A variation of the original Fairlie concept was the Single Fairlie, also known as the Mason Fairlie. The Single Fairlie design was essentially half a Double Fairlie. It retained the ability to negotiate sharp curves and, while it abandoned the bidirectional nature of the Double Fairlie, it regained the ability of conventional locomotives to have a large water and coal bunker behind the cab and to use a trailing tender if necessary.[1][2]
Most Single Fairlies were tank locomotives and early models were similar in general appearance to conventional tank engines with side tanks and a coal bunker aft of the cab, all mounted on a single rigid frame. The pivoting engine unit was mounted under the boiler and the unpowered bogie under the cab and bunker.[1][2]
Later models were similar in appearance to conventional tender locomotives. It was developed by William Mason in the United States, where the type became known as the Mason Bogie. It had one boiler at the front, a cab in the centre and a water-and-coal bunker at the rear end, all mounted on a single rigid frame, with a single engine unit under the boiler and an unpowered bogie under the bunker.[1][2][3]
