GWR 1400 Class

Last updated

GWR 4800 class (later 1400 class)
Swindon Works a '1400' class 0-4-2T freshly repaired geograph-2578883-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg
1445 freshly painted at Swindon Works in 1950
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
Designer Charles Collett
Builder Great Western Railway, Swindon Works
Order numberLots 279, 287, 288
Build date1932–1936
Total produced75
Specifications
Configuration:
   Whyte 0-4-2 T
   UIC B1 nt
Gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver dia.5 ft 2 in (1.575 m)
Trailing dia. 3 ft 8 in (1.118 m)
Wheelbase 15 ft 6 in (4.72 m)
Length29 ft 11 in (9.12 m)
Width8 ft 7 in (2.616 m)
Height12 ft 6+14 in (3.816 m)
Axle load 13 long tons 18 cwt (31,100 lb or 14.1 t)
(15.6 short tons) full
Adhesive weight 27 long tons 8 cwt (61,400 lb or 27.8 t)
(30.7 short tons) full
Loco weight41 long tons 6 cwt (92,500 lb or 42 t)
(46.3 short tons) full
Fuel type Coal
Fuel capacity2 long tons 13 cwt (5,900 lb or 2.7 t)
(3.0 short tons)
Water cap.800 imp gal (3,600 L; 960 US gal)
Firebox:
  Grate area12.8 sq ft (1.19 m2)
BoilerGWR 4800 [1]
Boiler pressure165 psi (1.14 MPa)
Heating surface:
  Firebox83.2 sq ft (7.73 m2)
  Tubes869.8 sq ft (80.81 m2)
SuperheaterNone
Cylinders Two, inside
Cylinder size 16 in × 24 in (406 mm × 610 mm)
Valve gear Stephenson
Valve type Slide valves
Train heating Steam
Train brakes Vacuum
Performance figures
Tractive effort 13,900 lbf (62 kN)
Career
Operators
Class 4800, later 1400
Power classGWR: Unclassified,
BR: 1P
Numbers4800–4874, later 1400–1474
Axle load classGWR: Unclassified
Locale Western Region branch lines
Withdrawn1956–1965
Preserved1420, 1442, 1450, 1466
DispositionFour preserved, remainder scrapped

The GWR 1400 Class is a class of steam locomotive designed by the Great Western Railway for branch line passenger work. It was originally classified as the 4800 Class when introduced in 1932, and renumbered in 1946.

Contents

Although credited to Charles Collett, the design dated back to 1868 with the introduction of the George Armstrong 517 class.

Precursors

Like the 48xx/14xx, the 517 Class was a lightweight loco for branchline work; it was built at Wolverhampton Works between 1868 and 1885.

In this period evolutionary changes included:

Later gradual changes included: Belpaire fireboxes, boilers rated at 165 psi (1.14 MPa) as opposed to 150 psi (1.0 MPa), full cabs, extended bunkers and the progressive conversion of short wheelbase locos to 15 ft 0 in (4.57 m) or 15 ft 6 in (4.72 m). From 1924 onwards, several were converted to run with an autocoach, and in this configuration were the direct ancestors of the 48xx class.

In this form, the updated 517s were but a small step away from the 48xx. The wheelbase was still 15 ft 6 in (4.72 m), the boiler still rated at only 165 psi (1.14 MPa), and the wheels 5 ft 2 in (1,575 mm) and 3 ft 8 in (1,118 mm). New was the Collett-style cab and bunker and the boiler nominally to a new design. A three bar crosshead was added to the motion. This was a 1924 innovation introduced with the GWR 5600 Class and also seen in the 1930s-built 5400, 6400 and 7400 classes of pannier tanks.

Into service

1409 with an autotrain. Haresfield railway geograph-2590798-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg
1409 with an autotrain.

