British Rail Class 98 facts for kids

No 8 Llewellyn was painted in a special blue color, and it even had a TOPS code!

Imagine a special code used to identify all the different types of trains in Britain! That's what the TOPS system is for. One of these codes, TOPS Class 98, was used for steam locomotives that still ran on the main railway lines in Britain.

But it had a very special meaning for three particular steam engines from the Vale of Rheidol Railway. These three locomotives were unique because they were the only steam engines that officially wore the blue color and double arrow logo of British Rail after steam trains mostly stopped running on the main lines in August 1968.

What is TOPS Class 98?

The TOPS system (which stands for Total Operations Processing System) gives a special number to every type of train. This helps railway staff know exactly what kind of train is where. Class 98 was like a special "catch-all" number for any steam locomotive that was still used on the main railway network in Britain.

The Vale of Rheidol Railway Engines

The Vale of Rheidol Railway is a narrow-gauge railway in Wales. This means its tracks are narrower than the standard tracks most trains use. After 1968, when most steam trains were taken off the main lines, the Vale of Rheidol Railway was still owned by British Rail. This made its three steam engines very special.

Unique Blue Locomotives

These three engines were of a type called 2-6-2T. They were the only steam locomotives that officially carried the famous blue color and double arrow logo of British Rail. This was a very rare sight, as British Rail was mostly known for its diesel and electric trains by then.

Images for kids

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  46115 Scots Guardsman - a Class 7 engine, which would have had a TOPS number like 98715.