Barclay 0-6-0T NO. W38 Ajax is a works locomotive now in use for passenger service. She was built for the Sulphide Corporation of London in 1918, but then used by the Ministry of Munitions and sent to Persia, where she ended up serving the Anglo-Persian Oil Company. On return she was used by a refinery, ironworks and quarries in different parts of the country before being lent to the Isle of White Steam Railway in 1972. After a long wait she was finally overhauled, and had her boiler repaired and a new firebox made so that she could start pulling passenger coaches in 2005 (full history at "Barclay 0-6-0T"). She is currently being overhauled again.
Details from the locomotive.
The company that made it began producing locomotives at the Caledonia Engine Works, Kilmarnock, Scotland in 1859, and by 1914 had 600-700 employees ("Andrew Barclay"). It is worth mentioning here because, as noted in the same source, it had a good reputation "for constructing simple robust locomotives and many of its products survive in use on heritage railways."
Works label from a later locomotive in the sidings (Army 235 B11 SA).
Photographs, text and formatting by Jacqueline Banerjee, who would like to thank the Isle of Wight Steam Railway's "Train Story" Discovery Centre for permitting photography. You may use these images without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer or source and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.
Related Material
Bibliography
"Barclay 0-6-0T NO. W38 Ajax." Isle of Wight Steam Railway. Web. 11 August 2017.
"Andrew Barclay, Sons, & Co." Grace's Guide. Web. 11 August 2017.
Created 11 August 2017