GWR 5600 Class: Difference between revisions
Tags: citing a blog or free web host Reverted |
Citation bot (talk | contribs) Added date. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by Abductive | #UCB_toolbar |
||
(40 intermediate revisions by 22 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Short description|Steam locomotive}} |
|||
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}} |
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}} |
||
{{Use British English|date=January 2018}} |
{{Use British English|date=January 2018}} |
||
{{Infobox Locomotive |
{{Infobox Locomotive |
||
|name=Great Western Railway 5600 class<ref name="Obs1960" >{{cite book| last=Casserley| first=H.C.| |
| name = Great Western Railway 5600 class<ref name="Obs1960" >{{cite book| last=Casserley| first=H.C.| author-link=H. C. Casserley| title=The Observer's Book of Railway Locomotives of Britain| publisher=[[Frederick Warne & Co|Frederick Warne]]| orig-year=1955| edition=Revised| year=1960| page=56}}</ref> |
||
|powertype=Steam |
| powertype = Steam |
||
|image= Aberbeeg Locomotive Depot '5600' class geograph-2942234-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg |
| image = Aberbeeg Locomotive Depot '5600' class geograph-2942234-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg |
||
|caption=6685 at Aberbeeg locomotive depot in April 1951. |
| caption = 6685 at Aberbeeg locomotive depot in April 1951. |
||
|designer = [[Charles B. Collett]] |
| designer = [[Charles B. Collett]] |
||
|builder=GWR [[Swindon Works]] (150) |
| builder = {{ubl|GWR [[Swindon Works]] (150)|[[Armstrong Whitworth]] (50)}} |
||
| ordernumber = 228, 235, 244, 252, 255 |
|||
|serialnumber= |
|||
| serialnumber = AW: 938–987 |
|||
|builddate=1924–1928 |
|||
| builddate = 1924–1928 |
|||
|whytetype=[[0-6-2T]] |
|||
| whytetype = [[0-6-2T]] |
|||
|uicclass=C1'ht |
|||
| uicclass = C1′ h2t |
|||
|gauge={{track gauge|ussg|allk=on}} |
|||
| gauge = {{track gauge|ussg|allk=on}} |
|||
|driverdiameter={{convert|4|ft|7+1/2|in|3|abbr=on}} |
|||
| |
| driverdiameter = {{convert|4|ft|7+1/2|in|3|abbr=on}} |
||
| trailingdiameter = {{convert|3|ft|8|in|3|abbr=on}} |
|||
|fueltype=[[Coal]] |
|||
| locoweight = 5600: {{Long ton|68|12}}<br/>6600: {{Long ton|69|7}} |
|||
|fuelcap= {{convert|3.75|LT|t ST|abbr=on}} |
|||
| fueltype = [[Coal]] |
|||
|watercap={{convert|1900|impgal|abbr=on}} |
|||
| |
| fuelcap = {{convert|3.75|LT|t ST|abbr=on}} |
||
| watercap = {{convert|1900|impgal|abbr=on}} |
|||
|firearea= |
|||
| boilerpressure = {{convert|200|psi|MPa|2|abbr=on}} |
|||
|superheatertype=Yes |
|||
| firearea = |
|||
|valvegear=[[Stephenson valve gear|Stephenson's]] |
|||
| boiler = GWR Standard No. 2<ref>{{Cite book|last=Champ|first=Jim |title=An Introduction to Great Western Locomotive Development |year=2018|publisher=[[Pen and Sword Books|Pen & Sword Transport]] |isbn=978-1-4738-7784-9|location=Barnsley |oclc=1029234106 |ol=26953051M |page=320 }}</ref> |
|||
|valvetype=[[Piston valve (steam engine)|piston valves]] |
|||
| superheatertype = Yes |
|||
|cylindercount=Two, inside |
|||
| valvegear = [[Stephenson valve gear|Stephenson's]] |
|||
|cylindersize={{convert|18|x|26|in|0|abbr=on}} |
|||
| valvetype = [[Piston valve (steam engine)|piston valves]] |
|||
|tractiveeffort={{convert|25800|lbf|kN|abbr=on}} |
|||
| cylindercount = Two, inside |
|||
|factorofadhesion= |
|||
| cylindersize = {{convert|18|x|26|in|0|abbr=on}} |
|||
|operator=[[Great Western Railway]];<br>[[British Railways]] |
|||
| tractiveeffort = {{convert|25800|lbf|kN|abbr=on}} |
|||
|operatorclass=5600 |
|||
| factorofadhesion = |
|||
|powerclass=GWR: D<br>BR: 5MT |
|||
| operator = [[Great Western Railway]];<br/>[[British Railways]] |
|||
|axleloadclass=Red |
|||
| operatorclass = 5600 |
|||
|fleetnumbers=5600–5699, 6600–6699 |
|||
| powerclass = GWR: D<br/>BR: 5MT |
|||
|withdrawndate=1962–1965 |
|||
| axleloadclass = Red |
|||
|disposition=9 preserved, remainder [[scrap]]ped |
|||
| fleetnumbers = 5600–5699, 6600–6699 |
|||
|totalproduction=200}} |
|||
| withdrawndate = 1962–1966 |
|||
The [[Great Western Railway|GWR]] '''5600 Class''' is a class of [[0-6-2T]] [[steam locomotive]] built between 1924 and 1928. They were designed by [[Charles Collett|C.B 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. |
|||
| disposition = 9 preserved, remainder [[scrap]]ped |
|||
| totalproduction = 200 |
|||
}} |
|||
The [[Great Western Railway|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. |
|||
Two hundred GWR 5600 |
