Mauretania

Mauretania is an elderly steam locomotive that is privately owned by the Nerland Industrial Board. She is the only surviving connection to the motive power of the Nerland Continent Railway.

Bio
Mauretania was built at Ashton in 1851 as the final locomotive for the Nerland Continent Railway (NCR) as part of their eight 2-4-0s built by Ashton Works from 1850-1851. She was taken into Tri-ang Railways (TR) ownership after the collapse of the NCR in 1855. Sometime in the 1870s, Mauretania along with the other former NCR locomotives were withdrawn and taken to Ashton for scrapping.

In the 1960s, following the acquisition of a colliery from TR on its Scotch Gauge network, the newly-formed Nerland Industrial Board (NIB) needed a locomotive help operate the trains when TR couldn't supply any. Upon hearing about an old 2-4-0 rotting in the former scrap sidings of Ashton Works, the officials bought Mauretania and rebuilt her slightly for modern standards due to her age.

Livery
Mauretania is painted in NIB orange with bright red outside frames and cranks.

Basis
Mauretania is based off the Midland Railway Kirtley 156 class 2-4-0. These locomotives were introduced in 1866 and were built to prove that coupling rods were stable at high speed and paved the way for larger express locomotives in Britain. Out of 29 built by Derby, only No: 158A survives in preservation by the Midland Railway Trust at Butterley. No: 158A is the oldest preserved Midland Railway locomotive.

Filming model
Mauretania's model is scratch built for the 15.75mm track that was also scratch built to fit between the 16.5mm rails. This is her only model.

Trivia
Mauretania is older than and has been regauged from her basis but is not rescaled.

Mauretania is the oldest locomotive owned by the Nerland Industrial Board.

Mauretania is named after two ocean liners owned by the Cunard Line. The first was a four-funnel liner that was in service from 1906 to 1935 and the second was a two-funnel liner which was in service from 1938 to 1965. Both liners have been scrapped.


 * Both RMS Mauretania's were named after a former province of the Roman Empire.

Mauretania could have been inspired by the two 0-6-0s that worked on the Lambton Colliery Railway in County Durham. They featured outside frames and were heavily rebuilt over time such as windowed cabs.

Mauretania's design was used as a basis of TR's own Scotch Gauge 100 class 2-4-0s of 1895.

Unlike her basis, Mauretania has undergone some modifications, including during her 1960s rebuild:


 * Her cab has been changed to match a similar design to Alexandra's NER-style windowed cab.
 * Her spring-balance safety valves have been removed from her dome.
 * Her tender now slightly resembles a Fowler tender.
 * Her reversing arm is visible as opposed to hidden.
 * Her driving wheel springs are located under her cranks instead of in front of her splashers and cab.