | 829–838 | Neilson, Reid & Co. | 5613–5622 | 17567–17576 | 57568–57576 | 17567 withdrawn before nationalisation |
| 1900 | 10 | 839–848 | Neilson, Reid & Co. | 5623–5632 | 17577–17586 | 57577–57586 | |
| 1900 | 15 | 849–863 | Sharp Stewart | 4633–4647 | 17587–17601 | Template:Ubl | 17598 withdrawn before nationalisation |
| c.1900 | 15 | 864–878 | Dübs & Co. | 3880–3894 | 17602–17616 | Template:Ubl | 17610 withdrawn before nationalisation |
| 1899 | 12 | 282–293 | CR, St. Rollox | Y058 | 17617–17628 | 57617–57628 |
Subsequently, between 1908 and 1909, another batch of 17 locomotives was built with the same basic specifications, although with minor differences in the cab, reinforced frames, and the replacement of the old coil springs with laminated springs on the driving axle. These locomotives were designated the "652" class. It is worth noting that the Belgian State Railways copied the "812" design.
| Year | Quantity | CR Nos. | Builder | Builders No. | LMS Nos. | BR Nos. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1908 | 8 | 652–659 | CR, St. Rollox | Y087-Y086 | 17629–17636 | 57629–57636 | |
| 1908 | 4 | 662–665 | CR, St. Rollox | Y086 | 17637–17640 | 57637–57640 | |
| 1909 | 4 | 325–328 | CR, St. Rollox | Y086 | 17641–17644 | 57641–57644 | |
| 1909 | 1 | 661 | CR, St. Rollox | Y086 | 17645 | 57645 |
Preservation[]
The lone survivor of this class, 828, was built at St. Rollox works in Glasgow on August 31, 1899. It became LMS 17566 and finally became BR 57566 and based at Corkerhill Shed. It was withdrawn from service on it's 64th birthday on August 31, 1963. Instead of being scrapped, it was saved by the Scottish Locomotive Preservation Trust and it was overhauled and restored at Cowlairs, for St Rollox ceased repairing steam locomotives some time before. It now resides at the Strathspey Railway in Scotland.
In Popular Culture[]
The Caledonian Railways 812 Class locomotive is used for the basis for Donald and Douglas in the Railway Series and the Television Series, Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends. Though their Railways Series British Railways numbers, 576546 and 576547, fictional add on members, categorizes them as Caledonian Railway Class 652's, which had a different reversing rod and different springs, due to frame strengthening.
Gallery[]
