The Anatomy of the Darjeeling Garratt and the Engine it Tried to Replace book

The Anatomy of the Darjeeling Garratt and the Engine it Tried to Replace: The D.H.R. Class “B”
by Peter Manning
Peter Manning Design and Drafting
Coromandel Valley, South Australia 5051, Australia    
72 pp; 11¾” x 8¼”, wire bound
Price: A$39.95
E-mail: peterman@internode.on.net

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) in India is well known for its distinctive “Class B” 0-4-0T locomotives. In 1910, however, it ordered a locomotive intended to replace the Class Bs—an 0-4-0+0-4-0 Beyer Garratt.

In this book, Peter Manning chronicles the Garratt, both in text and in drawings. He recounts the history of the engine, which was only the second Beyer-Garratt built, and describes the line over which it was intended to work. Mr. Manning offers a technical account of the locomotive, including original specifications, various failures while at work, and how they were remedied (or not). The material is well researched and documented and is presented in a readable and clearly understandable form. The locomotive was not a success and was transferred out of the mountain division to a flatter line, where it worked better. It was scrapped in 1954.

The bulk of the book, however, is comprised of excellent drawings of virtually every part of the locomotive, along with attendant pertinent notes. The drawings are presented in “construction order,” offering a good idea of how the engine originally went together at the factory. Through the magic of computer-aided drafting (CAD) and computer 3D modeling, we are offered views of the engine and its components otherwise unattainable. The working-type drawings are presented as line art, while the 3D views are presented as full-color renderings. All of the drawings are, in a word, beautiful.

Also addressed in both line and text are modifications the engine went through during its life. The reasons necessary for the changes are discussed and the solutions depicted.

At the end of the book, following the discussion of the Garratt, is a brief treatment of the Darjeeling Class B locomotive in two forms: the Sharp Stewart version of 1888 and the North British Locomotive Works version of 1913. These engines are briefly discussed and drawings are presented of both.

For those who are fans of the DHR, Garratt locomotives, or two-foot-gauge railways, this book is a valuable resource. For model builders interested in Garratt engines, it is a treasure trove of information. The drawings alone are worth the price of admission.