Locomotives of the LB&SCR in 1920

[rogerfarnworth]

Locomotives of the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) – 1920.

I have just been given a small pamphlet style paperback book compiled and published in June 1920 by W.G. Tilling.

The featured image for this article comes from the frontispiece of Tilling’s book. It is a picture of the Class L 4-6-4T superheated large tank locomotive ‘Charles C. Macrae’. [1]

Tilling’s forward to the book states:

“For many years particulars of the locomotives running on our railway lines were difficult to obtain, but the Great Western Railway Company a year or two back broke through the usual official reticence by publishing a list of all their named engines. This was doubtless done to interest the general public in that railway, and I believe has proved a successful advertisement.

“Unofficial lists have also been published of the engines of the London and North Western Railway and a few of the smaller lines. Following these examples, I am prompted to deal with the locomotives of the London Brighton and South Coast Railway."

Locomotives of the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) – 1920.

I have just been given a small pamphlet style paperback book compiled and published in June 1920 by W.G. Tilling. The featured image for this article comes from the frontispiece of Tilling’s …

rogerfarnworth.com

 

[Bevan Price]

Some had remarkedly long lives, lasting until the 1950s and early 1960s, including the A1X 0-6-0ts, some of which were used on Hayling Island services until that branch closed.

 

[rogerfarnworth]

Thank you for the response Bevan. The booklet was a delight!

 

[Rescars]

Some had remarkedly long lives, lasting until the 1950s and early 1960s, including the A1X 0-6-0ts, some of which were used on Hayling Island services until that branch closed.

What is more, some of those lives continue. It appears that ten Terriers have been preserved - that's 20% of the total class.

 

[Harlequinuk]

You`ll love this website:

BloodandCustard - a railwayman's website

Especially the 1910s, pre grouping South London AC overhead EMUs!

 

[MarlowDonkey]

Locomotives of the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) – 1920.

I have just been given a small pamphlet style paperback book compiled and published in June 1920 by W.G. Tilling.

Wasn't it another 20 years before Ian Allan extended the concept to listing all the locomotives of the Big Four, starting with his own company, the Southern?

 

[rogerfarnworth]

It must have been.

 

[Bevan Price]

The RCTS published summaries of all known locomotives from 1935 onwards, but it was Ian Allan who devised the locospotters books, starting circa 1943,with the Southern Railway, that listed every single number , making it convenient for spotters to mark all the locos they had seen..

Edit - it might seem surprising, given the shortage of resources, that such new publications were permitted in wartime, but perhaps some authority thought it might encourage enthusiasts to buy these books so they would not need to pester busy rail staff for information.

 

[MarlowDonkey]

Edit - it might seem surprising, given the shortage of resources, that such new publications were permitted in wartime, but perhaps some authority thought it might encourage enthusiasts to buy these books so they would not need to pester busy rail staff for information.

It might also be surprising that such data wasn't regarded as an Official Secret, particularly with American engines in use prior to D-Day.

 

[rogerfarnworth]

It might also be surprising that such data wasn't regarded as an Official Secret, particularly with American engines in use prior to D-Day.

Perhaps even more so given that the first locospotter book was for the Southern.