Two hundred GWR 5600 Class replacement locomotives were built and remained in service until withdrawn by [[British Railways]] between 1962 and 1965. Nine of the class have survived into preservation. |
||
==Background: Welsh 0-6-2T types== |
==Background: Welsh 0-6-2T types== |
||
The railways of [[South Wales]] seem to have had a particular liking for the 0-6-2T type. This was because the nature of the work they undertook demanded high adhesive weight, plenty of power with good braking ability, but no need for outright speed, nor large tanks or bunker as the distances from pit to port were short. The 0-6-2 configuration was discovered to confidently handle the sharp curves so prevalent in the area. These Welsh locomotives were taken over by the GWR at [[Railways Act 1921|the Grouping]] in 1922, as follows:<ref>{{cite book |last1=Allcock |first1=N.J. |last2=Davies |first2=F.K. |last3=le Fleming |first3=H.M. |last4=Maskelyne |first4=J.N. |last5=Reed |first5=P.J.T. |last6=Tabor |first6=F.J. |editor-last=White |editor-first=D.E. |title=The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, part one: Preliminary Survey |date=June 1951 |publisher=[[Railway Correspondence and Travel Society|RCTS]] |location=Kenilworth |isbn=0-901115-17-7 |oclc=650412984 |at=p. 16 & table I (facing p. 17) |
The railways of [[South Wales]] seem to have had a particular liking for the 0-6-2T type. This was because the nature of the work they undertook demanded high adhesive weight, plenty of power with good braking ability, but no need for outright speed, nor large tanks or bunker as the distances from pit to port were short. The 0-6-2 configuration was discovered to confidently handle the sharp curves so prevalent in the area. These Welsh locomotives were taken over by the GWR at [[Railways Act 1921|the Grouping]] in 1922, as follows:<ref>{{cite book |last1=Allcock |first1=N.J. |last2=Davies |first2=F.K. |last3=le Fleming |first3=H.M. |last4=Maskelyne |first4=J.N. |last5=Reed |first5=P.J.T. |last6=Tabor |first6=F.J. |editor-last=White |editor-first=D.E. |title=The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, part one: Preliminary Survey |date=June 1951 |publisher=[[Railway Correspondence and Travel Society|RCTS]] |location=Kenilworth |isbn=0-901115-17-7 |oclc=650412984 |at=p. 16 & table I (facing p. 17) }}</ref> |
||
{|class=wikitable |
{|class="wikitable sortable" |
||
|- |
|- |
||
!Railway ||Quantity |
!Railway ||Quantity ||GWR numbers |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| [[Alexandra (Newport and South Wales) Docks and Railway]] ||4 |
| [[Alexandra (Newport and South Wales) Docks and Railway]] ||4 ||data-sort-value="190"|190–2, 663 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| [[Barry Railway]] ||72 |
| [[Barry Railway]] ||72 ||data-sort-value="193"|193–201/3/4/6–214, 223–235/8, 240–277 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| [[Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway]] ||18 |
| [[Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway]] (B&M) ||18 ||data-sort-value="504"|11, 21, 332, 504, 698, 888, 1084, 1113, 1372–5, 1668/70/4/7/92, 1833 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| [[Cardiff Railway]] ||13 |
| [[Cardiff Railway]] ||13 ||data-sort-value="151"|151–163 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| [[Neath and Brecon Railway]] ||5 |
| [[Neath and Brecon Railway]] ||5 ||data-sort-value="1114"|1114/7, 1277, 1327/71 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| [[Port Talbot Railway and Docks Company]] ||7 |
| [[Port Talbot Railway and Docks Company]] ||7 ||data-sort-value="183"|183–189 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| [[Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway]] ||19 |
| [[Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway]] ||19 ||data-sort-value="164"|164–182 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| [[Rhymney Railway]] ||101 |
| [[Rhymney Railway]] ||101 ||data-sort-value="30"|30–44, 46–91, 97–101, 105–110/2–5/7–9, 122/7/9/30/1/3–145/7–150 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| [[Taff Vale Railway]] (TVR) ||209 ||data-sort-value="278"|236, 278–302, 310/1/3–5/7–321/4, 333/5/7, 343–9, 351/2/6/7, 360–2/4–8, 370–391/3/4/7–9, 401–4/6/8–421/3–435/7–455, 462/6, 471–496/8–503/5–8, 511/3/5/6, 520, 552, 560/7, 573, 577–593/5–600/2/3 |
|||
| [[Taff Vale Railway]] ||209 |
|||
|} |
|} |
||
Some were [[Remanufacturing|rebuilt]] with GWR [[taper boiler]]s. A number of them passed into [[British Railways]] (BR) ownership in 1948, including (with some gaps in numbering): |
