Rail Album - South Staffordshire Railway & its Locomotives

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South Staffordshire Railway & its Locomotives

by Greg Martin

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The first part of the South Staffordshire Railway was opened on the 1^st of November 1847 between Bescot Junction and Walsall. Trains were operated between Birmingham and Walsall over this line by the London & North Western Railway (LNWR).

An extension of the line from Walsall to Winchnor Junction (Birmingham & Derby Railway) was opened on the 9^th of April 1849. This led to the South Staffordshire company operating its own line, with running powers to Birmingham over the LNWR.

Another extension, from Walsall to Dudley, was opened on the 8^th of May 1850. From the 1^st of August 1850 the line was leased to Mr J R Maclean, who took charge of both the locomotives and rolling stock from that date.

An agreement of February 1858 led to the LNWR again operating the line. In connection with this the LNWR agreed to buy the South Staffordshire Railway company's stock of 23 steam locomotives for £49,486. They also agreed to accept delivery of the six engines which at the time the SSR had on order from Messers. Fairbairn.

South Staffordshire Railway Steam Locomotives

SSR Number	Locomotive Name	Later LNWR SD Number
1	Dudley	297
2	Walsall	298
3	Wednesbury	299
4	Lichfield	300

Wheel Arrangement: 2-2-2
Driving Wheels: 5' 9?
Leading Wheels: 3' 6?
Trailing Wheels: 3'6?
Cylinder Diameter: 15?
Builder: Messers. Fairbairn

SSR Number	Locomotive Name	Later LNWR SD Number
5	Burton	53
6	Stafford	84
7	Bescot	116

Wheel Arrangement: 2-2-2
Driving Wheels: 5' 6?
Builder: Messers. Sharp

SSR Number	Locomotive Name	Later LNWR SD Number
8	Birmingham	307
9	Wolverhampton	308

Wheel Arrangement: 0-6-0 (long boiler)
Cylinder Diameter: 18?
Builder: Messers. Fairbairn

SSR Number	Locomotive Name	Later LNWR SD Number
10	Belvidere	-scrapped by SSR-
11	Angerstein	321

Wheel Arrangement: 0-6-0 (long boiler)
Cylinder Diameter: 16?
Builder: Messers. Garforth

SSR Number	Locomotive Name	Later LNWR SD Number
12	Pelsall	309
13	Alrewas	310

Wheel Arrangement: 0-6-0 (long boiler)
Cylinder Diameter: 18?
Builder: Messers. Stephenson

SSR Number	Locomotive Name	Later LNWR SD Number
14	Sylph	111
15	Safety	112

Wheel Arrangement: 0-4-0T
Driving Wheels: 5' 0?
Builder: Messers. Sharp Bros

SSR Number	Locomotive Name	Later LNWR SD Number
16	Viper	301
17	Stag	302

Wheel Arrangement: 0-6-0
Cylinder Diameter: 16?
Builder: Messers. E B Wilson and Co

SSR Number	Locomotive Name	Later LNWR SD Number
18	Esk	160
19	Justin	181

Wheel Arrangement: 2-4-0
Driving Wheels: 6' 6?
Leading Wheels: 4' 0?
Cylinder Diameter: 16?
Builder: Messers. E B Wilson and Co

SSR Number	Locomotive Name	Later LNWR SD Number
20	Priam	303
21	Ajax	306

Cylinder Diameter: 17?
Builder: Messers. C Tayleur and Co

SSR Number	Locomotive Name	Later LNWR SD Number
22	Bilston	304
23	Derby	163

Cylinder Diameter: 16?
Builder: Messers. Beyer, Peacock and Co

SSR Number	Locomotive Name	Later LNWR SD Number
24	Cannock	311
25	Bloxwich	312
26	McConnell	313
27	Vauxhall	314
28	Aston	315
29	Tipton	316

Wheel Arrangement: 0-6-0 (long boiler)
Driving Wheels: 5' 0?
Cylinder Diameter: 18?
Builder: Messers. Fairbairn