Highland Railway Ben Class

The Highland Railway’s Ben Class was a class of small 4-4-0 passenger steam locomotives. There were actually two separate 'Ben' classes built, these two subclasses are usually referred to as the 'Small Bens' and the 'Large Bens'.
==History==
Despite the large and small tags, there was actually little difference between the two groups, the most crucial being larger boilers with an increase in tube heating surface. Cylinder and wheel dimensions were identical.
=== Introduction ===
The class was originally designed by Peter Drummond, who was an elder (and better known) brother Dugald had been in the Highland Railway's locomotive department in earlier years and was at that time Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London and South Western Railway.
In appearance they were fairly typical Drummond family products with the stiffener across the cab roof. They were also inside cylindered, almost uniquely among HR bogie locomotives.
==Build details==
===First batch===
The first eight examples of the Highland Railway "Small Ben" locomotives were built by Dübs and Company of Glasgow, Scotland in the period 1898 to 1899. They were:
Image	HR No.	Name 	Manufacturer	Built 	Withdrawn 	LMS No.	BR No.	Notes 	Image
 	1 	Ben-y-Gloe 	Dübs & Co.
3685	July 1898 	February 1949	14397 	54397 	Renamed Ben Y’Gloe in 1939. Withdrawn before BR number applied	
 	2 	Ben Alder 	Dübs & Co. 
3686	July 1898 	February 1953	14398 	54398 	Set aside for preservation, but scrapped in 05/1966.
But a replica is planned for construction	
 	3 	Ben Wyvis 	Dübs & Co. 
3687	July 1898 	May 1952 	14399 	54399 	 	
 	4 	Ben More 	Dübs & Co. 
3688	February 1899	October 1946 	14400 	— 	 	
 	5 	Ben Vrackie	Dübs & Co. 
3689	February 1899	October 1948 	14401 	54401 	Withdrawn before BR number applied 	
 	6 	Ben Armin 	Dübs & Co. 
3690	February 1899	December 1939	14402 	— 	 	
 	7 	Ben Attow 	Dübs & Co. 
3691	February 1899	February 1949	14403 	54403 	Withdrawn before BR number applied 	
 	8 	Ben Clebrig	Dübs & Co. 
3692	February 1899	October 1950 	14404 	54404 	 	
No. 1 was originally first named "Ben Nevis" for its works portrait, an action that attracted the ire of the board as it was in the territory of a competitor (the North British Railway). It was renamed before entering service.
=== Second batch===
The Highland Railway built another nine examples of the Highland Railway "Small Ben" locomotives between 1899–1900 at their own Lochgorm Works:
Image	HR No.	Name 	Built 	Withdrawn 	LMS No.	BR No.	Notes
 	9 	Ben Rinnes 	July 1899 	September 1944	14405 	— 	
 	10 	Ben Slioch 	August 1899 	July 1947 	14406 	— 	
 	11 	Ben Macdhui	November 1899	December 1931 	14407 	— 	
 	12 	Ben Hope 	April 1900 	July 1947 	14408 	 	
 	13 	Ben Alisky 	June 1900 	April 1950 	14409 	54409 	Withdrawn before BR number applied
 	14 	Ben Dearg 	August 1900 	December 1949 	14410 	54410 	Withdrawn before BR number applied
 	15 	Ben Loyal 	February 1900	October 1936 	14411 	— 	
 	16 	Ben Avon 	February 1901	April 1947 	14412 	— 	
 	17 	Ben Alligan	February 1901	December 1933 	14413 	— 	
===Third batch===
Finally, three examples of the Highland Railway "Small Ben" Class more were built by the North British Locomotive Company of Glasgow in 1906.
HR No.	Name 	NBL Serial	Built 	Withdrawn 	LMS No.	BR No.	Notes
38 	Ben Udlaman 	17398 	April 1906	December 1933 	14414 	— 	
41 	Ben Bhach Ard	17399 	July 1906 	May 1948 	14415 	54415 	Withdrawn before BR number applied
47 	Ben a'Bhuird 	17400 	July 1906 	September 1948	14416 	54416 	Withdrawn before BR number applied
===Large Bens===
In 1908 a larger version appeared, initially four examples of the Highland Railway "Large Ben" Class of locomotives from North British Locomotive, with two more the following year
Image	HR No.	Name 	NBL serial	Built 	Withdrawn 	LMS No.	BR No.	Notes
 	61 	Ben na Caillich	18269 	May 1908	May 1936 	14417 	— 	Renamed Ben na Caillach in 1926
 	63 	Ben Mheadhoin 	18270 	May 1908	December 1932	14418 	— 	
 	66 	Ben Mholach 	18271 	May 1908	October 1935 	14419 	— 	Renumbered 64 in 1909
 	68 	Ben a'Chait 	18272 	May 1908	April 1934 	14420 	— 	Renumbered 65 in 1909
 	60 	Ben Breac Mhor 	18803 	May 1909	October 1932 	14421 	— 	Renamed Ben Bhreac 'Mhor in 1924
 	62 	Ben a'Chaoruinn	18804 	May 1909	March 1937 	14422 	— 	Renamed Ben Achaoruinn in 1926, then Ben a'Chaoruinn at unknown date
==Big-four Grouping and Nationalization==
All of these locomotives had survived to be taken over by the London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS) at the Big-four Grouping in 1923. The Large Bens were all withdrawn between 1932 and 1937, the first of the Small Bens was withdrawn in 1931, but ten had survived into British Railways ownership. The last of these, 54398 Ben Alder, was withdrawn in 1953 and placed in storage in the hope that it would be preserved.
==Preservation attempts and revival==
Unfortunately the hopes for 54398 – which included the intention to restore the locomotive to Highland Railway condition – came to nothing, and following storage at various locations (including Boat of Garten) it was eventually cut up on 05/1966; and so, none of the Highland Railway Ben Class of locomotives were preserved. However, a charitable organization has been formed with the aim of building a working replica of 54398 Ben Alder. 
==External links==
*Rail UK database no. 54398
*brdatabase HR/LMS Drummond "C" Class 4-4-0
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