A Terrier with water problems…
by Monty Baker

First published in issue 63 of The Tenterden Terrier Spring 1994
Reproduced with permission of the then-editor Mr P D Shaw

There can be few left, who knew, and worked on No.3 “Bodiam”, before her reboilering in 1943. Most of the A1 Stroudley Brighton Terriers had been reboilered by Marsh between 1911 and 1922, with injectors, becoming Class A1x.

Prior to No.3 getting the treatment at least 21 years later, the only way to replenish the boiler with water was for the loco to be in motion.

Two ram type pumps were fitted, the barrels bolted to the frames, and the rams fixed to the piston rod crossheads.

The water intake to the pumps was controlled by adjustable levers in the cab that controlled the flow from the side tanks.

Great care had to be taken with the fire during waiting periods at Robertbridge and Headcorn, to prevent any blowing off at the safety valves.  With injectors this can be controlled easily.

This also applied when returning to Rolvenden shed at night, as after cleaning the fire, we left a small fire in, ready for the morning.  Failure in topping up the boiler properly meant being late home, as we had to run up and down track a few times to fill up.

This was not conductive to a happy working relationship with one’s Driver, if it happened too frequently.

All locomotives have their peculiar quirks and faults.  No.3 was no exception, it was her feed pumps.  If we used the left hand one, the clack usually stuck up in the clack box, and had to be persuaded to seat again by clouting the box with the coal hammer.