DHR B Class 778

{{Infobox locomotive

| name = Darjeeling Himalayan Railway 19
(All-India No. 778)

| powertype = Steam

| image = DHR 778 05-05-01 15.jpeg

| alt =

| caption = No. 778 hauling a train on the Ffestiniog Railway

| designer =

| builder = Sharp, Stewart & Co.

| ordernumber =

| serialnumber = 3518

| buildmodel =

| builddate =

| totalproduction =

| rebuilder =

| rebuilddate =

| numberrebuilt =

| whytetype = {{whyte|0-4-0|ST}}

| uicclass = B n2t

| gauge = {{Track gauge|2ft}}

| driverdiameter = {{convert|26|in|m|3|abbr=on}}

| minimumcurve =

| wheelbase =

| length =

| width =

| height =

| axleload = {{convert|7.75|LT}}

| weightondrivers =

| locoweight = {{convert|14|LT}}

| tenderweight =

| locotenderweight =

| tendertype =

| fueltype =

| fuelcap =

| watercap =

| tendercap =

| sandcap =

| boiler =

| boilerpressure = {{convert|140|psi|MPa|2|abbr=on}}

| feedwaterheater =

| firearea = {{convert|9|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}

| tubearea =

| fluearea =

| tubesandflues =

| fireboxarea =

| totalsurface = {{convert|316|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}

| superheatertype = None

| cylindercount = Two, outside

| cylindersize = {{convert|11|x|14|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| valvegear =

| valvetype =

| valvetravel =

| valvelap =

| valvelead =

| transmission =

| maxspeed =

| poweroutput =

| tractiveeffort = {{convert|7750|lbf|kN|2|abbr=on}}

| factorofadhesion =

| trainheating =

| locobrakes =

| locobrakeforce =

| trainbrakes =

| safety =

| operator = {{unbulleted list|Darjeeling Himalayan Railway|→ Indian Railways}}

| operatorclass = DHR B Class

| powerclass =

| numinclass = 3rd of 34

| fleetnumbers = {{unbulleted list|No. 19 (1889‒1957)|No. 778 (1957‒)}}

| officialname =

| nicknames = Little Blue

| axleloadclass =

| locale = Statfold Barn Railway

| deliverydate =

| firstrundate =

| lastrundate =

| retiredate =

| withdrawndate = 1960

| preservedunits =

| restoredate =

| scrapdate =

| currentowner = Darjeeling Tank Locomotive Trust

| disposition = Under renovation (awaiting new boiler)

| notes =

| website = [https://www.darjeelingtank.org.uk/ www.darjeelingtank.org.uk]

}}

File:2019-05-19-Jeremy-Davey-Adrian-Shooter-Darjeeling-19B-Beeches.jpg (driver, right) with Jeremy Davey (fireman, left) onboard locomotive No.19 at Beeches Light Railway in 2019.]]

File:Dhr19.jpg.]]

DHR 778 (originally number 19) is a narrow-gauge steam locomotive, that was built in 1889 for the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. It is preserved in the United Kingdom, and is the only DHR locomotive outside of India. The engine has the oldest locomotive boiler still in use anywhere in the world.{{cite news|url=https://www.thepost.uk.com/news/catch-the-darjeeling-b-at-launceston-steam-railway-before-the-end-of-the-season-536662|title=Catch the Darjeeling B at Launceston Steam Railway before the end of the season|date=2019-09-12|access-date=2023-07-25|work=Cornish & Devon Post|quote=x-ray inspection of the original boiler showed that there was virtually no wastage. No.19 now has the distinction of having the oldest locomotive boiler in use anywhere in the world.}}

History

DHR 778 is a {{whyte|0-4-0|ST}} DHR B Class, a design built between 1889 and 1927. A total of 34 were built. By 2005 only 12 remained in use (or under repair) on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. The class was designed by Sharp, Stewart and Company of Glasgow and built by them, their successors the North British Locomotive Company (NBL), and three each by Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW, Philadelphia, USA), and the DHR works at Tindharia.

