The Furness Railway

Furness Railway

The Furness Railway was a railway company operating in the Furness area of Lancashire in North West England.-History:The company was established on May 23, 1844 when the Furness Railway Act was passed by Parliament...

 company owned many different types of locomotives, built by several locomotive building companies, including Sharp Stewart and Company. Others were built by the Furness' constituent companies - the Whitehaven and Furness Junction Railway, among others.

Preserved Locomotives

Two very early Furness Railway locomotives have been preserved -

• Furness Railway No. 3
  Furness Railway No. 3
  Furness Railway No.3, "Old Coppernob", is a preserved English steam locomotive. It acquired its nickname because of the copper cladding to its dome-shaped "haystack" firebox....
  
   - "Old Coppernob" 0-4-0 tender engine of 1846, preserved at the National Railway Museum
  National Railway Museum
  The National Railway Museum is a museum in York forming part of the British National Museum of Science and Industry and telling the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. It has won many awards, including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001...
  
   in York
  York
  York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
  
  .
• Furness Railway No. 20 - Sharp Stewart Class A5 0-4-0 tender engine of 1863, now at Locomotion
  Shildon Locomotion Museum
  Shildon Locomotion Museum is a railway museum in Shildon, County Durham, England. The museum is a branch of the National Railway Museum , which is part of the National Museum of Science and Industry...
  
   in Shildon
  Shildon
  Shildon is a town in County Durham, in England. It is situated 2 miles to the south east of Bishop Auckland and 11 miles north of Darlington. It is 13 miles away from Durham, 23 miles from Sunderland and 23 miles from Newcastle-upon-Tyne...
  
  . This is Britain's oldest working standard gauge steam locomotive. It had been converted to a saddle tank locomotive, but has now been restored to its original tender locomotive design.
• Furness Railway No.25 - Sharp Stewart Class A5 0-4-0 tender engine of 1865, now at Steamtown Carnforth awaiting restoration. Unlike No.20 (above) locomotive remains in its later saddle tank format.
• Furness Railway No.115 - Sharp Stewart Class D1 0-6-0 tender locomotive of 1881. The locomotive was lost when a mine working collapsed at Lindal-in-Furness on the 22nd September 1892 and subsequently could not be rescued. The locomotive remains buried 200 ft underground, but is technically still in existence.

Furness Railway Locomotives

The classes listed below are not the official FR designations although some railway enthusiasts insist on using them. They were made popular by Bob Rush in his books about the Furness railway and the wrong class names have stuck.

