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Plot

From 'Early Locomotives at Swanscombe Cement Works': An enlargement from one of the main set of photographs – a grand picture depicting the entire locomotive stock circa 1874. Obviously a posed shot and, assuming the Lewin of 1873 predominant in the foreground as the most recent acquisition, probably taken soon after delivery. This locomotive has much in common with the engraving in Engineering of March 12 1875. The most noticeable differences lie with the saddle tank apparently extending over the firebox, seemingly a higher footplate and a traction engine type fender to the rear. As far as can be ascertained, the cylinders, motion and valve gear are very much the same on both examples.As Lewin's first locomotive, it may have proved to be too heavy and/or top heavy, leading it to be deemed as useless by 1880, the manufacturer by then having revised his design to provide for the addition of a smaller saddle tank if required. Examination under a strong magnifying glass of the following two locomotives, presumably 'Jackson's', reveal a number of characteristics taken up by Lewin – well tanks, stove-pipe chimneys and domes well forward on the boilers, with typical outside steam pipes to the cylinders. These appear to have the rocker arms with fulcrums on the front cylinder covers to actuate the valves on the top of the cylinders, very much akin to the arrangement on the later Lewin ERITH. A fourth locomotive may be discerned under the arch of the viaduct, which served as the engine shed for many years – note the smoke blackened brickwork. Also worthy of comment is the varity of wagons present, some five basic types in all. In the foreground is a rake of chalk or 'slip' wagons, one of which is in a 'sub' class being two-thirds the size of the remainder. Note the unusual disc pattern wheels and also one of the smaller variety in its tipped mode alongside the strangely ornate building in the right corner of the picture. Directly behind the Lewin locomotive a large square latticed wagon is in the process of being loaded with staves from the nearby stockpile, whilst the adjacent road has three main types of wagon loaded respectively front to rear with clay, coal and coke. Blue Circle Industries plc, Technical Centre