Steam LocomotivesArransian National Railways currently (November 2005) have about 120 steam locomotives in active service, excluding those held in preservation. There are four major classes: Class X3 2-8-2+2-8-2 Garratt
Cylinders: 6 16x26 in.
Eight of these were built in the late 1930s, of which six remain in service. They follow typical 1930s Arransian locomotive practice in having three cylinders per locomotive unit. As they have received new boilers and frames over the years, very little of the original locomotives remains. They generally work goods trains between Holborough and Howick via Ferndale, although they sometimes venture on to the Stainton-Aldminster route. They are very big and awesomely loud. Class P3 2-8-2
Cylinders: 2 21x28 in.
These are very robust and versatile locomotives, built in the early 1950s as "utility" types, based on the Brunswickian war standard design. 80 were built in total, of which about 30 remain in service. All the rest - controversially - are kept in store, and none have been scrapped. Two of the corresponding A6 4-6-2 class are preserved by ANR and often work special trains. Class A6 4-6-2
Cylinders: 2 21x28 in.
46 of these were built, of which around 20 remain in store. In 2006 four were restored to service working Danby-Howick expresses north of Whitcastle, and between Whitcastle and Scaggleby they claimed the title of the world's fastest scheduled steam train. They are passenger equivalents of the P3s, straightforward, strong, robust and reliable, and possessed of a surprising turn of speed. The corresponding Brunswickian class was the mainstay of long-distance passenger working in that country between 1950 and 1965 when steam passenger working came to an end. The two that are offically preserved are No. 601 Danby Castle and No. 614 Barcaldine Castle Class B14 4-6-0
Cylinders: 2 19x28 in.
Another utility class. 95 of these were built, with about 25 remaining in active service. The P3s can do anything the B14s can, but the B14s are cheaper on coal and maintenance. Although capable of brisk express running, they are usually used on local goods trains. They continue to work passenger trains between Pentrich and Skelwick. A further 25 are held in the strategic reserve. Class L2 2-6-4T
Cylinders: 2 19x26 in
This class originally numbered over 100, and were used on many suburban and local goods workings. About 30 remain in service. They are the only ANR locomotives, either steam or diesel, that can traverse the Verne Island bridge, and so monopolise the Verne Island workings from Owmby. In addition, there are a scattering of 0-6-0 and 0-4-0 shunting tanks of various kinds, plus a handful of the very old-fashioned looking Class P22 war standard 0-6-0 goods locomotives, which seem to be virtually indestructible: Class P22 0-6-0
Cylinders: 2 19½x26 in
A large number of these were built during the Great War, even though they dated back to a 1904 design. Around 10 remain in service, usually on local coal trains, and a further 20 are in the strategic reserve. History of 20th Century Arransian Steam Locomotives
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