I am currently working on a new book about the Royal Arsenal Railways and I am trying to locate a (half decent at least) copy of the photograph of the Royal Train that you have enclosed with this post. Would you be able to help with the necessary contact details?
This was the best I could do. The Mercury (SE London local newspaper) produced this special booklet. It did not give any source reference. I have not checked the newspapers for that time to see if they published it and gave any extra information. Not certain as to which royal visit it was intended for. Any additional info welcomed.
The Royal Visit was that of KG5 and Queen Mary in 1913 (The Daily Graphic) and the locomotive is, as you suggest, one of the Kerr, Stuart 0-4-0STs. These were in reality two classes: the PLUTO class of 1901 (six members built 5 ft. 4in. wide overall for passenger work) and POMPEY class of 1912 (four members built 5ft. 2in. wide for shop work, the last of which, PETROLEA of 1914 was oil-fired for Danger Buildings work). The fact that the engine in the photo has been fitted with the Arsenal's own design of spark arresting chimney suggests that it was one of the PLUTO class. On another matter, you mentioned a gyroscope monorail in the Arsenal at this time - this would have been Louis Brennan's monorail previously tested at Aldershot in 1909 or thereabouts. Further information on these experiments can be found in the R.E. Library at Chatham and the NRM at York.
Crossness Engines
I am currently working on a new book about the Royal Arsenal Railways and I am trying to locate a (half decent at least) copy of the photograph of the Royal Train that you have enclosed with this post. Would you be able to help with the necessary contact details?
ReplyDeleteYours sincerely,
Mark Smithers
This was the best I could do. The Mercury (SE London local newspaper) produced this special booklet. It did not give any source reference. I have not checked the newspapers for that time to see if they published it and gave any extra information. Not certain as to which royal visit it was intended for. Any additional info welcomed.
ReplyDeleteThe Royal Visit was that of KG5 and Queen Mary in 1913 (The Daily Graphic) and the locomotive is, as you suggest, one of the Kerr, Stuart 0-4-0STs. These were in reality two classes: the PLUTO class of 1901 (six members built 5 ft. 4in. wide overall for passenger work) and POMPEY class of 1912 (four members built 5ft. 2in. wide for shop work, the last of which, PETROLEA of 1914 was oil-fired for Danger Buildings work). The fact that the engine in the photo has been fitted with the Arsenal's own design of spark arresting chimney suggests that it was one of the PLUTO class.
DeleteOn another matter, you mentioned a gyroscope monorail in the Arsenal at this time - this would have been Louis Brennan's monorail previously tested at Aldershot in 1909 or thereabouts. Further information on these experiments can be found in the R.E. Library at Chatham and the NRM at York.