Observers Book Omissions and/or Errors

[Caersws]

I recently purchased a copy of the 1955 edition of the Observer book 23 railway locomotives.

My reason for purchase is that it would be the most complete catalogue of engines that went into BR a few years earlier.

However after only a few hours, I noticed that I cannot find the Southern Class O/O1 0-6-0 a locomotive type that survived to at least 1961 and indeed 31065 is preserved.

So my question: Was I naive in expecting a complete record in the 1955 edition or am I missing something. If the former, can anyone recommend a book with a complete BR initial inventory.

Many Thanks

 

[norbitonflyer]

Plenty of reprints of Ian Allen Combined Volumes available. Here is a 1955 edition

Pardon our interruption...

Or Hugh Longworth's complete listing of all steam locomotives ever operated by British Railways from 1948-1968, complete with build dates and scrapping dates

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[Gloster]

Try ‘Locomotives of British Railways’ by Casserley and Asher. I think that this gives all the steam locos, including BR Standards, but not diesels. They are all numbered, not just in number blocks, e.g. O1 are listed as 31003/7, 31014, 31039, 31041/4/6/8 and so on. There is a short history (eight lines for the O1, and a black and white photo in the photo section. I can’t vouch for exact accuracy as I only use it when I just want a quick look, but Casserley was generally pretty thorough.

 

[The exile]

So my question: Was I naive in expecting a complete record in the 1955 edition

Many Thanks

Don’t think the Observer series ever claimed to be complete catalogues.

 

[Caersws]

Going through one of my books of “glossy photos” the Class O seems to be the only one missing so far. So not bad.

My thanks to everyone. I think I will buy a couple of those recommended above. No such thing as too many stock books.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Feb 2025 ==

Don’t think the Observer series ever claimed to be complete catalogues.

I always thought they were pretty good but as you say, they never claimed to be the authoritative version.

 

[matchmaker]

The O1 appears in the 1960 edition of Observers.

 

[Caersws]

The O1 appears in the 1960 edition of Observers.

Thank you. I have some later ones. I might buy this one as well. Cheers.

 

[D6130]

I recently purchased a copy of the 1955 edition of the Observer book 23 railway locomotives.

My reason for purchase is that it would be the most complete catalogue of engines that went into BR a few years earlier.

However after only a few hours, I noticed that I cannot find the Southern Class O/O1 0-6-0 a locomotive type that survived to at least 1961 and indeed 31065 is preserved.

So my question: Was I naive in expecting a complete record in the 1955 edition or am I missing something. If the former, can anyone recommend a book with a complete BR initial inventory.

Many Thanks

Have you looked closely to see whether the book has had a page torn out for some reason?

 

[Caersws]

Have you looked closely to see whether the book has had a page torn out for some reason?

Actually, that was a thought that crossed my mind but no, all the pages are consecutive.

 

[Mr. SW]

In my 1957 edition of "Observer's" it does actually say in the preface that some of the smaller classes have been omitted.

 

[Caersws]

In my 1957 edition of "Observer's" it does actually say in the preface that some of the smaller classes have been

Thank you. I admit I was surprised at the omission but this thread has brought some clarity for me. I still love the handy Observer books but I am buying a couple of the recommended books to have the locos all together in one book.

Cheers

 

[sprinterguy]

In my 1957 edition of "Observer's" it does actually say in the preface that some of the smaller classes have been omitted.

And the particulars of the 8 remaining members of the O1 class are listed in the "Classes with Few Locomotives Still in Existence" table towards the end of the 1957 edition. Is there a similar table near the back of the 1955 edition as well, I wonder?

 

[norbitonflyer]

Longworth says that there were originally 122 class Os, and 58 were rebuilt as O1s between 1903 and 1927. The unrebuilt ones (class O) were all withdrawn by 1932.

He lists 55 O1s as having been allocated BR numbers (in the range 31003-31439), but most were in store by 1948 and never had these numbers actually applied. Ten did last longer - 31048/064/065/258/370/378/383/425/430/434 - with the last, 31065, withdrawn in 1961. 31383 was acquired from the East Kent Railway on nationalisation (where it had been given the number 2), rather than the Southern, but BR renumbered it into its original position in the ex-SECR series.

The ex-LSWR O2 class 0-4-4T (Nos 30177-30236 and W14-W36) is entirely unrelated - the Southern (and BR for that matter) never unified their locomotive classifications, so there was duplication between the fleets of the three main constituents - there were, even in BR days, two B4 classes (ex LSWR 0-4-0T and ex-LBSCR 4-4-0) two D1 classes (ex-SECR 4-4-0 and ex-LBSCR 0-4-2T) and two E1 classes (ex-SECR 4-4-0 and ex-LBSCR 0-6-0T)

There was also an ex-LNER O1 class 2-8-0

 

[Caersws]

And the particulars of the 8 remaining members of the O1 class are listed in the "Classes with Few Locomotives Still in Existence" table towards the end of the 1957 edition. Is there a similar table near the back of the 1955 edition as well, I wonder?

Sir you are absolutely correct !

I had absolutely no idea that this was done. It solves the mystery completely and restores my faith in Observers.

Although it was 70 years ago this year, I find it odd that Ernest Carter would have done this. But then I doubt he ever thought his stock book would become such a treasured reference.

With thanks to all
Peter

 

[sprinterguy]

Sir you are absolutely correct !

I had absolutely no idea that this was done. It solves the mystery completely and restores my faith in Observers.

Although it was 70 years ago this year, I find it odd that Ernest Carter would have done this. But then I doubt he ever thought his stock book would become such a treasured reference.

With thanks to all
Peter

Pleased to hear it. It's actually the first time that I've properly studied the "Few Locomotives" table in my copy myself, so thanks for increasing my attention to, essentially, the appendices.

There doesn't seem to be a hard and fast rule as to what made it into the main photo pages and what didn't, given that I've encountered classes with as few as three remaining members in the main section, but the eight O1s are relegated to the table at the back.

 

[D6130]

There doesn't seem to be a hard and fast rule as to what made it into the main photo pages and what didn't, given that I've encountered classes with as few as three remaining members in the main section, but the eight O1s are relegated to the table at the back.

Perhaps the three ex-LSWR Beattie well tanks at Wadebridge were considered to be more worthy of a full page than the very slightly more numerous ex-SE&CR O1s?

 

[52290]

It's here in my 1958 edition.

 

[Caersws]

View attachment 174843It's here in my 1958 edition.

I definitely appreciate this evidence. I wasn’t sure if they were in any of the editions so I was reluctant to buy anymore. With this info I can proceed and add to my library.

Thanks again, the forum has been of immense help to me.