Number 778 (originally No.19) was built in 1889 by Sharp Stewart & Co at the Atlas Works in Glasgow. It is the only DHR locomotive outside of India. After many years out of use at the Hesston Steam Museum, it was sold to enthusiast Adrian Shooter in the United Kingdom and restored to working order. It was based on Beeches Light Railway, a private railway in Oxfordshire, and has also run on the Ffestiniog Railway, the Leighton Buzzard Light Railway, the Launceston Steam Railway and the South Tynedale Railway.{{cite web|url=http://www.rail.co.uk/rail-news/2014/slumdog-millionaire-comes-to-the-north-pennines/|title=Slumdog Millionaire comes to the North Pennines!|year=2014|access-date=2021-05-16}} 778 is the only B class with a tender.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

Locomotive {{nowrap|{{abbr|No.|Number}} 19B}} was basedat the Beeches Light Railway until the Shooter's death in December 2022. On 21 June 2023, the locomotive was purchased at auction for £250,000 by The Darjeeling Tank Locomotive Trust (DTLT), with supporters raising the required money three months beforehand. Following the sale, the locomotive and its two matching carriages were relocated by the Trust to the Statfold Barn Railway near Tamworth, Staffordshire.

Special events

In mid-2011, for the 40th anniversary of the Froissy Dompierre Light Railway in France, three Britain-based locomotives visited, including locomotive 778.{{cite web|url=http://www.rail.co.uk/rail-news/2011/british-based-trio-steam-in-france/|title=British-based Trio Steam in France|year=2011|access-date=2021-01-23|work=Rail.co.uk|quote=40th anniversary of the Froissy-Cappy-Dompierre line entering preservation. … invitations extended to The Greensand Railway Museum Trust's Baldwin 4-6-0T WDLR No. 778 and Adrian Shooter's Darjeeling Himalayan Railway B-Class 0-4-0ST No. 19 (SS 3518/1888) to visit.|archive-date=24 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124131833/http://www.rail.co.uk/rail-news/2011/british-based-trio-steam-in-france/|url-status=dead}}

In 2013, locomotive 778 ran as a part of Indian Extravaganza Fest in Bedfordshire in East England, {{Cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report-historic-indian-steam-locos-to-run-again-in-england-amid-extravaganza-on-weekend-1830550|title = Historic Indian steam locos to run again in England amid extravaganza on weekend|date = 4 May 2013}} and in 2014 it was the main attraction at the South Tynedale Railway's Indian Summer Event{{cite web|url=https://www.south-tynedale-railway.org.uk/indian-summer-comes-to-alston/|title=Indian Summer Comes to Alston|year=2014|access-date=2021-05-16}}

References

=1980s=

{{cite book |last1=Hughes |first1=Hugh |last2=Jux |first2=Frank |name-list-style=amp |year=1980 |title=Steam Locomotives in India. Part 1 – Narrow Gauge |publisher=Continental Railway Circle |location=Harrow, Middlesex |pages=69, 79, 87 |isbn=0-9503469-5-0 }}

=2010s=

{{cite book|title=The Story of 19B: the only Darjeeling 'B' class locomotive ever to leave India|year=2017|first=David|last=Charlesworth|others=Technical assistance by David Churchill and Jeremy Davey|series=Darjeeling Mail Extra|issue=3|publisher=Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society|pages=1‒32}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2019/02/steam-locomotive-no-19-to-visit-the-launceston-railway.html|title=Steam locomotive No.19 to visit the Launceston Railway|date=2019-02-25|first=Michael|last=Holden|work=Rail Advent|access-date=2023-07-25}}

=2020s=

{{cite web|url=https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2022/03/statfold-barn-railway-to-welcome-darjeeling-steam-locomotive.html|title=Statfold Barn Railway to welcome Darjeeling steam locomotive|first=Michael|last=Holden|date=2022-03-29|access-date=2023-07-25|work=Rail Advent|department=Narrow gauge}}

