Darjeeling 'B' class
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is probably one of the most famous
narrow gauge railways in the world. Situated in India, this engineering
masterpiece which rises a total of 6,850 feet over it's 50 mile length, was
constructed between 1878 and 1881.
The railways main motive power were the well known class 'B' 0-4-0 well
tank/saddle tank engines designed by Sharp Stewart & Co of Glasgow.
Between 1889 and 1929 the DHR purchased a total of 33 of this class of
locomotive from Sharp Stewart, North British Locomotive Co and Baldwin
Locomotive Works as well as building 3 in it's own workshops, and locomotives
dating back to 1892 are still in use today.
The Roundhouse class 'B' is typical of the locomotives that are currently
in operation on the railway and features a wealth of detail to augment the
legendary Roundhouse performance and reliability.
Click on a thumbnail to see some of the detail up close.
Technical specifications for the Darjeeling 'B' class.
- 0-4-0 outside framed
chassis with two double acting slide valve cylinders operated by a
simplified Walschaerts type valve gear.
- Internal gas firing using
our 'FG' type burner.
- Controls fitted as standard
are :- steam regulator, safety valve, pressure gauge, displacement
lubricator, gas regulator and reversing gear.
- Water gauge and boiler top
up system fitted as standard.
- The wheels are adjustable
between 32mm and 45mm gauge.
- Dimensions are :- length
365mm, width 115mm, height 170mm, weight 3.5 Kg.
- Full radio control is
available for both regulator and reversing valve gear.
- Colors available are
Brunswick green, black, maroon or DHR blue. Standard locomotive is unlined
- Also available with
insulated wheels.
