Dolgoch (locomotive)

The design is unusual for an 0-4-0. It has a long wheelbase for its gauge and the driving axle is behind the firebox in a layout similar to a Crampton locomotive. This prevents the use of a conventional valve gear layout which is driven from the rear axle. Instead, the Allan valve gear is driven from the leading coupled axle and doubled back to connect to the valve rods. Dolgoch has two water tanks - the main well tank between the frames and a smaller back tank at the rear of the cab. == History ==

The locomotive was renamed Pretoria between about 1900 and 1914 in celebration of the relief of the township of Pretoria in South Africa by Lord Roberts during the Boer War. It then reverted to the original name Dolgoch. Around 1949, Dolgochs boiler was patched, and on 26 August 1949, Dolgoch cracked its frame in an accident, which resulted in its driver being dismissed from the company. Dolgoch was the only operable locomotive from 1945 until 1952, when Edward Thomas was restored for use. Between 1954 and 1963, Dolgoch underwent a major overhaul. ==In fiction==

The fictional locomotive Rheneas in The Railway Series by the Rev. W. Awdry is based on Dolgoch. == References ==