Taff Vale Railway O2 class

The Taff Vale Railway O2 class was a class of 0-6-2T steam tank locomotives designed by Tom Hurry Riches and introduced to the Taff Vale Railway in 1899.

Taff Vale Railway O2 class
Taff Vale 85 at Oxenhope, 27 January 2008
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Tom Hurry Riches Builder Neilson, Reid & Co. Build date 1899 Total produced 9
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-6-2T  • UIC C1 n2t Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Driver dia. 4 ft 6+1⁄2 in (1.384 m) Loco weight 61 long tons 10 cwt (137,800 lb or 62.5 t) (69.4 short tons) Boiler pressure 160 psi (1.10 MPa) Cylinders Two, inside Cylinder size 17.5 in × 26 in (444 mm × 660 mm) Valve gear Stephenson
Performance figures Tractive effort 19,870 lbf (88,386.16 N)
Career Operators TVR » GWR Withdrawn 1926–1928 Preserved One: TVR 85 Disposition One preserved, remainder scrapped

Numbering

Year	Quantity	Builder	Serial Numbers	TVR Numbers	GWR numbers	Notes
1899	9	Neilson, Reid & Co.	5409, 5408, 5410–5416	82, 85, 84, 32, 83, 81, 31, 66, 44	423, 426, 425, 413, 424, 421, 412, 419, 415

Withdrawal and disposal

All were withdrawn from traffic between 1926 and 1928. One locomotive, GWR 426 (TVR 85) was sold to the National Coal Board and used at their Philadelphia Colliery, numbered 52. It was subsequently saved for preservation, and is based at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway. It was restored to original Taff Vale condition in 2000, although the paintwork didn't receive any lining out, and ran on a regular basis until 2009 when its boiler ticket expired. Due to its popularity and good condition, it received a further overhaul which was completed in February 2016, just in time for the line's Winter Steam Gala that year. This time though, the loco's paintwork received full lining out, effectively completing its original Taff Vale appearance. Since re-entering service, the loco remains part of the railway's operational fleet.

TVR 85 departing Keighley, with a vintage (L&YR) train set. 2017.

References

• Casserley, H. C. & Johnston, Stuart W. (1966). Locomotives at the Grouping 4: Great Western Railway. Shepperton, Middlesex: Ian Allan Limited. p. 78.
• Butcher, Alan C., ed. (1988). Railways Restored (1988/89 ed.). Weybridge, Surrey: Ian Allan Limited. pp. 85–86. ISBN 0-7110-1762-X.