NSR M Class

Last updated

NSR M Class
NSR M Class No. 11.jpg
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerJohn Henry Adams
BuilderNSR Stoke works
Build date1907–1908, 1920
Total produced9
Specifications
Configuration:
   Whyte 0-4-4 T
   UIC B2
Gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Driver dia.5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)
Trailing dia. 3 ft 7 in (1,092 mm)
Wheelbase Loco: 22 ft 9 in (6.93 m)
Length35 ft 5 in (10.80 m)
Height12 ft 10+12 in (3.92 m)
Loco weight56 long tons 0 cwt (125,400 lb or 56.9 t) full
Fuel type Coal
Fuel capacity2 long tons 15 cwt (6,200 lb or 2.8 t)
Water cap.1,300 imp gal (5,900 L; 1,600 US gal)
Firebox:
  Grate area17.8 sq ft (1.65 m2)
Boiler pressure175  psi (1.21  MPa)
Heating surface:
  Firebox108.3 sq ft (10.06 m2)
  Tubes and flues1,011.7 sq ft (93.99 m2)
Cylinders Two, inside
Cylinder size 18+12 in × 26 in (470 mm × 660 mm)
Career
Operators
Class NSR: M Class
Number in class9
RetiredAugust 1930 – April 1939
DispositionAll scrapped

The North Staffordshire Railway (NSR) M Class was a class of 0-4-4T steam locomotive designed by John H. Adams, third son of William Adams. It was designed for suburban passenger work on the Potteries loop lines. They shared components such as a drumhead smokebox which rested on the saddle and an almost identical boiler with the NSR L class. [1] The boiler of the M class later became a standard boiler for the NSR, it being used on the NSR's New L class and H class. The M class introduced a new form of cab roof which curved around to join the cab sides, as with the Midland Railway at the time, and was soon copied by the SE&CR. [2] Five were built between 1907 and 1908 at the NSR's Stoke Works, with a further four built in 1920 at Stoke under John A. Hookham, who had succeeded Adams upon the latters death in 1915. This second batch had longer bunkers and Ross "pop" safety valves instead of Ramsbottom safety valves but were otherwise similar; they were known as the New M Class. [3]

All entered the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) stock upon formation in 1923 with little modification, other than replacing the original Ramsbottom safety valves with Ross-pop type. [1] With the LMS' policy of standardisation, many NSR classes were prime targets for early scrapping due to the small size of the classes. As a result, all save one was withdrawn by 1936, having been displaced by more modern six-coupled tanks. This last locomotive had the distinction of being the last NSR locomotive to remain in service save for a battery electric shunting engine, but by the final days was itself reduced to shunting duties. [1]

The livery of the M class was the NSR's Madder Lake with straw lining, and NORTH STAFFORD lettering on the side tanks along with the company crest. The number appeared on the bunker. In LMS days all received the crimson lake passenger livery of the early LMS with large numerals on the side tanks and the company crest on the bunker, but by 1928 they were repainted in plain black with L M S written on the tanks and number on the bunker. [1]

Withdrawal took place between 1930 and 1939. [1] None survived into preservation.

List of locomotives

NSR numberBuiltLMS numberWithdrawn
9December 19071431January 1936
11December 19071432October 1935
12January 19081433October 1935
41March 19081434March 1939
42March 19081435August 1930
1519201436April 1939
1719201437June 1935
1919201438January 1936
5419201439December 1931

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Hopkins, Ken (1986). North Staffordshire Locomotives: An Illustrated History. Trent Valley Publications. pp. 56–57. ISBN   0-948131-14-4.
  2. Christiansen, Rex & Miller, Robert William (1971). The North Staffordshire Railway. Newton Abbot, Devon: David & Charles. p. 230. ISBN   0-7153-5121-4.
  3. Baxter, Bertram (1984). Baxter, David (ed.). British Locomotive Catalogue 1825-1923, volume 4: Scottish and remaining English Companies in the LMS Group. Ashbourne: Moorland Publishing. pp. 234, 236, 249, 251. ISBN   0-903485-53-2. OCLC   59913101. OL   25432141M.