Bulleid Q1 class 0-6-0
| The class of 40 locos was built at both Brighton and Ashford
Works during 1942. The Q1's greatest weakness was its restricted braking
power on unfitted goods trains and it is this that prevented further batches
being built after the war. It was built as an "Austerity" design to
serve during the war but such was its success that it lasted well towards the
end of steam operations on British Railways, mostly hauling heavy goods trains
over short distances. Throughout its service life the class did also get used
on occasions on passenger services and proved quite capable of delivering a
respectable turn of speed - so much so that some think the railway would have
been better served building fewer light Pacifics and more Q1s. However the lack
of running plate and splashers proved a liability at speed in rain with loco
crew only leaning out of their cab windows when absolutely necessary!
Only one Q1 is preserved and forms part of the National Railway Museum's working collection. Having been on long term loan to the Bluebell Railway it returned to the NRM in 2004, a couple of years after its boiler certificate expired. |
 Nº33006 at Guildford, photograph by Keith Harwood |
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Nº33030 passes Gomshall with a goods train heading towards
Redhill.
photograph by Keith Harwood |
| Nº33034 captured on shed at Guildford on 5th August 1963.
photograph by John Bradbeer |
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Nº33004 approaching Battledown Flyover in the snow.
photograph: Mike Morant collection |
| Still snowing, still Nº33004, but a little closer to the
flyover!
photograph: Mike Morant collection |
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Although designed as a freight locomotive the Q1 0-6-0s
occasionally worked passenger services. Keeping to the snow theme, Nº33009
is seen here climbing the gradient on the approach to Gomshall and Shere on a
Reading-Redhill service in the early winter of 1964.
photograph by Keith Harwood |
| 33009 again, this time photographed at Clapham Junction on 16th
July 1965.
photograph by Ray Soper |
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When it comes to historical study or modelling it can often
be difficult to find a photograph of the prototype in action illustrating the
specific details we need. This rare view of the rear top of the tender will
hopefully solve a few queries.
photograph by Mike Watts |
All photographs are copyright
This page was last updated 25 July 2010
