The oldest locomotive at Quainton is an ex-British Railways 2-4-0 well tank built in 1875 that spent most of her life on the Wenford Bridge mineral line in Cornwall. This locomotive has carried various numbers throughout her life - namely 314, 0314, 3314, and 30585, and finally again 0314, and is known affectionately as The Beattie by her many friends, after the designer Joseph Beattie. She was purchased by the Society in 1963 after withdrawal by British Railways, and stored at Bishops Stortford until transportation to Quainton on 9th May 1969. Restoration to 1931 condition as 0314 commenced after the August Open Days in 1973, and she was in regular passenger carrying service again in 1976. The livery is black lined with green, with cream lettering and numbering as shown in these photographs and that on the cover.

The full history of this engine is told in a special booklet produced by the Society entitled 'The Centenary of the Beattie Well Tank at Quainton'. It is illustrated throughout and copies are obtainable from the bookshop at Quainton, price 40p or 5Op by post from the Society Sales Officer.

This locomotive is depicted on much of the advertising material used by the Society, and as its emblem on many of our souvenirs, including postcards, prints, badges and pens, all of which are available from the bookshop.

Why not come along and meet this pistinguished old lady?

Photo:
P I Clarke - 0-6-0 pannier tank No. 7715 and 0-4-0 saddle tank No. 3

Photo:
P I Clarke - No. 0314 gently simmering in the platform road

Notes:
The text in this Quainton Railway Society publication was written in 1979 and so does not reflect events in the 38+ years since publication. The text and photographs are repeated verbatim from the original publication, with only a few minor grammar changes but some clarifying notes are added if deemed necessary. The photos from the original publication are provided as scans in this internet version of this long out of print publication.

Reference:
Quainton Guide 1979