Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway Co. 0-4-0T No. 19 (778)
Tamworth, Staffordshire, UK 		Location: Statfold Barn Railway
Status: Overhaul
Posted: Apr 24, 2025 @ 12:04:35 by Russell Newman
The ex Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway, Sharp Stewart built B Class 0-4-0ST No. 19B, could be back in steam in 2026 as its owners the Darjeeling Tank Locomotive Trust have placed the order for its brand new all-steel welded boiler to modern standards to be built at the Festiniog Railway’s Boston Lodge works within a potential 12-month timescale. The Darjeeling Tank Locomotive Trust are still raising the £20,000 needed to help with the overhaul still which details to donate to it can be found on their website and social media pages.
Posted: Apr 11, 2024 @ 10:04:00 by Russell Newman
The overhaul on ex Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway Sharp Stewart built B Class 0-4-0ST No. 19, is progressing on at the Statfold Barn Railway, but it has been found after some futher inspection that the original 1889 boiler has become life-expired and beyond repair. So the Darjeeling Tank Locomotive Trust are now looking at having a brand new all-steel welded boiler to modern standards to be built for use on No. 19, which an appeal for funds to help build the new boiler will be launched soon, which detals can be found on the Darjeeling Tank Locomotive Trust’s website and social media pages soon.
Posted: Oct 28, 2023 @ 10:10:28 by Russell Newman
The former Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway Sharp Stewart built B Class 0-4-0ST No. 19 has now been withdrawn from service for its 10 year overhaul, which is due to get underway from early 2024, with the aim of having the locomotive back in service again from the summer of 2024. After this it is hoped that No. 19 along with the two replica Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway Carrages will tour around the heritage narrow gauge railway circuit around the UK then.
Posted: Sep 2, 2023 @ 14:09:40 by Russell Newman
The Darjeeling Tank Locomotive Trust have revealed their plans to return former Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway Sharp Stewart built B Class 0-4-0ST No. 19 to orginal form as a pure tank engine, as during its upcoming overhaul the locomotive will have a steam operated brakes fitted, shifting sandboxes, removing the airpump, fitting chopper couplings, adding DHR-type handrails and restoring the coal shild in the cab and rethingk the electrics. The tender will be kept still.
Posted: Jun 21, 2023 @ 06:06:48 by Russell Newman
The former Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway Sharp Stewart built B Class 0-4-0ST No. 19 is to remain in the UK for good having been successfully perchested by the Darjeeling Tank Locomotive Trust and will now be leaving the Beeches Light Railway and moving to its new home base at the Statfold Barn Railway at Tamworth in Staffordshire, where it will now operated for the remainder of its boiler ticket until February 2024. Where it will undergo an overhaul and then will start visiting many of the heritage narrow gauge railways across the UK.
Posted: Mar 29, 2023 @ 06:03:27 by Russell Newman
A group called the The Darjeeling Tank Locomotive Trust has been set up to buy former Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway Sharp Stewart built B Class 0-4-0ST No. 19 and keep the locomotive in the UK and if successfull No. 19 will be moved to a new home at the Statfold Barn Railway as her operational base for her to continue operating and visiting other 2ft narrow gauge railways around the UK. The Darjeeling Tank Locomotive Trust needs support for this to happen which details can be found on social media and on their website.
Posted: Mar 24, 2023 @ 10:03:38 by Russell Newman
Following the sad passing of the late Adrian Shooter, former Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway Sharp Stewart built B Class 0-4-0ST No. 19 is to be sold off at auction on the 21st of June 2023 along with the rest of the other locomotives and rolling stock of the Beeches Light Railway.
Posted: Mar 28, 2022 @ 14:03:41 by Russell Newman
The former Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway Sharp Stewart built B Class 0-4-0ST No. 19 is the only ex Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway steam locomotive to be preserved outside of India. No. 19 was built by Sharp Stewart & Co at their Glasgow works in Scotland in 1889 to work on the now world-famous Darjeeling Himalayan Railway in India. No. 19 worked at Darjeeling until 1960 when it was withdrawn from service and placed in a scrap line there where it would remain until it was saved for preservation by Elliott Donnelly. An American who moved the locomotive from India to the USA for restoration in Chicago. No. 19 then ran for a number of years in the states until 1988 when it last ran at the Hesston Steam Museum. In 2002 the locomotive was bought for preservation in the UK by its current owner Adrian Shooter who shipped it back to the UK in 2003. No. 19 was fully overhauled and rebuilt at Tyseley Locomotive Works and returned to steam in 2004. Since then No. 19 has operated at its home on the private Beeches Light Railway as well as touring around the UK visiting other preserved narrow gauge railways. No. 19 still has its original boiler from 1889 still which is the oldest boiler to be steamed in the UK and No. 19 today is currently still operational.
Posted: Mar 28, 2022 @ 05:03:24 by Russell Newman
The former Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway Sharp Stewart built B Class 0-4-0ST No. 19 will visit the Statfold Barn Railway for their Enthusiast Weekend which is themed Sweet Indian Steam on the 11th and 12th June 2022.
Posted: Mar 26, 2022 @ 11:03:57 by Russell Newman
The former Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway Sharp Stewart built B Class 0-4-0ST No. 778 which is what No. 19 is numbered today, will not be relocating as the private Beeches Light Railway is to remain where it is as the plans to relocate it have been dropped.
Posted: Feb 26, 2019 @ 10:02:10 by Russell Newman
Following the news that the Beeches Light Railway is to close from May this year the ex Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway Sharp Stewart built 0-4-0ST+T No. 19 is to go visit the Launceston Steam Railway in Cornwall for the summer season this year till its new private light railway home at its new site is ready.
Posted: Feb 13, 2019 @ 10:02:58 by Russell Newman
Former Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway Sharp Stewart built 0-4-0ST+T No. 19 is to relocate as it has been announced by its owner Adrian Shooter that his private Beeches Light Railway is to close after 15 years in May this year. No. 19 and other rolling stock from there are to be moved to a new site in the not too distant future and have a reopening in Spring 2020. The new private railway will be about 50% longer but will still feature significant gradients and other features of interest.
Posted: Aug 5, 2018 @ 05:08:17 by Russell Newman
The ex Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway Sharp Stewart built 0-4-0ST+T No. 19 is back in traffic at the Beeches Light Railway as it was running there for the 20th Anniversary of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society.
Posted: Feb 18, 2006 @ 13:02:14 by Steve Frost
Now fully restored to its original colours, this loco is now at a private location in the UK. It was present as a static exhibit at the 2004 rail festival at the UK's National Railway Museum.
Posted: Jul 19, 2003 @ 19:07:35 by Tim Boshart
This engine has been sold to a group in the UK and is no longer at the LaPorte County Historical Steam Society.