FR class	Rush class	Wheel arrangement	Quantity made	Manufacturer Serial numbers	Year made	FR number(s)	LMS number(s)	Year(s) withdrawn	Comments
	A1	0-4-0 0-4-0 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-0 represents one of the simplest possible types, that with two axles and four coupled wheels, all of which are driven...	2		1844		—
	A2	0-4-0 0-4-0 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-0 represents one of the simplest possible types, that with two axles and four coupled wheels, all of which are driven...	2		1846		—		No. 3, “Old Coppernob” Furness Railway No. 3 Furness Railway No.3, "Old Coppernob", is a preserved English steam locomotive. It acquired its nickname because of the copper cladding to its dome-shaped "haystack" firebox....  preserved
	A3	0-4-0 0-4-0 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-0 represents one of the simplest possible types, that with two axles and four coupled wheels, all of which are driven...	4		1854–55		—
	A4	0-4-0 0-4-0 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-0 represents one of the simplest possible types, that with two axles and four coupled wheels, all of which are driven...	4		1858–61		—
	A5	0-4-0 0-4-0 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-0 represents one of the simplest possible types, that with two axles and four coupled wheels, all of which are driven...	8		1863–66		—		Some rebuilt as 0-4-0ST. No. 20 preserved as 0-4-0, No. 25 preserved as 0-4-0ST
	B1	2-2-2WT	2		1851		—
	B2	2-2-2WT	2		1857		—
	B3	2-2-2WT	6		1864–66	—
	B4	2-2-2WT	1		1860		—
	B5	2-2-2WT	2		1850		—
	C1	0-4-0ST	4		1864
	C2	0-4-0ST	2		1862
	D1	0-6-0 0-6-0 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels...	55		1866–84				Nicknamed “Sharpies”
	D2	0-6-0 0-6-0 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels...	2		1864
7	D3	0-6-0 0-6-0 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels...	6	Nasmyth Wilson	1899	7–12	12468–12473	1928–32
			6	Sharp Stewart	1899	13–18	12474–12479	1929–36
3	D4	0-6-0 0-6-0 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels...	4	North British Loco.	1907	3–6	12480–12483	1930–34
1	D5 Furness Railway Class D5 0-6-0 The Furness Railway 1 class 0-6-0 was a class of nineteen 0-6-0 steam locomotives designed by W. F. Pettigrew and built between 1913 and 1920...	0-6-0 0-6-0 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels...	4	North British Loco.	1913–14	1–2, 25–26	12494–12497	1932–56
			2	North British Loco.	1914	27–28	12498–12499	1932–57
			4	North British Loco.	1918	23–24, 29–30	12504–12507	1930–35
			4	Kitson & Co.	1919	19–22	12500–12503	1930–57
			5	North British Loco.	1920	31–35	12508–12512	1932–57
	E1	2-4-0 2-4-0 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-4-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and no trailing wheels....	19		1870–79
	F1	0-4-2 0-4-2 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-2 represents the wheel arrangement with no leading wheels, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...	2		1866		—
	G1	0-6-0T	10		1867–73		11549–11552		Nicknamed “Neddies”
	G2	0-6-0ST	13		1855–73
	G3	0-6-0ST	1		1875
	G4	0-6-0T	1		1857
19	G5	0-6-0T	6	Vulcan Foundry	1910	19–24	11553–11558	1930–43	Renumbered 55–60
			2	Kitson & Co.	1915	51–52	11559–11560	1930–34
			2	Vulcan Foundry	1916	53–54	11561–11562	1931–36
	H1	2-4-0T	1		1850		—
	J1	2-4-2T	7		1891		10619–10620		Rebuilt from E1 class
120	K1 Furness Railway K1 The Furness Railway 120 class or "Seagulls", were built a class of four 4-4-0 steam locomotives designed by W. F. Pettigrew and built by Sharp Stewart and Company of Glasgow for the Furness Railway in 1890....	4-4-0 4-4-0 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-4-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and no trailing wheels...	4	Sharp Stewart	1891	120–123	10131–10134	1924–27	Nicknamed “Seagulls”
21	K2 Furness Railway K2 The Furness Railway 21 class or "Larger Seagulls", were built a class of eight 4-4-0 steam locomotives designed by W. F. Pettigrew and built by Sharp, Stewart and Company of Glasgow for the Furness Railway. Six were built in 1896, and two more in 1900.They were built to supersede the 120 class on...	4-4-0 4-4-0 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-4-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and no trailing wheels...	6	Sharp Stewart	1896	21–22, 34–37	10135–10140	1929–31	Nicknamed “Larger Seagulls”
			2	Sharp Stewart	1900	124–125	10141–10142	1929–31	Nicknamed “Larger Seagulls”
126	K3	4-4-0 4-4-0 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-4-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and no trailing wheels...	4	Sharp Stewart	1901	126–129	10143–10146	1930–31
130	K4	4-4-0 4-4-0 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-4-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and no trailing wheels...	2	North British Loco.	1913	130–131	10185–10186	1932–33
			2	North British Loco.	1914	132–133	10187–10188	1932–33
112	L1	0-6-2T	3	Sharp Stewart	1898	112–114	11622–11624	1927–28
98	L2	0-6-2T	5	Nasmyth Wilson	1904	98–102	11625–11629	1930–45	Nicknamed “Cleator Tanks”
			5	North British Loco.	1904	103–107	11630–11634	1929–34	Nicknamed “Cleator Tanks”
98	L3	0-6-2T	6	North British Loco.	1907	96–97, 108–111	11635–11640	1931–41
94	L4 Furness Railway Class L4 The Furness Railway L4 class, or "Improved Cleator Tanks", were built to haul mineral trains from inland to the blast furnaces on the coast around Workington. The first two locos, numbers 94 & 95 were fitted with smokebox superheaters, with the smokebox extended to accommodate this and the chimney...	0-6-2T	2	Kitson & Co.	1912	94–95	11641–11642	1929–34	Nicknamed “Improved Cleator Tanks”
			2	Kitson & Co.	1914	92–93	11643–11644	1932–34	Nicknamed “Improved Cleator Tanks”
38	M1	4-4-2T	2	Kitson	1915	38–39	11080–11081	1930–32
			2	Vulcan Foundry	1916	40–41	11082–11083	1930–32
			2	Kitson & Co.	1915	42–43	11084–11085	1930–31
115	N1	4-6-4T	5	Kitson & Co.	1920–21	115–119	11100–11104	1934–40
		Rail Motor Car	1		1905

