Looking through a number of 1964 Model Railway News magazines, I came across drawings of Sharp, Stewart & Co. 2-4-0, built in 1870 for the Furness Railway Co. and numbered 58 on their roster. http://rogerfarnworth.com/2024/03/29/furness-railway-locomotive-no-58/ Originally conceived as a mineral railway, the Furness Railway later played a major role in the development of the town of Barrow-in-Furness, and in the development of the Lake District Tourist industry. It was formed in 1846 and survived as an independent, viable concern until the Grouping of 1923.
I have always wondered why the crew compartments were designed to be so open to weather. What was the reasoning?
I suspect the best way to look at this is to think of a gradually improving situation from no protection at all in very early slow moving locos to greater protection as speeds increased. Although maintaining good ventilation was also important as crews would get too hot in an enclosed space with the fire door open and firing being a strenuous activity.
