Edward Thomas (locomotive)

Edward Thomas

Edward Thomas at Abergynolwyn railway station

Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Kerr, Stuart & Co. Ltd. Serial number 4047 Model Tattoo class Build date 1921

Specifications Configuration 0-4-2ST Gauge 2 ft 3 in (686 mm) Driver dia. 2 ft 0 in (610 mm) Trailing dia. 1 ft 4 in (406 mm) Wheelbase 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) Length 16 ft 8 in (5.08 m) Loco weight 9.25 long tons 19 cwt (22,800 lb or 10.4 t) (11.4 short tons) Boiler pressure 160 lbf/in2 (1.10 MPa) Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 7 1⁄8 in × 12 in (181 mm × 305 mm)

Performance figures Tractive effort 3,450 lbf (15.35 kN)

Career Operators Corris Railway Great Western Railway British Railways Talyllyn Railway Numbers CR/GWR/BR/TR: 4

Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Builder	Kerr, Stuart & Co. Ltd.
Serial number	4047
Model	Tattoo class
Build date	1921

Specifications
Configuration	0-4-2ST
Gauge	2 ft 3 in (686 mm)
Driver dia.	2 ft 0 in (610 mm)
Trailing dia.	1 ft 4 in (406 mm)
Wheelbase	7 ft 6 in (2.29 m)
Length	16 ft 8 in (5.08 m)
Loco weight	9.25 long tons 19 cwt (22,800 lb or 10.4 t) (11.4 short tons)
Boiler pressure	160 lbf/in2 (1.10 MPa)
Cylinders	Two, outside
Cylinder size	7 1⁄8 in × 12 in (181 mm × 305 mm)

Performance figures
Tractive effort	3,450 lbf (15.35 kN)

Career
Operators	Corris Railway Great Western Railway British Railways Talyllyn Railway
Numbers	CR/GWR/BR/TR: 4

Edward Thomas is a narrow gauge steam locomotive. Built by Kerr Stuart & Co. Ltd. at the California Works, Stoke-on-Trent in 1921, it was delivered new to the Corris Railway where it ran until 1948. After that railway closed, the locomotive was brought to the Talyllyn Railway in 1951, then restored, and remains in working order at the heritage railway. It has carried the operating number 4 under four successive owners.

The Corris Railway was a 2 ft 3 in (686 mm) gauge tramway built in 1859, which ran from Machynlleth north to Corris and on to Aberllefenni to serve local slate quarries. The railway company owned three locomotives, built in 1878; by the end of World War I all three were in poor condition, and the railway ordered a fourth, a modified version of Kerr Stuart's 0-4-2 ST "Tattoo" class, in 1921. It initially struggled with the workload on the Corris and was provided with a new boiler with a greater number of tubes in 1928.

The Corris Railway was taken over by the Great Western Railway in 1930, after which duties were shared between No.4 and the surviving original loco, No. 3. By late 1947 No. 4 was out of service needing a major overhaul, and as a result never worked under British Railways following nationalisation in 1948, as the Corris closed on 20 August that year. It then was left under tarpaulin at the rear of the Corris Railway Machynlleth Station, along with No. 3.

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