Cleator & Workington Junction Railway

The Furness railway entered into a working agreement with the Cleator & Workington Junction Railway where the FR would work the companies mainlines and the branch lines were worked by C&WJR engines. The loco list previously shown on this page has been amended thus:

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Cleator & Workington Junction Railway locomotives

All the nameplates used on this company's locomotives were named after residences of C&WJR company directors. Until recently there was uncertainty about the name of No.2 but the personal notebook of the Company Accountant shows otherwise. The engine never ran in service with the name "Ennerdale" .

• No.1, Brigham Hill (1st) and Rothersyke (1st.)
  An outside cylinder 0-4-0T Built in 1894 by Fletcher Jennings Ltd for C&WJR. Builders No. 187.
  Nameplates carried: Brigham Hill (1882–1894) and Rothersyke (1894–1897)
  Renumbered: No known renumbering of this engine.
  Disposal: To West Stanley Colliery Coy. County Durham in 1897 (ref; 01)
• No.2, Unnamed for fifteen years, then Rothersyke (2nd) an outside cylinder 0-4-0ST. Built circa 1875 by Barclay & Co. (not an Andrew Barclay product). Built originally for Ward, Ross & Liddlelow, railway contractors to the C&WJR, No.2 was purchased second hand in 1882. No.2 was originally named Ennerdale but the nameplates were removed after acquisition by the C&WJR on the order of the Managing Director.
  Nameplates Carried: None from 1882 to 1897. The redundant plates from engine No.1 Rothersyke were fitted when it was decided to sell the engine.
  Renumbered: No known renumbering of this engine.
  Disposal: To SD Coasdell of Workington in July 1898 for £150. (ref; 01 and 02)
• No.3, South Lodge an outside cylinder 0-6-0ST of 1884, built by Robert Stephenson and Company
  Robert Stephenson and Company
  Robert Stephenson and Company was a locomotive manufacturing company founded in 1823. It was the first company set up specifically to build railway engines.- Foundation and early success :...
  
   for the C&WJR. Builders No. 2553. The saddle tank did not cover the smokebox.
  Nameplates carried: South Lodge. (1884 to 1920)
  Renumbered: No known renumbering of this engine.
  Disposal: To J.F. Wake Ltd., Dealers, Darlington, County Durham, July 1920 (ref; 01)
• No.4, Harecroft an outside cylinder 0-6-0ST built in 1885 by the Lowca Engineering Co. Ltd. for the C&WJR. Builders No. 196. Similar in appearance to No.3 and the saddle tank did not cover the smokebox.
  Nameplates carried: Harecroft. (1885 to 1915)
  Renumbered: After disposal by new owner to 46
  Disposal: Withdrawn September 1915 and sold to Workington Iron & Steel Company. (ref; 01)
• No.5, Moresby Hall an outside cylinder 0-6-0ST built in 1890 by Robert Stephenson and Company
  Robert Stephenson and Company
  Robert Stephenson and Company was a locomotive manufacturing company founded in 1823. It was the first company set up specifically to build railway engines.- Foundation and early success :...
  
