WRRC Forum

A little query that has interested me for a while: which LMS 3F 0-6-0T were push-pull fitted for the Brynamman service.

Most sources say that 47477-47481, 47655 and 47681 were so fitted, but there has been rumour that this is wrong, reportedly due to an error or typo in an Ian Allan abc.Today I found a BR-era photo of 47655 at the coaling stage at Upper Bank and it does not appear to be either vacuum-braked or push-pull fitted.

So does anyone have a definite answer?

Thank you.

(Apologies if something ends up looking odd, but this is my first post on this forum.)

Rory Wilson

So far as I am aware only 47477 to 47481 were autofitted. 47655 was steam brake only so not suitable for passenger work. I can find no evidence that 47681 worked on the SVR. Do you have a photo?

So far as I am aware only 47477 to 47481 were autofitted. 47655 was steam brake only so not suitable for passenger work. I can find no evidence that 47681 worked on the SVR. Do you have a photo?

John Miles & Tudor Watkins Swansea Vale book Plate 54 7655 as arrived in 1947 Plate 60 47655 in 1951 - in both cases steam brake only

7477-7479, 7481 were Vacuum Controlled Regulator (push-pull) fitted in 4/1934 and 7480 in 5/34 (J W P Rowledge LMS Engines)

There is a photo of the rear of 47681 on the web being hauled dead (https://www.whatreallyhappenedtosteam.c ... -may-2013/ ) which shows it was vacuum fitted (but with the vacuum connection to the right of the drawhook whereas VCR locomotives had the train vacuum pipe to the left of the drawhook and the VCR pipe to the right of the drawhook) and had train heating pipes but no connections for the vacuum controlled regulator. It was first allocated to Upper Bank in 1949 when all 5 of the fitted engines were available. It is highloy unlikely that the engine was ever VCR fitted

Gerry Nichols

Many years ago I went to York museum and copied the engine history cards for all know Swansea Vale locos - the cards are only available for locos that survived into the BR era. These clearly show that 7480 was also push-pull fitted - sorry to disagree with you Gerry.

And just to confirm 7481 was also push pull fitted.

s.w.johnson wrote: Wed Jan 28, 2026 5:02 pm Many years ago I went to York museum and copied the engine history cards for all know Swansea Vale locos - the cards are only available for locos that survived into the BR era. These clearly show that 7480 was also push-pull fitted - sorry to disagree with you Gerry.

I suspect that Gerry was referring to 47655 which was never auto-fitted.
Dave