SR W class
SR Class W British Railways | |
---|---|
Class | SR: W |
Power class | BR: 5F, later 6F |
Numbers |
|
Locale | Southern Region |
Withdrawn | 1963–1964 |
Disposition | All scrapped |
The SR Class W were 3-cylinder
Background
From the 1920s
Design
The
Construction history
An initial order was placed with
Variations
The two batches differed from each other because the Eastleigh batch had gravity sanding capability and steam regulators on the right hand side, whilst the Ashford batch had steam sanding and regulators on the left, as was common on most other classes of Southern locomotives.
Modifications
The first batch was modified between 1959 and 1960 to incorporate steam sanding, as this was already present on the Ashford batch. The right hand driving, however, remained.[3]
Livery and numbering
Southern
The first batch was turned out in black livery with green lining, and were numbered 1911–1915 with 'Southern' in yellow on the water tanks. The Ashford batch was outshopped in unlined black livery, and the initial batch were also converted to this new livery. These locomotives were numbered 1916–1925.
Post-1948 (nationalisation)
The locomotives retained their freight black liveries, and the BR crest was placed on the water tank sides. Numbering was per the BR standard numbering system, in the range 31911–31925.[6][page needed]
Operational details
The class was mainly used around London working from Hither Green, Norwood and Feltham yards. They were also used on inter-company/regional transfer freight duties over the
The class was generally well liked by their crews apart from the fact that the driver was on the right hand side of the Eastleigh batch, which made accurate stopping difficult when signalling was predominantly on the left on the Southern network.[8][page needed] This would have meant that the fireman was frequently utilised as lookout on the left hand side.
In 1948 there was a chronic shortage of large passenger tank locomotives on the un-electrified lines of the former
Withdrawal
The class began to be withdrawn from service in 1963, with the last removed from the books in 1964. No examples of this class of locomotive survived into preservation.
Year | Quantity in service at start of year |
Quantity withdrawn |
Locomotive numbers |
---|---|---|---|
1963 | 15 | 10 | 31911/15–16/18–23/25. |
1964 | 5 | 5 | 31912–14/17/24. |
References
- ^ a b Haresnape 1977, p. 107.
- ^ Bradley 1980, pp. 127–131.
- ^ a b c "Maunsell W class 2-6-4T". Southern E-Group. 2004. Retrieved 20 April 2007.
- ^ a b c Bradley 1980, pp. 127–128.
- ^ Railway Magazine. 70 (152). 1932.
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(help)[full citation needed] For information on the introduction of the class in 1932. - ^ Ian Allan ABC of British Railways Locomotives (Winter 1958–59 ed.).
- ^ a b Bradley 1980, pp. 128–129.
- ^ Reflections on Southern Steam. Strathwood, Boat of Garten.[full citation needed]
- Haresnape, Brian (1977). Maunsell Locomotives – a pictorial history. ISBN 0-7110-0743-8.
- Bradley, D. L. (1980). The Locomotive history of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway. ISBN 0-901115-49-5.