The LNER Encyclopedia

I've just been looking at the Vulcan Foundry website, and a thought struck me?
How were steam locomotives built at British locomotive works for export make their way from the works to the docks?
Where they towed along the railways (either on their own or on a wagon)? I can see this would result in large numbers of problems related to loading gauge, as the exported locos were much larger than UK examples.
The only other practicle thing I could think of would be to dismantle the locomotives, but I'm sure I've seen photos of whole locos being loaded as deck cargo onto ships...

Ay up!

They were normally hauled by road - an interesting subject. Try a Google search and your eyes will be opened.

In his book The Springburn Story, John Thomas gives an excellent account of the movement of a large 2-8-0 built for the Nizam of Hyderabad from the North British Hyde Park Works down to the docks. The loco was on a road trailer, hauled by two traction engines.

Apart from the account mentioned, the book is well worth a read, Springburn being the area of Glasgow with no less than four locomotive workshops ( NBR Cowlairs Works, Caledonian Railway's Saint Rollox Works, Neilson, Reid's Hyde Park Works & Sharp, Stewart's Atlas Works. (Neilson's and Sharp, Stewart's amalgamating with Dubs to become the North British Locomotive Company).

G'Day Gents

A lot of the locomotives arriving here in South Australia, arrived as kits, IE boiler & cab, chassis and tender, they were then transported to Islington works for assembly, 2 ships were required for 20 locos and tenders (10, 2-8-2's and 10, 4-8-2's)

manna

I find this whole subject fascinating. Apart from "The Springburn Story" are members aware of any other publications/documentaries about the old "independent" locomotive works?

There must be fascinating modelling opportunities too.

When North British built the R-class 4-6-4 locos for the Victorian Railways they were taken to the docks on a low-loader as separate engine and tender units. Unsure about the Vulcan Foundry built J-class 2-8-0 locos but it might have been the same. Both types were shipped to Australia as assembled units except for connecting rods and other small items.