Tom Rolt (locomotive)

{{short description|Preserved steam locomotive}}

{{italic title}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}

{{Use British English|date=July 2015}}

{{Infobox locomotive

|name = Tom Rolt

|powertype = Steam

|image = Tom Rolt No 7 (7298062476).jpg

|caption =

|designer =

|builder = Talyllyn Railway

|serialnumber =

|buildmodel =

|builddate = 1991

|totalproduction =

|rebuilder =

|rebuilddate =

|numberrebuilt =

|whytetype = {{whyte|0-4-2|T}}

|gauge = {{track gauge|2ft3in|lk=on}}

|driverdiameter = {{convert|2|ft|0|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}Bate 2001, page 257

|trailingdiameter = {{convert|1|ft|4|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

|wheelbase = {{convert|9|ft|10|in|m|2|abbr=on}}

|length = {{convert|18|ft|8.5|in|m|2|abbr=on}}

|locoweight = {{convert|14|LT|5|Lcwt|MT ST|abbr=on}}

|watercap =

|fuelcap =

|boilerpressure = {{convert|180|lbf/in2|MPa|2|abbr=on}}

|cylindercount = Two, outside

|cylindersize = {{convert|8+1/2|x|12|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

|tractiveeffort = {{convert|5527|lbf|kN|2|abbr=on}}

|operator = Talyllyn Railway

|fleetnumbers = 7

}}

Tom Rolt is a narrow gauge steam locomotive constructed by the Talyllyn Railway, using parts from an Andrew Barclay locomotive built in 1949 for Bord na Móna.

History

=Bord na Móna=

Bord na Móna is the peat harvesting company in Ireland, which used a large network of narrow gauge railways to carry peat from the bogs.

In 1949, the company ordered three {{track gauge|3ft}} gauge {{whyte|0-4-0|WT}} locomotives from Andrew Barclay Sons & Co.. These were initially numbered 1 to 3, but were renumbered 43 to 45 in 1954.{{Cite book|last=Fuller|first=Martin|title=Talyllyn & Corris Steam Locomotives Volume 1: Pre-preservation and Manufacturers|publisher=Sara Eade|year=2014|page=190|isbn=978-0-9565652-5-9}} The locomotives were designed to burn peat, but they did not perform well and were put into storage after only a few years of work.

= Talyllyn Railway =

File:Tom Rolt No 7 (8062181571).jpg

File:'Tom Rolt', at Nant Gwernol - geograph.org.uk - 1415466.jpg

The {{TrackGauge|2ft3in}} gauge Talyllyn Railway in Wales experienced a significant growth in passenger numbers in the late 1960s, and sought additional motive power to handle the extra traffic. The railway's unusual gauge meant there were no second-hand steam locomotives available to purchase. In 1969 the railway purchased one of the Bord na Móna's Barclay locomotives with the intention of regauging it. The locomotive was unofficially named Irish Pete.

The project to convert Irish Pete did not happen and the locomotive remained in storage at Tywyn. In the late 1980s, work started to build a new locomotive using the boiler, driving wheels, cylinders and other parts from Irish Pete. New frames were manufactured by the Talyllyn Railway in 1971.Bate 2001, pages 160, 162 This work was done at the railway's own works at Pendre and was completed in 1991.{{Cite web

|url=https://www.talyllyn.co.uk/details/no-7

|title=Tom Rolt

|website=Talyllyn Railway

|accessdate=2014-12-15

}} The newly built {{whyte|0-4-2|T}} locomotive was named Tom Rolt after the author L. T. C. Rolt who inspired the Talyllyn's preservation. {{As of|2025}}, Tom Rolt is running in the standard Talyllyn Railway livery of deep bronze green lined with black borders and yellow lining.

In fiction

The character Ivo Hugh in The Railway Series books is based on Tom Rolt. Ivo Hugh appears in New Little Engine.

References

{{reflist}}

Bibliography

{{Commons category|Talyllyn Railway, Tom Rolt|Tom Rolt}}

  • {{cite book|author=Bate, J.H.L.|title=The Chronicles of Pendre Sidings|publisher=RailRomances|year=2001|isbn=1-900622-05-X}}
  • {{cite book|author=Boyd, James I.C.|title=Narrow Gauge Railways in Mid Wales|publisher=Oakwood Press|year=1965|isbn=0-85361-024-X}}
  • {{cite book|author=Holmes, Alan|title=Talyllyn Revived|publisher=The Talyllyn Railway|year=2009|isbn=978-0-900317-07-1}}
  • {{cite book|author=Potter, D.|title=The Talyllyn Railway|publisher=David St John Thomas|year=1990|isbn=0-946537-50-X}}

{{Talyllyn Railway}}

Category:Talyllyn Railway locomotives

Category:Individual locomotives of Great Britain

Category:Preserved narrow-gauge steam locomotives of Great Britain

Category:0-4-2T locomotives

Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1991

Category:Narrow-gauge locomotives of the United Kingdom