==2023==

;Pre-auction

{{cite magazine|magazine=Narrow Gauge News|issue=174|page=9|title=Trust makes urgent bid to keep {{abbr|Darj|Darjeeling}} loco in UK|publisher=Narrow Gauge Railway Society|date=March 2023|others=Photographs by Joey Evans and Andrew Charman}}
{{cite magazine|title=Darjeeling tank in Adrian Shooter collection sale|magazine=Heritage Railway|issue=305|date=2023-04-11|url=https://www.scribd.com/article/638062827/Darjeeling-Tank-In-Adrian-Shooter-Collection-Sale|via=Scribd|url-access=subscription}}
{{cite magazine|magazine=Steam Railway|issue=544|date=2023-04-28|page=25|title=New trust seeks £250k to save Shooter's Darjeeling 19B|others=Photographs by Jack Boskett}}
{{cite magazine|title=Beeches Light Railway supporters plan bid for the late Adrian Shooter's Darjeeling Himalayan Railway 0-4-0ST|magazine=Today's Railways UK|issue=256|issn=1475-9713|date=May 2023|first=Phil|last=Marsh|others=Photograph by Roger Dimmock|department=Heritage News|publisher=Platform 5|url=https://www.platform5.com/Catalogue/Todays-Railways-UK/Todays-Railways-UK-256-June-2023-TRUK256|url-access=subscription}}
{{cite magazine|magazine=Heritage Railway|title=Help Keep {{abbr|Adrian|Adrian Shooter}}'s Darjeeling in Britain|date=2023-05-09|url=https://www.scribd.com/article/645048232/Help-Keep-Adrian-s-Darjeeling-B-In-Britain|via=Scribd|url-access=subscription|pages=52‒53|department=Race against time|first=Phil|last=Marsh|others=Photograph by Joey Evans}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2023/05/adrian-shooters-two-foot-gauge-replica-indian-hill-railway-up-for-auction.html|title=Adrian Shooter's two-foot gauge replica Indian Hill railway up for auction.|department=Narrow gauge|date=2023-05-24|first=Michael|last=Holden|others=Photographs by Phil Marsh & Ffestiniog Railway}}
{{cite magazine|magazine=Railway Herald|issn=1751-8091|page=28|department=Newsdesk|title=Appeal to save Adrian Shooter's Darjeeling Himalayan loco|others=Photograph by Cliff Thomas|issue=819|date=2023-05-24}}
{{cite magazine|magazine=The Railway Magazine|department=Narrow gauge: Track Record|title=Heritage Heavyweights behind DHR B-class bid|page=68|date=May 2023|url=https://www.railwaymagazine.co.uk/25611/may-issue-2/|url-access=subscription|issn=0033-8923}}
{{cite magazine|magazine=Narrow Gauge News|publisher=Narrow Gauge Railway Society|page=10|title=Crunch point for 'save the {{abbr|Darj|Darjeeling}}' bid|others=Photograph by Peter Jordan|issue=175|date=May 2023|department=UK news}}
{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-65819315|title=Fundraisers hope to buy 134-year-old Oxfordshire garden locomotive|work=BBC News|access-date=2023-07-25|department=South|others=Photographs by Jeremy Davey & Alamy}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2023/06/darjeeling-tank-locomotive-trust-receives-huge-financial-boost.html|title=Darjeeling Tank Locomotive Trust receives huge financial boost|first=Michael|last=Holden|date=2023-06-17|access-date=2023-07-25|quote=boosted by the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society who in late May made a donation of £40,000 to support the bid.}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2023/06/photos-from-final-day-of-service-at-the-beeches-light-railway-as-auction-approaches.html|title=Photos from final day of service at The Beeches Light Railway as auction approaches|date=2023-06-19|access-date=2023-08-16|work=Rail Advent|editor-first=Michael|editor-last=Holden|others=Photographs by Jeremy Davey}}

