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Description
A sprite of the North Western Railway's most mass-produced engine, the 3MT.
In 1923, the pre-existing North Western became much larger due to the Grouping Act of 1922, absorbing all railways in Cumbria and Sodor, becoming the smallest of the Big Five. As a result, the railway had about a dozen small branches to run, ranging from little lines to industry to entire railways.
The NWR needed a fleet of light mixed traffic engines to run all these various branches, but they had a problem. Very few large tank engines to act as light mixed traffic existed, and while the 0-6-0 S&M 50 class existed, even the youngest of them were already approaching their 40's by 1923.
So the NWR needed a NEW fleet of light mixed traffic engines. The current CME of the NWR, Sir Bertram Hautt (still pronounced 'hat') was requested to make an 0-6-0 based on the Class 4 in 1924. He provided the first 3MT, No. 305 "Orion" in 1925, and it proved very succesful. 2 more were built in 1925, but no more were built until 1932 due to the Great Depression, when an order of 12 was made. Another order of 20 in 1935 was made with a government loan. Only 4, No. 305,314,317,and 329 survive.
ENGINES
1925 BATCH
No. 305-Orion;No. 306-Otranto;No. 307-Orford
1932 BATCH
No. 311-Rangatira;No. 312-Strathaird;No. 313-322 were unnamed.
1935 BATCH
No. 323-Strathallan;No. 324-332 were unnamed.

Description
A sprite of the North Western Railway's most mass-produced engine, the 3MT.
In 1923, the pre-existing North Western became much larger due to the Grouping Act of 1922, absorbing all railways in Cumbria and Sodor, becoming the smallest of the Big Five. As a result, the railway had about a dozen small branches to run, ranging from little lines to industry to entire railways.
The NWR needed a fleet of light mixed traffic engines to run all these various branches, but they had a problem. Very few large tank engines to act as light mixed traffic existed, and while the 0-6-0 S&M 50 class existed, even the youngest of them were already approaching their 40's by 1923.
So the NWR needed a NEW fleet of light mixed traffic engines. The current CME of the NWR, Sir Bertram Hautt (still pronounced 'hat') was requested to make an 0-6-0 based on the Class 4 in 1924. He provided the first 3MT, No. 305 "Orion" in 1925, and it proved very succesful. 2 more were built in 1925, but no more were built until 1932 due to the Great Depression, when an order of 12 was made. Another order of 20 in 1935 was made with a government loan. Only 4, No. 305,314,317,and 329 survive.
ENGINES
1925 BATCH
No. 305-Orion;No. 306-Otranto;No. 307-Orford
1932 BATCH
No. 311-Rangatira;No. 312-Strathaird;No. 313-322 were unnamed.
1935 BATCH
No. 323-Strathallan;No. 324-332 were unnamed.