The locomotives were built under three Lots between 1900 and 1908. Of these, ten were rebuilt, becoming members of the City class, between 1902 and 1909.

The first locomotive, no. 3373, was named Atbara and all the locomotives of Lots 125 and 126, which had the standard depth of framing, were known as the Atbara class. The later engines of Lot 176, which had deeper frames, were given the names of flowers and became known as the Flower class.

The first ten engines of Lot 125 had a very high cab, whereas the remaining members of this lot had a standard height cab with a much smaller cut-out in the side sheets. Lots 126 and 176 had a standard height cab. Lot 125 differed from the later locomotives because of the curved rear steps.

Atbaras originally had Dean 'swing-hanger' bogies with shallow framing, fluted coupling rods, steam brake and steam reverse whereas the Flowers were built with 'De Glehn' type bogies, plain coupling rods, vacuum brake and screw reverse. It is believed that all of the Atbaras were later rebuilt with screw reverse.

Ref

Specification

Price

To complete

L10

Etched nickel silver frames, motion and brass superstructure

Lost wax, whitemetal and turned fittings

Flexichas suspension

Non-working, ‘dummy’ inside motion

Designed by Martin Finney

 Kit to convert to working Inside Motion - IM10

£175

 Dean 3000 gallon tender or Churchward 3500 gallon tender.

 Wheels

Driving: 6' 8½" diameter 22 spokes, outside crank - Ultrascale, Alan Gibson, Markits

Bogie: 3'8" diameter 10-spoke - Ultrascale, Alan Gibson, Markits

Variations/Modifications incorporated into the kit

Boilers:  Two boilers are provided in the kit the D2 half coned and the D3 three-quarter coned. This means that Lots 125 and 126 cannot be built in their original condition with the D0 parallel boiler, but can be built in slightly later condition, from 1904 onwards, as they were fitted with the D2 and D3 boilers. The engines rebuilt as Cities, with the larger No. 4 boiler, cannot be built from the kit in that form although several were fitted with the D2 or D3 boilers provided, before they became Cities, and so could be built from the kit.

Frame strengthening: the locomotives acquired frame strengthening plates surprisingly quickly, probably during their first major shopping. Atbaras were first fitted with separate plates for each axle. Later larger, one piece plates were fitted to some of the class. The Flowers quickly acquired plates to the rear axle only.

Smokebox: originally quite short and later front and back rings riveted.

Smokebox saddle:  early flush rivets and later snap head rivets.

Chimneys:  three different types are provided.

Bogies: both types included - many were rebuilt to the 'de Glehn' type without swing-hangers and fitted with strengthening patches - built with beaded bogie splashers.

Sandboxes: originally below footplate on leading coupled wheels only - later, on all except No.4138 White, larger and above footplate on all driving wheels. Flowers were built with the larger type.

Splashers: early with beading - later beading removed and rivets visible

Leading coupled wheel splasher: The Atbaras were built with a beaded splasher, below the footplate, on the leading coupled axle which were gradually removed up to World War 1.

Safety valve casing: with or without top-feed.

Cab roof:  early canvas covered wood - later two types of steel roof.

Cab spectacle windows:  plated over during the late 1920s.

Vacuum pipe:  originally tall - later a shorter pattern introduced.