;Post-auction

{{cite web|url=https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2023/06/darjeeling-tank-locomotive-trust-secures-steam-locomotive-no-19.html|title=Darjeeling Tank Locomotive Trust secures steam locomotive No. 19|first=Michael|last=Holden|date=2023-06-22|access-date=2023-07-25|work=Rail Advent}}
{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-65985223|title=Volunteers buy 134-year-old Oxfordshire locomotive|date=2023-06-22|work=BBC News|access-date=2023-07-25}}
{{cite press release|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjq9vHJEm-s|via=Youtube|title=Sold! The world's oldest working steam train sells after volunteers raised £300K to buy it|publisher=Bournemouth News & Picture Service|date=2023-06-23|access-date=2023-07-25}}
{{cite news|newspaper=The Sun|date=2023-06-25|page=17|title=Old Train £300K}}
{{cite magazine|magazine=Vintage Spirit|first=Tim|last=Burton|title=They did it!|date=August 2023|pages=3,6‒7|publisher=Steam Heritage|issn=1477-1276|editor-first=Brian|editor-last=Gooding|department=News & Events}}
{{cite magazine|title=Zero to £300,000 in ten weeks!|first=Sarah|last=Thompson|others=Photographs by Peter Jordan, John Burghes & Jeremy Davey|pages=9‒12|publisher=Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society|editor-first=David|editor-last=Charlesworth|magazine=The Darjeeling Mail|issue=103|date=August 2023|issn=1465-8682}}
{{cite magazine|title=The Auction|first=Peter|last=Jordan|others=Poster by H.J. Pugh & Co.|pages=12‒14|publisher=Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society|editor-first=David|editor-last=Charlesworth|magazine=The Darjeeling Mail|issue=103|date=August 2023|issn=1465-8682}}
{{cite magazine|title=A Darjeeling Vision ‒ part 2|first=Phil|last=Marsh|others=Photographs by John Burghes & Julie Raworth|pages=14‒16|publisher=Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society|editor-first=David|editor-last=Charlesworth|magazine=The Darjeeling Mail|issue=103|date=August 2023|issn=1465-8682}}
{{cite magazine|title=From Steeple Aston to Statfold|first=Jeremy|last=Davey|others=Photographs by Phil Marsh & Joey Evans|pages=18‒23|publisher=Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society|editor-first=David|editor-last=Charlesworth|magazine=The Darjeeling Mail|issue=103|date=August 2023|issn=1465-8682}}

==2024==

{{cite magazine|url=https://www.everand.com/article/713398934/Darjeeling-Tank-Will-Cost-At-Least-140k-To-Repair-Shock-Report|title=Darjeeling tank will cost at least £140k to repair - shock report|date=2024-03-12|access-date=2024-06-19|magazine=Heritage Railway|issue=317}}
{{cite magazine|url=https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2024/03/overhaul-of-darjeeling-steam-locomotive-takes-costly-turn.html|title=Overhaul of Darjeeling steam locomotive takes costly turn|first=Michael|last=Holden|date=2024-03-13|access-date=2024-06-19|magazine=Rail Advent|quote=Dismantling provided a number of surprises, such as the boiler, which is not the original 1889 one as thought by the trustees. … the team found a stamp marking "B 4977". … 19B's works number was 3518 whilst 4977 is an identical B class but was built 14 years later in 1903.}}
{{cite magazine|url=https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2024/04/80000-boiler-appeal-launched-for-darjeeling-locomotive.html|title=£80,000 boiler appeal launched for Darjeeling locomotive|first=Michael|last=Holden|date=2024-04-18|magazine=Rail Advent|quote=The 1903-built boiler has been found to need too many repairs to be economical when compared to making a new boiler. … 19B is unlikely to return to steam until 2026. … cost of the boiler is expected to be around £150,000}}
{{cite AV media|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001zf0j|title=Post Wild Boys Of Radio 2 Handover|first=Oliver J.|last=Borg|author-link=OJ Borg|date=2024-05-28|access-date=2024-06-19|type=offset 28:28‒29:30, 32:16‒38:40|work=BBC Radio 2|department=Midnight Mastermind: Darjeeling Tank locomotive No. 19|others=Questions set by Jeremy Davey}}
{{cite magazine|url=https://www.everand.com/article/740318362/Boston-Lodge-To-Build-New-Darjeeling-Tank-Boiler|title=Boston Lodge to build new Darjeeling tank boiler|date=2024-06-04|access-date=2024-06-19|magazine=Heritage Railway|issue=320|quote=Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways' Boston Lodge Works is to design a new boiler for Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Sharp Stewart B class 0-4-0SWTT No. 19B.}}
{{cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhDnBOCiQO0|title=Moving Pictures Ninety Three|date=2024-05-24|access-date=2024-06-19|first=Jon|last=Whalley|publisher=Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways|location=Boston Lodge|type=offset 14:55‒17:58|quote=[Boston Lodge] has recently been awarded the contract for the design of a replacement boiler for the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway No. 19 B … welded barrel, welded outer wrapper, but flanged plates … Bob Yates is doing the drawing of the new layout and [Jon Whalley] will be doing some calculations … that'll go to British Engineering Services for their approval}}