History

The 1528 class 0-4-0T was introduced by R M Deeley and ten were built, the first five numbered 1528-1532, in 1907 and the second five, numbered 1533-1537, in 1921/22.  All had three-link couplings, no train braking equipment, and 23” diameter buffers.  Coal capacity was 10cwt, carried in small bunkers in the cab, either side of the firebox backhead, but it was often the practice to carry an additional supply piled on the tank tops ahead of the cab.  The initial livery of the first batch was lined crimson lake, but at the first repaint they received plain black.  The second batch were in plain black when new, and passed to the LMS and BR thus.   

Variations as built

Panel riveting

Flush

Snap head

Cab handrails

‘In line’ with cab sides, and fitted between the cab aperture beading and the running plate

‘Outside’ the cab side sheets, in handrail stanchions (with a narrower doorway)

Tank top beading

Rear end terminates at bottom of cab side vertical edge

Rear end terminates at top of cab side vertical edge

Rear footsteps

Lower ‘flared’ portion symmetrical with steps vertically aligned

Lower ‘flared’ portion asymmetrical (rear edge vertical

Access holes in tank sides

No access hole for radius rod / valve spindle joint

Access hole provided

Valve spindle guide

Small type

Large type

Variations in service

Smokebox wrapper

The official photograph of 1528 in ‘photographic grey’ livery shows a flush rivetted wrapper.  It is not known if this was applied to other members of the first batch, but photographs suggest that all engines received wrappers with visible rivet heads, either at an early date or from new.

Smokebox door

It appears that the first batch were built with flat doors and the second with dished doors, but doors were swapped between engines, and all seem to have eventually acquired dished doors.

Chimney

At least three different types of chimney were fitted, these being (a) tall stovepipe with flared base, (b) short stovepipe with flared base, and (c) tall stovepipe with non-flared base.  It appears that chimneys were changed apparently randomly from one type to another as engines passed through works.