WRRC Forum

Were Barry locomotives left or right hand drive? I assume that they were all the same given that most had the same boiler. Was the reverser a lever or wheel?

I don't have a definitive answer for you but I was reminded of a sentence in Part 10 Absorbed Engines (page K39), referring to the Class F, which states:

"The fitting of lever reverse, far more convenient than screw for shunting, was a significant modification introduced with the 1905 engines, but Mr Hosgood's only alteration to the earlier engines appears to have been the addition of coal rails to the bunkers of 1890/2; the later engines had them when built."

As far as I am aware the Barry locos were right hand drive. Looking at photographs all engines have the reversing lever on the right. I have also had a quick look at the GA drawings and my non engineer's interpretation of the valve linkages seems to confirm the right hand drive theory. There is a photo in Eric Mountford's book of Barry diagrams showing the boiler blackhead of B1 122 but it does not include the reversing lever.

I hope this helps.

Brian.