Neil

Stumbled onto your fascinating website whilst browsing for something else (as you do).

I had no idea just how many engines Awdry created.

I noted with considerable interest "Neil" the 0-4-0ST built by Neilson

As way of some minor contribution I attach a photograph of an actual 0-4-0 Neilson.

The one in the photograph is Neilson works no. 360 of 1856 which worked on the West Somerset Mineral Railway, where it was known as "the Box" (for obvious reasons). Photo taken about 1885 by H.H. Hole

It cost £1.065 13s when ordered in 1856. Unfortunately the first engine suffered the ignominious fate of "having been injured by the stoker having lighted the fire without water in the boiler and rendered useless" (West Somerset Railway Minute Book, 30 Jan 1857)

The second Neilson arrived 25 Feb 1857 and both were damaged in a collision 22 Aug 1857.

A third arrived in 1865. On 28 December 1865 one of them had another accident, running through a shed wall whilst being driven by an “acting stoker”, an 8 year old boy who subsequently died.

Both remained until 1883, one probably being sent back to Wales.

In 1896 N 360 was replaced by another Neilson. It was probably sent back to Ebbw Vale and scrapped about 1899.

Notes and photograph from: “The West Somerset Mineral Railway” by Roger Sellick, David and Charles, 1970 (2nd edition)