BR standard classes

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The BR Standard steam locomotives were an effort to standardise locomotives from the motley collection of older pre-grouping locos. Construction started in 1951. Due to the controversial British Railways Modernisation Plan of 1955, where steam traction was abandoned in favour of diesel and electric traction, many of the locomotives' working lives were very short: between 7 and 17 years. Many have been preserved, mainly due to being sent to Barry Scrapyard.

Contents

Ex-WD Austerity engines

The first BR standards were the BR ex-WD Austerity 2-8-0 and BR ex-WD Austerity 2-10-0s. They were given the numbers 90000-732 and 90750-774 respectively. They were assigned the boiler types BR10 and BR11, and both had the tender type BR5.

Background

Robert Riddles put his case for continuing to build steam locomotives in his presidential address to the Institution of Locomotive Engineers in November 1950. [1] He compared capital costs to show that steam was cheaper than the alternatives, though he did not mention productivity differences, except to say fuel costs did not rank very high relative to total costs. For example, a Class 5 cost £16,000, compared to £78,100 for a 1,600 h. p. diesel, £138,700 for a gas turbine, or £37,400 for electric. He calculated the costs per drawbar horse power as £13 6s (steam), £65 (diesel), £69 7s (turbine) and £17 13s (electric). [2] Riddles retired in 1953.

Design

From 1951, BR started to build steam locomotives to its own standard designs, which were largely based on LMS practice but incorporating ideas and modifications from the other constituent companies, continental Europe and North America. Their design was overseen by Riddles.

Characteristic features were taper boilers, high running plates, two cylinders and streamlined cabs.

Construction

Although more were ordered, 999 BR "Standards" were constructed: the last, 92220 Evening Star, was built in 1960. Most never achieved their potential service life and were withdrawn in working order.

Construction was split between the ex-LMS works at Crewe, Derby and Horwich, the ex-LNER works at Darlington and Doncaster, the ex-GWR works at Swindon, and the ex-SR works at Brighton.

ClassNumbers Power
class
Wheel
arr.
Quantity
built
Dates
built
RA Tenders types
Class 7 (Britannia)70000–700547MT 4-6-2 55January 1951–September 19548BR1, BR1A, BR1D
Class 8 (Duke of Gloucester)710008P 4-6-2 1May 19548BR1E until 1957, BR1J thereafter
Class 6 (Clan)72000–720096P5F 4-6-2 10December 1951-March 19528BR1
Class 5 73000–731715MT 4-6-0 172April 1951–June 19577BR1, BR1B, BR1C, BR1F, BR1G, BR1H
Class 4 4-6-0 75000–750794MT 4-6-0 80May 1951–June 19574BR2, BR2A
Class 4 2-6-0 76000–761144MT 2-6-0 115December 1952–November 19574BR2, BR2A, BR1B
Class 3 77000–770193MT 2-6-0 20February 1954 to September 19544BR2A
Class 2 78000–780642MT 2-6-0 65December 1952–November 19563BR3
Class 4 Tank 80000–801544MT 2-6-4T 155June 1951–March 19575
Class 3 Tank 82000–820443MT 2-6-2T 45April 1952–August 19554
Class 2 Tank 84000–840292MT 2-6-2T 30July 1953–June 19573
Class 9F 92000–922509F 2-10-0 251January 1954–March 19609BR1B, BR1C, BR1F, BR1G
Total9991951–60

Tenders

Std 4 2-6-0 number 76089 with a BR2A tender. Chester 7 general railway station geograph-2170968-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg
Std 4 2-6-0 number 76089 with a BR2A tender.

The tenders used with the Standard locomotives were also new designs. There were different types due to the use of different coal-to-water ratios, weight restrictions and later improved designs. It was standard practice for there to be fewer tenders than locomotives, as tenders took little time to overhaul compared to locomotives, locomotives entering works for overhaul would tend to lose their tenders to locomotives leaving works after overhaul.

Tender details
Tender
Type
Quantity
built
Years
built
Coal
(long
tons)
Water
(imp.gal.)
Weight
full
(long
tons)
RAUsed with ClassesNotes
BR1 1001951–5374,25049.15 8, 7, 6
BR1A 5195275,00052.50 7 5,000-gallon version of BR1
BR1B 1141955–5774,72551.25 5, 4 (4-6-0), 4 (2-6-0), 9F
BR1C 1231954–5894,72553.25 5, 7 9-ton version of BR1B
BR1D 10195494,72554.50 7 BR1C with coal pusher
BR1E 11954104,72555.50 8 10-ton version of BR1D. Rebuilt to BR1C in 1958
BR1F 951954–5875,62555.25 5, 9F
BR1G 611954–6075,00052.50 5, 9F BR1A updated with fall plate
BR1H 12195474,25049.15 5 BR1 updated with fall plate
BR1J 11958104,32553.70 8
BR1K 3195894,32552.35 9F Fitted with mechanical stokers. Rebuilt to BR1C in 1961
BR2 951951–5463,50042.15 4 (4-6-0), 4 (2-6-0)
BR2A 881954–5763,50042.15 4 (4-6-0), 4 (2-6-0), 3 BR2 updated with fall plate
BR3 651952–5643,00036.85 2 Updated version of LMS equivalent
Total773

Preservation

A total of 46 standards have survived - of these, 38 were rescued from Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Wales. The BR Standard Locomotive Owner's Group provides co-ordination.

ClassNo. preservedPercentage preservedNumbersNotes
7 (Britannia)23.6%70000/13
8 (Duke of Gloucester)1100%71000Has Caprotti valve gear
6 (Clan)00%Replica 72010 “Hengist” under construction
5MT52.9%73050/82/96, 73129/5673129 has Caprotti valve gear
4MT 4-6-067.5%75014/27/29/69/78/79
4MT 2-6-043.5%76017/77/79/84
3MT 2-6-000%
2MT 2-6-046.2%78018/19/22/5978059 being rebuilt to a tank version as ‘84030’
4MT 2-6-4T1511.6%80002/64/72/78/79/80/97/98, 80100/04/05/35/36/50/51
3MT 2-6-2T00%New build 82045 under construction
2MT 2-6-2T00%One being rebuilt from a standard 2-6-0.
9F93.6%92134, 92203/07/12/14/19/20/40/45
Total464.6%

New Builds

The new build of the 'Clan' class 72010 “Hengist” is progressing steadily. [3] The new build of the Class 3 Tank 82045 is well underway, work continues as of 2021. [4]

References

  1. Riddles, R. A. (1 November 1950). "Nationalisation and the Mechanical Engineer". Journal of the Institution of Locomotive Engineers. 40 (218): 675–694. doi:10.1243/JILE_PROC_1950_040_061_02.
  2. "Standardisation and Comparative Costs of Motive Power on B.R.". The Railway Magazine. January 1951. pp. 60–61.
  3. "Home". theclanproject.org.
  4. "The 82045 Steam Locomotive Trust : News".

Further reading