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751
‘John H Gretton’ (formerly 'John of Gaunt')
Designer: David Curwen
Built:
Rebuilt in 1969 by the S.M.R. and Coleby-Simkins
Further alterations in 1989 by Messrs Wickett, Kempster & Coleby with new valve
gear, roller bearing side rods, rolling crosshead and balanced slide valves
being added.
Also front-end modifications in 2000 resulting in a more efficient
blastpipe and chimney arrangement.
Wheel arrangement
Cylinders (2)
4.125" x 4.875"
Driving wheel diameter 1'1"
Bogie and trailing wheel diameters 7 1/4"
Coupled wheelbase 1' 4 1/4"
Engine total 7'
1 1/2"
Engine and tender 12' 3 1/2"
Width over footplate 1' 10"
Chimney to rail level 2' 10 1/2"
Grate area 1.5
sq. ft.
Weight in working order (as built)
Engine 16
cwt
Tender 4
cwt
Nice
shot of the enclosed modified rotary valve gear, fitted during 751’s commercial
days at Stapleford to improve reliability
Below,
the late Lord John H Gretton brings 751 “John O Gaunt” into car park station in
the late 70’s
Following
his untimely death, the locomotive was renamed in his memory after the FSMR
restored the railway to public operation in summer 1995
Modifications carried out since construction : -
(1) Larger steam pipes to cylinders(2)
Larger exhaust and blast pipe (3) Widening of main boiler steam pipe from
regulator
(4)
Large poppet valve regulator
(5) Increase in weight by 3 cwt and improved engine
balancing (6) Frame strengthening
(7)
Larger firebox with greater water space and improved drafting (8) Modified valve
gear (9) Steam
pressure differential cylinder drain cocks
(10)
Engine bogie side control
(11) Sprung buffers between engine and tender (12) New cab
(13)
Enlarged brake blocks with Ferodo linings (14) Double
lapped steam brake valve (
(15)
Lubricator fitted to brake cylinder (16) Improved suspension (17) Steam chest pressure gauge
The locomotive was supplied new to the Bognor
Regis Miniature Railway, run by a Mr.S.R.Briggs.
At that time 751 was numbered 2448, and named Canadian Chief (on the tender).It was put into store
in 1950 when Mr Briggs gave up the concession to run the railway. The
locomotives remained in storage until about 1956 when sold to Mr.P.Harding, a dealer in Mablethorpe,
who then sold them on to Lord Gretton in 1957.
At Stapleford, 2448
was renumbered to 751 and renamed John of Gaunt. Apart from
wanderings to the Wells and Walsingham Railway in
As originally built the locomotive was fitted
with Baker valve gear but has since been fitted with modified 'rotary' type
valve gear to improve performance.
In 1970 John of Gaunt received
a new boiler, made by Gower of Bedford, and ran with this until the spare
boiler was fitted in the Spring of 1995. On
An "easier" locomotive to fire and
drive, 751 is
used as the first training engine as non-passed FSMR
members get their first experience of driving and firing a steam locomotive. It
is also often the loco of choice on private party charters or members running
days due to its ability and speed of preparation and disposal
Following the many improvements made over the
years to this particular member of a well-known group of locomotives, we
believe that it is now the most powerful example running of the Curwen
Atlantics
As shown below, JHG is quite capable of hauling
single-handed, our heavy 9-car trains up the Bank."
