4-4-0 Class C & U 'Small Ben' & 'Large Ben' HR Profile and Models

The Highland Railway Ben Class were small 4-4-0 passenger steam locomotives. There were actually two separate 'Ben' classes, usually referred to as the 'Small Bens' and the 'Large Bens'. 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. 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. The first 8 locomotives were of the Small Ben type and were built by Dübs and Company of Glasgow in the period 1898 to 1899. The Highland Railway built another nine during 1899–1900 at their own Lochgorm works. Finally, three more were built by the North British Locomotive Company of Glasgow in 1906. In 1908 a larger version appeared, initially four examples from North British Locomotive, with two more the following year. All of these locomotives survived to be taken over by the LMS at the Grouping in 1923. The Large Bens were all withdrawn between 1932 and 1937. The Small Bens survived into British Railways ownership and were withdrawn by 1953.

(Information provided via Wikipedia)

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