Steam Engines

The Museum has a number of (mainly industrial) steam locomotives, please click on the engine you are interested in.

0-6-2 Side Tank - Class N7/4 No. 7999 (BR No. 69621)
0-6-0 Side Tank - Number 54 (Currently posing at Thomas)
0-4-0 Saddle Tank - Jubilee
0-4-0 Saddle Tank - Number 11
0-4-0 Saddle Tank - Number 2039 (Jeffrey)

0-6-2 Side Tank - Class N7/4 No. 7999 (BR No. 69621)

Weight : 61 tons 16 cwt
Driving wheels : 4' 10"
Wheelbase : 23' 0"
Cylinders (2) : 18" x 24" with inside Walschaerts valve gear
Boiler pressure : 180 lbs
Tractive effort : 20515 lbs

Built to the original A.J.Hill 1914 Great Eastern Railway design, No.7999 was ordered in 1921 but not delivered until 1924 - being the last locomotive constructed at the Stratford Works of the Great Eastern Railway.
For this reason it was privately purchased for preservation, and is the sole survivor of the N7 class. It was first numbered 999E but soon afterwards became LNER No. 7999. In common with many others of the class, No. 7999 was principally used for suburban workings out of Liverpool Street and Fenchurch Street, but was also loaned for a time in 1925 to Neasden for working special trains from Marylebone to the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley, being modified accordingly to work over Metropolitan Railway electrified lines.

In common with the majority of Great Eastern locomotives, No. 7999 was fitted with the Westinghouse system of compressed air braking. The sound of the Westinghouse pumps beating up and down is well-remembered by older enthusiasts, and is a magnificent sound to be heard when she is in steam. Condensing apparatus was originally fitted to enable these locomotives to work into Bishopsgate station and on to the Metropolitan Widened Lines, but this was removed in 1936 or 1937. In 1940, it was rebuilt as an N7/4 with a round top firebox, and retained the short travel valves, unlike the earlier N7/2 rebuilds that had long travel valves. For years N7's were the backbone of the heavy Liverpool Street suburban traffic, especially on the 'Jazz Service' to Chingford and Enfield, but they were also found elsewhere on the LNER system. First being renumbered to 9621 in 1947, No. 69621 - as it was renumbered following the nationalisation of the railways - had a spell at Parkeston and Harwich, and then as Liverpool Street station pilot before being withdrawn in 1962.

After being sold, it was stored at Leeds Neville Hill depot for ten years, before arriving at Chappel on 9 September 1973, following an epic rail journey south hauled by a Class 31 diesel. It was the first locomotive to arrive at the Museum by rail, by means of a track slew.
In the 1976/77 season, the locomotive was repainted in GER Royal Blue livery as No.999, but the overhaul was basically cosmetic. In 1981, it was decided to undertake full restoration to BR main line standards which entailed completely dismantling the locomotive.
A great deal of work has been necessary ; for example the wheels and axle boxes were sent away to British Rail Engineering Limited, whilst the boiler, motion and chassis were overhauled by Museum members. After a long period of hard work by Museum members No. 69621 made a triumphant return to steam at Southend as part of the Shenfield to Southend line Centenary Celebrations in August 1989, followed by an appearance at BR's Cambridge Open Day, as well as numerous steam days here at the East Anglian Railway Museum.

69621 spent the summer of 1990 on loan to the Swanage Railway, where it steamed 3172 miles during 84 steamings. It was awarded the British Coal Steam Heritage steam section prize in 1990, now on display in the Museum.
1991 saw its appearance at the closure ceremony for British Rail's Stratford Depot, during which it was named 'A.J.Hill' in honour of its designer. It spent part of summer 1991 on loan to the East Lancashire Railway at Bury, Lancashire, followed by an appearance at British Rail's Colchester Open Day in August, when rides were given in the station yard.

The highlight of the year was the long awaited return of steam services to British Rail's Marks Tey to Sudbury line in December 1991, when 69621 made several return trips on three days. 1992 saw a quieter year, although further steam trips on BR's Marks Tey to Sudbury line were run on Good Friday, whilst in May it put in some heroic performances hauling heavy trains up severe gradients during London Underground's centenary celebrations on the Harrow to Amersham section of the Metropolitan Line.

Towards the end of the year, it was discovered that the springs needed replacement, and this work was carried out by a Rotherham based contractor. 1993 included periods on loan to the Nene Valley Railway at Peterborough, followed by the Severn Valley Railway. 1994 saw the locomotive largely out of action due to essential remedial work to its axle boxes, but this was completed in Spring 1995. Autumn 1995 saw the locomotive on loan to the North Norfolk Railway at Sheringham, where it returned for much of 1996, interrupted only by an appearance at the Eastern Union 150th Anniversary celebrations at Ipswich's Croft Street Depot.

It was accompanied by the National Railway Museum's Class E4 and the North Norfolk Railway's Class B12, providing a spectacle of three Great Eastern Railway locomotives on display together for the first time on more than thirty years. It spent most of 1999 on loan to the Swanage Railway, before moving to the North Norfolk Railway in Spring 2000. The North Norfolk Railway (NNR) have agreed to fund its ten year boiler overhaul in exchange for the use of the locomotive.
Following the overhaul of the boiler at Chatham, and much other work, it made a successful test run on 10 August 2005, following which it has seen regular use on the North Norfolk Railway.