   for the C&WJR. Builders No. 2692. The saddle tank did not cover the smokebox.
  Nameplates carried: Moresby Hall . (1890 to 1919)
  Renumbered: No known renumbering of this engine.
  Disposal: Withdrawn and scrapped 1919. (ref; 01)
• No.6, Brigham Hall an outside cylinder 0-6-0ST built in 1894 by Robert Stephenson and Company
  Robert Stephenson and Company
  Robert Stephenson and Company was a locomotive manufacturing company founded in 1823. It was the first company set up specifically to build railway engines.- Foundation and early success :...
  
   for the C&WJR. Builders No. 2813. The saddle tank did not cover the smokebox.
  Nameplates carried: Brigham Hall . (1894 to 1920)
  Renumbered: Allocated 11564 by the LMS in 1923 after the grouping, but not known if it was repainted into LMS colours.
  Disposal: Withdrawn 11/12/1926 and scrapped by the LM&SR (ref; 01)
• No.7, Ponsonby Hall an outside cylinder 0-6-0ST built in 1896 by Robert Stephenson and Company
  Robert Stephenson and Company
  Robert Stephenson and Company was a locomotive manufacturing company founded in 1823. It was the first company set up specifically to build railway engines.- Foundation and early success :...
  
   for the C&WJR. Builders No. 2846. The saddle tank did not cover the smokebox.
  Nameplates carried: Ponsonby Hall . (1886 to 1926)
  Renumbered: Allocated 11565 by the LMS in 1923 after the grouping, but not known if it was repainted into LMS colours.
  Disposal: Withdrawn 18/12/1926 and scrapped by the LM&SR (ref; 01)
• No.8, Hutton Hall an 0-6-0ST built in 1907 by Peckett and Sons
  Peckett and Sons
  Peckett and Sons was a locomotive manufacturer at the Atlas Works in St. George, Bristol, England.-Fox, Walker and Company:The company began trading in 1864 at the Atlas Engine Works, St. George, Bristol, as Fox, Walker and Company, building four and six-coupled saddle tank engines for industrial use...
  
   for the C&WJR. Builders No. 1134.
  Nameplates carried: Hutton Hall (1907 to 1927)
  Renumbered: Allocated 11566 by the LMS in 1923 after the grouping, and repainted into early LMS black goods livery.
  Disposal: Withdrawn 3/12/1927 and scrapped by the LM&SR (ref; 01)
• No.9 Millgrove an outside cylinder 0-6-0ST built in 1919 by Peckett and Sons
  Peckett and Sons
  Peckett and Sons was a locomotive manufacturer at the Atlas Works in St. George, Bristol, England.-Fox, Walker and Company:The company began trading in 1864 at the Atlas Engine Works, St. George, Bristol, as Fox, Walker and Company, building four and six-coupled saddle tank engines for industrial use...
  
   for the C&WJR. Builders No. 1340.
  Nameplates carried: Millgrove (1919 to 1928)
  Renumbered: Allocated 11567 by the LMS in 1923 after the grouping, and repainted into early LMS black goods livery.
  Disposal: Withdrawn 5/12/1928 and scrapped by the LM&SR (ref; 01)
• No.10 Skiddaw Lodge an outside cylinder 0-6-0ST built in 1920 by Hudswell Clarke & Co. for the C&WJR. Builders No. 1400.
  Nameplates carried: Skiddaw Lodge . (1920 to 1932)
  Renumbered: Allocated 11568 by the LMS in 1923 after the grouping, and repainted into early LMS black goods livery.
  Disposal: Withdrawn 1932 by LM&SR and sold to Hartley main Collieries Northumberland, via Robert frazer & Sons Ltd., Hebburn, County Durham. (ref; 01)

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References:

• 01 Track of the Ironmasters published by; Cumbrian Railways Association ISBN 0-95402232-2-6
• 02 Industrial Locomotive Society records.

External links

• Steam Index's Furness Railway Page