Douglas Earle Marshall, Locomotive, Carriage & Wagon Superintendent of the London Brighton & South Coast Railway was on a roll. The company was pleased with the success of his I3 class 4-4-2 tank engines, so much so that Douglas was given free reign to design a 4-6-2 tank engine capable of hauling the heaviest express trains between London and Brighton.
During July 1910 the first of these locomotives, No.325 Abergavenny, was built at Brighton Works and designated class J1. The locomotive performed well and in May 1911 the company authorized the construction of a second engine No.326 Bessborough.
However, Marshall was not a well man and went on long term sick leave. He was superseded by Lawson Butzkopfski Billinton who made detail design changes to No.326 before construction commenced. The changes were sufficient for Bessborough to be designated class J2.
Of the two, Bessborough was said to perform well and was the faster machine.
When the LB&SCR was absorbed into the Southern Railway, Bessborough was renumbered 2326.
The engine, minus its name, was allocated to Tunbridge Wells West when British Railways was formed, though it was four months before its new number 32326 was painted on the cab sides and new numberplate fitted to the smokebox.
32326 didn’t survive long under BR ownership. On week ending 7 October 1950, the engine was officially listed as being reallocated to Brighton.
Eight months later on week ending 2 June 1951, she was withdrawn from service after 39 years, three months and four days. She was cut up during July 1951.
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Featured Image – 32326 on New Cross Gate MPD. – Photographer not known. Collection Clive Hardy
Clive is our Transport and Railway writer, with years of experience he is a fount of knowledge on all things transport nostalgia.
