South African Garratt in the works on turntable. Pic © MOSI
Manchester's Museum of Science and Industry is celebrating the centenary of one of the world's most successful locomotives built at the Beyer, Peacock works in Manchester.
Trains have already started to arrive for the Great Garratt Gathering including the 61.5-ton Beyer Garratt steam locomotive, William Francis, which was originally bought for the Baddesley colliery in Warwick.
The William Francis arriving at MOSI. Pic © MOSI
The Gathering will bring together eight full-size Beyer Garratt locomotives and more than 80 miniature locomotives in an event opened by legendary 1980s pop producer and steam enthusiast Pete Waterman, himself a Beyer Garratt owner.
"It's very exciting to have such a large steam engine arrive at the Museum," said MOSI Director Steve Davies Director. "This is just the beginning. Over the next couple of weeks five more locos will join the gathering, as well as our own steam locomotives, and 80 or more miniature locomotives."
The Beyer, Peacock works in Manchester. Pic © MOSI
"We're aiming to get 100 Beyer Garratts on site to celebrate the centenary of this fantastic Gorton-built steam engine. It will be an amazing weekend for all the family."
Herbert William Garratt designed the articulated locomotive to help trains cope with sharp turns and bends in 1909 and the locomotive was produced at the Beyer, Peacock factory in Gorton, Manchester.
No 112 LNER Garratt in reacting shop. Pic © MOSI
The design was so successful that a total of 1,636 Garratts were produced by various companies, used on 86 railways in 48 countries. The K1 Beyer Garratt, which was Garratt's original design of locomotive, still operates on the Welsh Highland Railway.
The William Francis will join MOSI's own 1930 Beyer Garratt, which was built for the South African Railways; Pender the tank engine, built in 1874 by Beyer, Peacock for the Isle of Man and the working replica Planet, the original of which was built by Robert Stephenson in 1830. There will also be a further five guest locomotives.
T120 Garratt loco. Pic © MOSI
There will be an additional open day for MOSI's archives with a display about the history of the engine's design and production through the use of company records, photographs and drawings.
