James Holden 0-10-0T No. 20 'Decapod' + GER Class P43

[neildimmer]

I have added a couple of photos of James Holden locos, now long gone
The Decapod was the first ten-coupled locomotive to run in the UK

In the early 1900s, the Great Eastern Railway (GER) was threatened by the City & North Eastern Surburban Electric Railway - a scheme for an electric railway which would compete with the GER's lucrative commuter traffic. In order stop this proposal in Parliament, the GER's Management ordered James Holden to produce a locomotive that could compete with an electric railway. The locomotive had to accelerate a 300 ton train to 30mph in 30 seconds. The 0-10-0T No. 20 'Decapod' was Holden's response to this challenge. In tests, the Decapod appears to have met the acceleration goal, and the electric scheme was defeated.

20 0-10-0T No. 20 'Decapod'

https://railway-photography.smugmug.com ... /i-FCF4qpf

+

The GER Class P43 was a class of ten 4-2-2 steam tender locomotives designed by James Holden for the Great Eastern Railway. They were the last 'singles' built for the Great Eastern, and the last in service.

19 J.Holden GER Class P43 built 1898, scrapped 1909

https://railway-photography.smugmug.com ... /i-rXszqts



Neil