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The 0-4-2 Tattoo Class was a class of 0-4-2 saddle tank narrow-gauge steam locomotives that were constructed by Kerr, Stuart & Company for narrow gauge railways across the world.

History[]

This class was probably the most successful product of Kerr, Stuart, after the 0-4-0ST of the "Wren" class.

Many of these narrow gauge steam locomotives were either supplied to various narrow gauge railways in the UK or were imported for use overseas.

They were available in a variety of gauges. In-order to accommodate the firebox, locomotives with a gauge of 2'6" or less were usually outside framed, while locomotives with a gauge of 2'6" or more were inside framed. (This does not apply to the Corris locomotive, which was a special design).

Under Kerr, Stuart, an estimated total of 80 of these locomotives were built; although that company went bankrupt and its assets were taken over by the Hunslet Engine Company in 1930, Tattoos were continued to be constructed by the latter firm, although the exact number produced is unclear.

The last locomotive left the Hunslet works in the late 1960s.

The locomotives were since all retired from active service by their respective operators at the end of their working lives, and their final fate is largely either scrapped or unknown.

Preservation[]

Two well-known examples are preserved at the heritage railways in the United Kingdom. These are the Talyllyn Railway's No. 4 "Edward Thomas" and the Penrhyn Quarry Railway's "Stanhope", both currently in operational condition.

'Edward Thomas' is owned and operated by the Talyllyn Railway in Wales, while 'Stanhope' is owned by the Moseley Railway Trust, which occasionally put it on steam on the Apedale Valley Light Railway near Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire.

At least three more members of the class are currently on static display at the Burma Mines Railway in Namtu, Burma.

Another example, No. 7, was constructed as a new build project in 2005 for the Corris Railway to resemble "Edward Thomas" which had previously worked on that line.

Stock list (Work-in-Progress)[]

Image Loco Name Loco No. Serial No. Gauge Operator Build date Status
The Apedale narrow gauge (5549206341) Stanhope - 2395 2 ft (610 mm) Apedale Valley Light Railway 1917 Operational
2668 - 12 - - Burma Mines Railway - Plinthed
3514825433 f60a7ca964 z - 14 - - Burma Mines Railway - Static display
3514825435 25a68b9d84 z - 16 - - Burma Mines Railway - Static display
1200px-Edward Thomas at Tywyn Wharf - 2005-04-29 Edward Thomas 4 4047 2 ft 3 in (686 mm) Corris Railway

Great Western Railway

British Railways

Talyllyn Railway

1921 Operational
No 7 AT CORIIS JUNE 2019 - 7 - 2 ft 3 in (686 mm) Corris Railway 2005 Operational

Trivia[]

  • The class was named after 'Tattoo', an archaic name for a rural Indian pony; the exact origin of this is still unclear. (Kerr, Stuart's policy was to use the name of the class's prototype as the class name. However, there is no record of the first locomotive being so named.)
  • The character Peter Sam in The Railway Series books by the Wilbert Awdry and the Television Series Thomas & Friends is based on Edward Thomas.

Gallery[]

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