No.2 Derby
Fleet No.:
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No.2
Derby
19 Tons, 10cwt
1873
2-4-0T
Beyer, Peacock
B.P.1254
October 1947
1,234,623
Earls Of Derby
11” x 18”
3’ 9”
No.2 Derby was part of the original batch of three locomotives delivered for the opening of the Peel Line on 1st July 1873 and was named after the Earls of Derby, one-time owners of the island before its sale to the British Monarch. The locomotive was loaned to the Isle of Man Tramways & Electric Power Company (predecessors of the Manx Electric Railway Co., Ltd.) for construction of their line north of Laxey in 1898, thereby being the inspiration for the Steam Under The Wires events in 1993 as part of the electric line's centenary celebrations.
It has the dubious honour of being the only locomotive on the railway to have been lost to the pages of history, save for the pony trucks which remain today - these spent several years at the end of the Birkenhead Siding at Port Erin Station with No. 4 Try These chalked on them and have since been overhauled for use as spare set. The locomotive was withdrawn in 1951 and dismantled at the time for use as spare parts for the other locomotives. The main frames survived in store for many years were scrapped in 1980 leaving only the pony truck today; the nameplates survive and remain in the safekeeping of the railway.
c.1891 at Castletown Station and a well-known early view notable for its clear view of one of the "E" series in service directly behind No.2 which still carries the original small tanks.
c. 1933 at Ramsey Station behind the carriage shed with sloping smokebox door and the later arrangements with two Ross "pop" valves, one inside the bell-mouth dome.
The "new road" at Ramsey Station c.1900 turned chimney-first into Douglas so possibly shedded north at the time. This was a common practice in this era.
c.1932 at Ramsey Station with the Foxdale Coach immediately behind the locomotive; images of No.2 are relatively hard to come by given she was the first to be withdrawn.
By March of 1974 what little remained, moved to Ballasalla Station for disposal; seen here awaiting their fate stored on a soon to be scrapped "M" series wagon.
Latter days in use as station pilot at Douglas Station seen here in the goods yard with a variety of other rolling stock in 1947, including the Foxdale Coach.
In July 1933 No.2 was seen at St. John’s Station with a north line train of three carriages, the middle of which seems to be F.19, one of only two small luggage vans.
The final days in August 1978 when the frames were stored at Douglas Station prior to scrapping; today only the pony truck from this locomotive exists.
One of very few studies of the locomotive in her final days of service, at Douglas Station looking somewhat tired; note the steam heating pipework.