The 4800 Class was designed as a more modern version of the 517 Class, which were by then beginning to show their relative age. The first locomotive, No 4800, was built by Swindon Works and entered service in 1932, with a further seventy-four engines of this type following up to 1936. During this period, Swindon also built twenty 5800 Class engines, which were broadly similar but which were not fitted with autotrain equipment or the Swindon top feed as later fitted to a number of 4800 class engines.

The 4800 Class locomotives retained their original numbers until the GWR decided to experimentally convert twelve 2800 Class 2-8-0s for oil-firing. It was decided that the converted engines would be reclassified as the 4800 Class and so the 75 tank locomotives already carrying this designation were reclassified as the 1400 Class with running numbers 1400-1474. The engines did not revert to their original classification after the experiment ended in 1948. They could reach a maximum speed of 80 mph (130 km/h) which was much faster than the diesel railcars designed to replace them could reach. [2]

During the 1953 production of the Ealing comedy The Titfield Thunderbolt , 14xx locomotives Nos. 1401 and 1456 (doubling as 1401) were specially assigned to the film shoot, which took place primarily in the Limpley Stoke area. For this, the locomotives were temporarily allocated to Westbury locomotive depot. [3]

The 1400 Class was designed to work with the GWR design of autocoach, a specialist coach designed for push-pull working and which could also be used with similarly equipped engines such as the 517 Class, and the 5400, 6400 and the older 2021 classes. This lack of auto gear was the cause of earlier scrapping of the 5800 Class as there was no work for them. The last, no. 5815, was withdrawn from Swindon shed in April 1961. [4]

The auto-fitted locos fared little better; scrapping commenced in 1956 and all were withdrawn by early 1965. Nos. 1442 and 1450 were withdrawn from Exmouth Junction shed in May 1965. [5] By the early 1960s several had been in store (parked in an out-of-the-way siding with a tarpaulin over the chimney) for some time, being occasionally steamed to replace failed diesels.

Table of orders and numbers [6]
YearQuantityLot No.Locomotive numbersNotes
1932–33302794800–4829renumbered 1400–1429 in 1946
1934–35302884830–4859renumbered 1430–1459 in 1946
1936152874860–4874renumbered 1460–1474 in 1946

Preservation

"Tivvy Bumper" locomotive 1442 in its original resting-place on Blundell's Road, Tiverton, photographed in 1968 GWR 0-4-2T 1442 at Tiverton, 1968.jpg
"Tivvy Bumper" locomotive 1442 in its original resting-place on Blundell's Road, Tiverton, photographed in 1968

Four examples have been preserved, all late withdrawals from service in the 1963-1965 period. All went direct to preservation from British Railways in relatively good condition.

Loco numbers in bold mean their current number.

NumberBuiltWithdrawnService LifeLocationOwnersLiveryConditionMainline CertifiedPhotographNotes
GWRGWR (1946)
48201420Nov. 1933Nov. 196431 Years South Devon Railway South Devon Railway AssociationGWR GreenUndergoing overhaulNo Buckfastleigh 1420 awaiting restoration.JPG Has carried the name Bulliver in preservation; "Bulliver" was the local name given to the Ashburton branch line train (which used the route of the present South Devon Railway). [7]
48421442Apr. 1935May 196530 Years, 1 month Tiverton, Devon Tiverton Museum GWR GreenStatic exhibitNo GWR 1442 at Tiverton Museum in the 1980's (1).jpg Was displayed in the open air at Blundell's Road until 1978 when it was moved to its present location.
48501450Jul. 1935May 196529 Years, 10 months Severn Valley Railway Privately ownedBR unlined greenOperational [8] Formerly 1450 stabled at Bewdley.jpg Formerly owned by the Dart Valley (later South Devon) Railway. In 1991 it was sold to present owner Mike Little who formed Pull Push Ltd. to manage its operation. Has resided on the SVR since 2014 when it was moved from the Dean Forest Railway.
48661466Feb. 1936Dec. 196327 Years, 10 months Didcot Railway Centre Great Western SocietyBR BlackUndergoing overhaulNo
1466 Didcot Railway Centre - 14384241946.jpg
Was the first example to be preserved, being sold to the GWS for £750 in April 1964. [9]

