Photo:
A Goshing Collection - Quainton's Well Tank, 30585

When in February 1961 the recommendations regarding locomotives to be scheduled for preservation by the British Transport Commission were published, it was no surprise to find a Beattie well tank in the list. In June 1962 the Bluebell Railway expressed their hope that a home would be found for one of the three engines at Sheffield Park and the British Transport Commission had indicated they intended to save 30587. The Bluebell negotiated for 30585 or 30586 but following an inspection both were deemed an unsound proposition on a long term mechanical basis and regretfully they were not accepted for an active life in Sussex.

The well tanks actually finished their work at Wadebridge in August 1962 although the three replacement Pannier tanks 1367/8/9 had arrived at the depot more than a month earlier. However, they had been put into store pending the completion of the work of raising the height of the water tank in the woods at Pencarrow to suit the Great Western locomotives. At the end of August 30585/6 left Cornwall and arrived at Eastleigh during the first week of September, while 30587 followed after it had worked the farewell trip over the Wenford line on the 8th September. All three engines were examined before working up the main line to Nine Elms depot where they were prepared for the South Western rail tour, 30585/7 being selected as the best pair of engines. After the tour the three well tanks were withdrawn from stock in December 1962. While negotiations were being carried out by those interested in purchasing one of the survivors the trio remained in London, but in July No. 30587, the engine to be preserved officially, was moved to Fratton shed at Portsmouth. Here it joined No. 30850 Lord Nelson and No. 30777 Sir Lamiel and other candidates for preservation. It left Fratton on 13th September 1964 accompanied by Lord Nelson and M7 0-4-4T No. 30245 pulled by a Type 3 diesel locomotive. The destination was Stratford in East London for storage, but the Beattie disgraced itself by running a hot box at Woking and was held there for several days for attention. After 3½ years another move was made, this time to the old Pullman Car Company Works at Preston Park, Brighton. This journey was made coupled to No. 70000 Britannia.

No. 30587 has made two appearances in Brighton station on public display as part of an exhibition of rolling stock in aid of the Woking Homes; on 30th June 1973 and 6th July 1974. At the time this is being written it is thought likely that it will move to the new York Museum in 1975 [Note 1].

The fate of No. 30586 was not so happy because it was the only one of the three to be scrapped. It was sent to Eastleigh from Nine Elms in August 1963 and languished on the shed for six months before it was moved into the Works for cutting up. This melancholy end took place in the last week of March in the graveyard at the back of the boiler shop alongside the Portsmouth line. It was sad to lose No. 30586 because it was the only well tank which had survived of the last six Beyer Peacock engines and the three built at Nine Elms which had W.G. Beattie's design of prominent square splashers over the leading coupled wheels. When Nos. 30586/7 had departed the only 2-4-0WT remaining at Nine Elms, our 30585, awaited its restoration to active service and how this took place is described in the next chapters.

Photos:
G D Braithwaite - No. 30586 at Wadebridge
A F Cook - 30587 at Eastleigh, 31st July 1948 (Note the lettering)

Reference:
The Centenary of the Beattie Well Tank at Quainton, Quainton Railway Society, 1974

Notes:
1 - Eventually No. 3298 (No. 30587) was placed on loan to the Dart Valley Railway at Buckfastleigh on 22nd April 1978. On the 2nd December 2001 it was taken to the Flour Mill Workshops in the Forest of Dean for restoration to working order, arriving at the Bodmin and Wenford Railway on 12 November 2002.

The text in this Quainton Railway Society publication was written in 1974 and so does not reflect events in the 40+ years since publication. The text and photographs are repeated verbatim from the original publication, with only a few minor grammar changes but some clarifying notes are added as deemed necessary.  The photos from the original publication are provided as scans in this internet version of this long out of print publication.