Highland Railway X Class

The Highland Railway Drummond 0-6-4T or X class were large tank engines designed by Peter Drummond, originally intended for banking duty.

Construction

The first four were built by the North British Locomotive Company and delivered in 1909. A second batch of four was delivered in 1911.

The design was derived from the Class K 0-6-0 tender engines and leading dimensions were very similar, although the boiler and firebox are recorded as 'larger' by an unspecified amount.

They were not popular with crews, many finding them heavy and clumsy and several having problems with water capacity. Their axleboxes also consistently ran hot as well.

All entered London, Midland and Scottish Railway ownership in 1923 and were renumbered 15300–7 with the power classification 4; this was revised to 4P in 1928. Six locomotives received the LMS red livery but were later repainted black; the other two went directly from HR green to LMS black. Withdrawal commenced in 1932, and was completed in 1936.