Tom Rolt (locomotive)

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.

Tom Rolt
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. Serial number 2263 Build date 1949 Total produced 3 Rebuilder Talyllyn Railway Rebuild date 1991 Number rebuilt 1
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-4-0WT → 0-4-2T Gauge 2 ft 3 in (686 mm) Driver dia. 2 ft 0 in (610 mm) Trailing dia. 1 ft 4 in (406 mm) Wheelbase 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) Length 18 ft 8.5 in (5.70 m) Loco weight 14 long tons 5 cwt (14.5 t; 16.0 short tons) Boiler pressure 180 lbf/in2 (1.24 MPa) Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 8+1⁄2 in × 12 in (216 mm × 305 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 5,527 lbf (24.59 kN)
Career Operators Bord na Móna Talyllyn Railway Numbers BnM: 1 → 43 TR: 7

History

Bord na Móna

The engine began life working for the Bord na Móna. This is a semi-state company in Ireland, created by the Turf Development Act, 1946. The company is responsible for the mechanised harvesting of peat, primarily in the Midlands of Ireland. This company uses narrow gauge railways to carry vast amounts of peat.

It was one of three 3 ft (914 mm) gauge 0-4-0WT well tank locomotives built by Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. in 1949; initially numbered 1 to 3; they were later renumbered 43 to 45.

Intended to burn peat, the engines did not perform well and were put into storage after only a few years of work.

Talyllyn Railway

No. 7 Tom Rolt

As passenger numbers continued to grow during the late 1960s, the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society realised that further motive power was needed, especially as the rebuilt No. 1, Talyllyn was not performing well. However, as the 2 ft 3 in (686 mm) gauge of the Talyllyn Railway was so unusual they could not buy an engine with the correct gauge, so would either have to buy and re-gauge an engine or else make a new engine. In 1969 the Talyllyn Railway purchased an 0-4-0 well tank engine from Bord na Móna, unofficially named Irish Pete, in order to create the new locomotive they needed.

Tom Rolt at Nant Gwernol

The new engine was built in 1991 at Pendre works on the Talyllyn Railway. The frames, boiler, driving wheels, cylinders and other parts of the 0-4-0WT engine from Bord na Móna were used. The new engine became an 0-4-2T and was named Tom Rolt after the author L. T. C. Rolt who inspired the Talyllyn's preservation.

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.

Bibliography

• Bate, J.H.L. (2001). The Chronicles of Pendre Sidings. RailRomances. ISBN 1-900622-05-X.
• Boyd, James I.C. (1965). Narrow Gauge Railways in Mid Wales. Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-85361-024-X.
• Holmes, Alan (2009). Talyllyn Revived. The Talyllyn Railway. ISBN 978-0-900317-07-1.
• Potter, D. (1990). The Talyllyn Railway. David St John Thomas. ISBN 0-946537-50-X.