1442 spent its last years working between Tiverton and Tiverton Junction and became known as Tivvy Bumper. It was purchased by Lord Amory in 1965 for display at Tiverton. [10] All preserved examples apart from 1442 are fitted with auto train equipment, and 1450 has also operated on the mainline in preservation, but due to its size was restricted in the amount of work it could do and was also restricted on mileage, as the 1400s only have a max water capacity of 800 imp gal (3,600 L; 960 US gal). During the 1990s it worked a number of Dawlish Donkey trips from Exeter St Davids to Newton Abbot.

In fiction

Models

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Jackson Churchward</span> English railway engineer

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">GWR 5700 Class</span> Class of 0-6-0 pannier tank steam locomotives

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">GWR 2251 Class</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">GWR 1361 Class</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">GWR 1366 Class</span> British 0-6-0PT steam locomotive

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The Great Western Railway (GWR) 4300 Class is a class of 2-6-0 (mogul) steam locomotives, designed by G.J. Churchward for mixed traffic duties. 342 were built from 1911–1932.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GWR 5600 Class</span> Steam locomotive

The GWR 5600 Class is a class of 0-6-2T steam locomotive built between 1924 and 1928. They were designed by Charles Collett for the Great Western Railway (GWR), and were introduced into traffic in 1924. After the 1923 grouping, Swindon inherited a large and variable collection of locomotives from historic Welsh railway companies, which did not fit into their standardisation programme. GWR boiler inspectors arrived en masse and either condemned the original locomotives or had them rebuilt. The systematic destruction of many examples of locomotives, most still in serviceable condition, followed, but various were worked alongside 5600 Class.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GWR 6400 Class</span> Great Western Railway steam locomotive class

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">GWR 517 Class</span> Class of 156 British 0-4-2T locomotives

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Between 1854 when the Shrewsbury and Chester and Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railways were absorbed by the Great Western Railway, and 1864 when he moved south to Swindon Works, Joseph Armstrong occupied the post of the GWR's Locomotive Superintendent, Northern Division, at Wolverhampton Works. For ten years the task of providing new locomotives for the GWR's newly acquired standard gauge lines fell jointly to Armstrong and to his superior Daniel Gooch, the railway's principal Locomotive Superintendent who was based at Paddington.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">GWR 101 Class</span> Unique oil-burning steam locomotive

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References

  1. Champ (2018), p. 319.
  2. Speller, John. "Collett Locomotives". John Speller's Web Pages. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.[ self-published source? ]
  3. Castens, Simon (2018). On the Trail of The Titfield Thunderbolt. Bath: Thunderbolt Books. ISBN   978-1-912038-99-2.
  4. Rowledge (1986), p. 135.
  5. Rowledge (1986), p. 123.
  6. Allcock et al. (1968), pp. 36–37.
  7. "Bulliver". South Devon Railway. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  8. "The Flour Mill - Our Projects". www.theflourmill.com. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  9. "1466/4866-48XX/14XX Class". Didcot Railway Centre. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  10. "1442 - Preserved British Steam Locomotives". 12 June 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  11. Awdry, Wilbert Vere. The Island of Sodor, Its People, History and Railways. p. 132.
  12. "Oliver - Character Profile & Bio Thomas & Friends". Gullane (Thomas) Ltd. Archived from the original on 27 June 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  13. Mylett, David (15 June 2016). "Hattons Exclusive 14xx 2nd EPs arrive". Hattons Model Railways.
  14. Mylett, David (24 June 2016). "2nd Batch of colour samples for 14xx". Hattons Model Railways.
  15. "Welcome to Tower Models Website". Tower Models. Retrieved 6 September 2017.[ better source needed ]