0-6-0 Side Tank - Number 54 (Currently posing as Thomas)

Works Number: 7031/41
Weight: 37 tons
Wheels: 3' 5˝" diameter
Wheelbase: 12' 1"
Boiler pressure: 160 lbs
Cylinder (2): 16" x 26" stroke

54 was the last member of a class of four locomotives (numbered 51 to 54) constructed at the Leeds factory of Kitson and Company Ltd., which was absorbed by Robert Stephenson and Hawthorn early in the Second World War.
It spent all its working life at Stewarts and Lloyds at Corby, hauling iron ore wagons, until its withdrawal in 1969 when it was purchased by two members of the Museum’s Bishops Stortford branch. It arrived at Chappel in 1973, following which it was fitted with vacuum brakes and steam heating equipment in order that it could work passenger trains. It was named ‘Penn Green’ during 1974 after the shed complex where it was based.

1987 saw it purchased by the Museum from its original owners. After many years of use as the main locomotive on service trains, 54 was withdrawn early in 1992 for major restoration work, including the construction of a new firebox. This being completed, the locomotive returned to traffic in early 1993 in a new Blackberry Red livery. A photograph of the entrance of its former depot showed it to be named ‘Pen Green’, so the spelling was duly adjusted!

The locomotive was taken out of traffic in late December 1994 for rectification of defects in the new firebox. Contractual problems ensued, which were resolved in late December 2000. Work to being 54 back into use recommenced in 2007, and following a major overhaul, which resulted in a new side tank being constructed and the locomotive being rebuilt as a licensed Thomas the Tank Engine replica.

0-4-0 Saddle Tank - Jubilee

Works Number : 2542/35
Wheels : 3' 0 1/2"
Outside Cylinders (2) : 12" x 18"
Boiler pressure : 160 lbs
Approximate weight : 25 tons

'Jubilee' is one of many small locomotives built for industrial use, and was originally ordered by Edward Lloyd for use at Bowaters Paper Mills at Sittingbourne in Kent. It was manufactured in 1935 by W.G.Bagnall & Son Ltd. of Stafford.

She was brought to Chappel in October 1976, and was restored to full working order, being the regular standby engine. Fitted with vacuum brakes in 1981 to enable her to work passenger trains, 'Jubilee' was also regularly rostered to haul the demonstration freight train that operates on selected Steam Days. Similar locomotives were used at the British Sugar Corporation's factory at Sproughton, near Ipswich.

She has had two recent changes of livery and has featured in Colchester Carnival on a low-loader lorry, as well as attending the Essex Show at Great Leighs and the Sudbury Old Tyme Rallye in the cause of publicising the East Anglian Railway Museum. 'Jubilee' was taken out of traffic in April 1995 to allow its periodic 10 year overhaul to take place, and after a long rebuild in 2006, which included a new firebox, it now back in use with a new green livery.

0-4-0 Saddle Tank - Number 11

Works Number : 10477
Cylinders (2) : 14" x 22"
Approximate weight : 25 tons

Built in 1905 by Andrew Barclay and Sons of Kilmarnock, this little engine is the oldest Locomotive at the East Anglian Railway Museum.

It was delivered new to the Cargo Fleet Iron Company at Cargo Fleet, near Middlesborough.. When this company was taken over by the South Durham Iron and Steel Company in 1922, they transferred the locomotive to their Irchester Quarry in Northamptonshire. Between arrival at Irchester and 1930 some time was spent at Desborough Ironstone Quarry, also in Northamptonshire
After its return to Irchester, and a further 19 years in service, it was rebuilt in the quarry workshops, Subsequent to this, it was transferred to the Storefield Ironstone Quarry, where it did useful work until replaced by diesels in 1968. Whilst at Storefield, it featured on a record of industrial steam locomotives. The locomotive was purchased by a Museum member in 1968, and stored on a farm near Royston, Herts, until it arrived at Chappel in 1973.

It was completely dismantled for restoration. The boiler has been retubed, the chassis and valve gear overhauled, but the work was interrupted when the Restoration Shed was constructed in the early 1980s. The heaviest task was re-tyring the locomotive, which was undertaken in the Museum's workshops.
The locomotive was steam tested for the first time since 1968 on Sunday 27th June 1999, and following the rectification of a few minor problems, entered service in September 1999, since then it has become a reliable and popular member of the Museum's locomotive fleet. It was taken out of use on October 2005 as it celebrated its 100th Birthday, for its 10 year overhaul.

0-4-0 Saddle Tank - No. 2039 'Jeffrey'

Two outside cylinders, 10" x 15" stroke
Weight: Empty 15 tons, loaded 18 tons
Driving wheel diameter: 2' 9"
Tank capacity: 475 gallons
Boiler pressure: 180 lbs per square inch
Tractive effort: 6955 lbs

Built in 1942 by Peckett & Sons of Avonside Engine Works, Bristol, 'Jeffrey' was one of their 'R' class locomotives. This locomotive last worked at Glenwydd Iron Foundry, Ironbridge, Shropshire in 1962. Latterly it apparently ran without its coupling rods, technically making it a 2-2-0 tank. The rods were found in a shed at the iron foundry prior to its purchase. It was stored at Triad, Bishops Stortford, for some years before its arrival at Chappel in June 1981.

The motion was overhauled, but the boiler needs a heavy repair before the locomotive could be steamed. No.2039 has been tidied up and repainted for static display as a mascot for the East Anglian Railway Museum Junior Members Club. It now has a face painted on the smokebox and has been named 'Jeffrey', proving very popular with younger visitors. In promotional roles for the Museum, 'Jeffrey' visited the Southend Air Show in May 1989 and the British Rail Open Day at Southend Victoria in August 1989.