SR Q class

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This article is about the 0-6-0 tender locomotives introduced in 1938. For the 0-4-4 tank locomotives introduced in 1881, see SER Q class.

SR Q class
British Railways
ClassSR: Q
Power classBR: 4F
Numbers
  • SR: 530–549
  • BR: 30530–30549
LocaleSouthern Region
Withdrawn1962–1965
DispositionOne preserved, remainder scrapped

The Q Class is a type of

Second World War for use on medium-distance freight trains throughout the network. Twenty locomotives were built by Maunsell's successor, Oliver Bulleid, in 1938. The design was relatively old-fashioned and the class was soon afterwards eclipsed by Bulleid's own more powerful Q1 class. Nevertheless the locomotives performed adequately and reliably on the tasks for which they had been designed, until their withdrawal in 1965. Only one has survived, and is preserved on the Bluebell Railway
.

Background

The

mixed-traffic designs which could also haul passenger trains on the remaining non-electrified lines at peak periods. By the late 1930s, the Southern Railway was adequately served with powerful mixed traffic locomotives of the S15, N, and N1 classes, but there was a need for a smaller freight locomotive with high route availability that could also undertake light passenger duties. This role had been performed by the ex-LSWR 'Jubilee' A12 0-4-2, which were approaching the end of their useful lives.[2][3]

During his last year as the

Second World War
, and represented the final design of Maunsell's career, as he retired due to ill-health in 1937.

Construction history

Maunsell's successor, Oliver Bulleid, oversaw the building of twenty members of the class at Eastleigh Works between January 1938 and September 1939. Bulleid is reported to have found the Q class uninspiring, having been manufactured to traditional Victorian principles of locomotive design, and is said to have stated that the order for the Q Class would have been cancelled if he had been appointed CME earlier.[6] However, Bulleid had ample opportunity either to cancel the order or to build and test a single prototype, without incurring the expense of building twenty members of the class, if this was the case.[7]

The class performed adequately and reliably on the tasks for which they were designed, but were less versatile than might have been hoped. When the requirement for modern freight locomotives on the Southern increased during the

SR Class Q1 0-6-0 locomotives.[2]

Modifications

No. 30537 (fitted with Lemaitre blast-pipe and chimney) at Norwood Locomotive Depot 12 March 1960.

In common with most Maunsell designs, the Q Class locomotives were reliable; but there were complaints of poor steaming when used on main-line trains (for which they were never designed). In 1940 Bulleid fitted one member of the class with a

British Railways Standard Class 4 plain blast pipe and small stovepipe chimney to no. 30549 in 1955, resulting in further improvements in both steaming and fuel consumption; in 1958–61 more received the same blast pipe with a BR Standard Class 4 chimney.[8][9]

Operational details and preservation

The locomotives were adequate and reliable on secondary services throughout their working lives, their utility compounded by their light weight and steady handling.[1] They were however disappointing on main-line traffic until the draughting was improved after the war. They were fitted with steam carriage heating, and despite being primarily a freight design, periodically deputised in this duty.[2]

British Railways inherited the class in 1948 and gave it a 4F

freight locomotive in power class 4.[9]
Withdrawals from service began during 1962 and were completed by 1965. Loco 30548 served more than 15 years at Bournemouth shed (71B).

Preservation

30541 running round at Sheffield Park

The class was not considered sufficiently important for official preservation, and had it not been for Woodham Brothers's scrapyard in Barry, South Wales, no examples would have survived. Only one, number 541 (BR No. 30541), was rescued, and has operated on the Bluebell Railway in Sussex. It is operational in BR Black livery after returning to service in April 2015 (following its absence since 1993).

Livery and numbering

Southern Railway

Due to its primary role as a freight locomotive, the Q Class carried the Southern Black livery. The locomotive number and "Southern" were located on the tender, and were painted in Sunshine Yellow.

Q1 Class
locomotives of 1942.

Post-1948 (nationalisation)

Early livery included the temporary retention of the Southern number and remained black, although in certain cases "British Railways" was applied to the tender in place of "Southern", in Sunshine Yellow. Under British Railways the class was given the

British Railways standard numbering system and the livery was changed to British Railways goods plain black with the crest on the tender and numbering on the side of the cab. These locomotive numbers ranged from 30530 to 30549.[11][page needed
]

Locomotive summary

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b Haresnape 1977, p. 112.
  2. ^ a b c Scott-Morgan 2003, p. 9.
  3. ^ Bradley 1975, pp. 54–59.
  4. ^ Haresnape 1977, p. 115.
  5. ^ Bradley 1975, pp. 54–58.
  6. ^ Maunsell Q class 0-6-0, Southern E-Group, 17 March 2004. Retrieved 18 April 2007. For information on Bulleid's dislike of the design.
  7. ^ a b Bradley 1975, p. 55.
  8. ^ Bradley 1975, p. 58.
  9. ^ a b Banks 2001, p. 54.
  10. ^ Haresnape 1977, p. 114.
  11. ^ Ian Allan ABC, 1962

Bibliography

External links

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