The Single Fairlie Locomotive was series of steam locomotives that were first originally created as Double Fairlie Locomotives but were later given modifications to look like traditional steam locomotives.
History[]
During the days of steam, Robert Francis Fairlie had designed, patented and invented the Double Fairlie Locomotive. This unique locomotive type differed from the standard design by placing the cab over two fireboxes which would fed two boilers, which in turn feed two sets of driving wheels that are placed on articulated trucks for maximum tractive effort. These engines didn't have a standard front and back as it was designed to be driven in both directions, eliminating the need for a turntable.
The design had its benefits but also had its fair share of issues. Most notably was the fuel consumption. Two fireboxes meant double the intake of coal and since the locomotives were all double ended there was no suitable place to include a tender and the side bunkers could only hold so much. Aside from this and many other technical issues, the position of the cab at the center also affected the visibility of the driver and fireman.
In 1869 Alexander McDonnell designed and constructed a variation of the Double Fairlie Locomotive which came to be known as the Single Fairlie Locomotive.
The Single Fairlie featured multiple differences including one boiler like a traditional steam locomotive, a cab at one end, and a single articulated power bogie combined with an unpowered bogie under the cab, maintaining the ability to negotiate sharp turns. This design abandoned the bidirectional nature of the double Fairlie but gained back the ability to have a large bunker and water tank behind the cab, and the possibility of using a trailing tender if necessary. The single conventional boiler made maintenance cheaper and did away with the crew's separation.
Success[]
When the Single Fairlie Locomotives had got away with the success, the practice of the Double Fairlie Locomotive had started to die off. However, William Mason, who was Fairlie's licensee in the United States, had designed and invented 140+ examples of the Mason Bogie locomotives.
Stock list[]
Originals[]
***W.I.P***
Image | Loco Name | Loco No. | Build date(s) | Rebuild date(s) | Rail Gauge | Wheel Arrangement | Operators | Status |
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0-4-4T | Swindon Marlborough & Andover | ||||||
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Taliesin (Original)
(Taliesin I) |
7 (Originally 9) | 1876 | 1900 | 1 ft 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm) | 0-4-4T | Ffestiniog Railway | Scrapped between 1924-1935, Replica built |
Frameless | Moel Tryfan | 1874/5 | - | 1 ft 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm) | 0-6-4T | North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways | Dismantled at Boston Lodge for overhaul in 1936, towed away to Porthmadog Harbour Station, scrapped, with the trailing bogie given to locomotives Linda and Blanche when they were modified from 0-4-0STs into 2-4-0ST+Ts |
New[]
***W.I.P***
Image | Loco Name | Loco No. | Build date(s) | Rail Gauge | Wheel Arrangement | Operators | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Frameless | Taliesin (Replica)
(Taliesin III) |
- | 1999 | 1 ft 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm) | 0-4-4T | Ffestiniog Railway | Operational |
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Geirionydd | - | 2017 | - | 2-4-4T | Conwy Valley Railway Museum | Operational |