Some were [[Remanufacturing|rebuilt]] with GWR [[taper boiler]]s. In 1946, all of the surviving B&M locomotives and several TVR locomotives were allotted new numbers, which were applied between 1946 and 1950 (although some were withdrawn before the new number could be applied). A number of them passed into [[British Railways]] (BR) ownership in 1948, including (with some gaps in numbering): |
||
* |
* Alexandra (Newport and South Wales) Docks and Railway, BR number 190 |
||
* Barry Railway, BR numbers 198–277 |
|||
* Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway, BR numbers 422-436 |
|||
* Cardiff Railway, BR number 155 |
* Cardiff Railway, BR number 155 |
||
* |
* Port Talbot Railway and Docks, BR number 184 |
||
* |
* Rhymney Railway, BR numbers 30-83 |
||
* Taff Vale Railway, BR numbers 200–411 |
|||
Of the Taff Vale Railway, many engines continued to operate up to the 1950s, but today only two locomotives survived, [[Taff Vale Railway O1 class|TVR 'O1']] No.28, the last-surviving Welsh-built engine, and [[Taff Vale Railway O2 class|TVR 'O2']] No.85. |
Of the Taff Vale Railway, many engines continued to operate up to the 1950s, but today only two locomotives survived, [[Taff Vale Railway O1 class|TVR 'O1']] No.28, the last-surviving Welsh-built engine, and [[Taff Vale Railway O2 class|TVR 'O2']] No.85. |
||
Line 75: | Line 83: | ||
When the GWR took over the Welsh valley lines, they discovered that the Welsh locomotive crews liked their 0-6-2T locomotives. Rather than a new design the 5600 Class was a "Swindonised" version of the [[Rhymney Railway M class]] and [[Rhymney Railway R class|R class]] locomotives. The 1904 M class (and the similar 1909 R class) were successful designs ideally suited to hauling heavy coal trains a relatively short distance. |
When the GWR took over the Welsh valley lines, they discovered that the Welsh locomotive crews liked their 0-6-2T locomotives. Rather than a new design the 5600 Class was a "Swindonised" version of the [[Rhymney Railway M class]] and [[Rhymney Railway R class|R class]] locomotives. The 1904 M class (and the similar 1909 R class) were successful designs ideally suited to hauling heavy coal trains a relatively short distance. |
||
The 5600 Class was specially designed for work in [[South Wales]], replacing the elderly, worn-out locomotives that had been 'inherited' in 1923, when the smaller railway companies were forcibly merged into the GWR at The Grouping. Contrary to this trend, the Rhymney Railway's more modern 0-6-2s were in generally good order and had proved successful. Thus they became the blueprint for the 56xx. |
The 5600 Class was specially designed for work in [[South Wales]], replacing the elderly, worn-out locomotives that had been 'inherited' in 1923, when the smaller railway companies were forcibly merged into the GWR at The Grouping. Contrary to this trend, the Rhymney Railway's more modern 0-6-2s were in generally good order and had proved successful. Thus they became the blueprint for the 56xx.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Duggan |first=Jamie |date=October 30, 2018 |title=GWR 56XX Class steam locomotives - Class Information |url=https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2018/10/gwr-56xx-class-steam-locomotives-class-information.html |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=RailAdvent |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Maidment |first=David |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1137744949 |title=Great Western, 0-6-2 Tank Classes: Absorbed and Swindon Designed Classes |publisher=Pen and Sword Transport |year=2020 |isbn=978-1-5267-5205-5 |oclc=1137744949}}</ref> |
||
The first of five R class locos was re-boilered by the GWR in 1926 and a single M class was upgraded in 1930. In this form, both were visually almost indistinguishable from the |
The first of five R class locos was re-boilered by the GWR in 1926 and a single M class was upgraded in 1930. In this form, both were visually almost indistinguishable from the 5600 Class. |
||
==Design== |
==Design== |
||
The design of the 5600 Class followed Great Western Railway practice as far as possible, by utilising many [[standardisation|standardised]] parts. Included in |
The design of the 5600 Class followed Great Western Railway practice as far as possible, by utilising many [[standardisation|standardised]] parts. Included in Churchward's innovations was a Standard Number 2 [[boiler]] which was suitable for the 5600 Class, and the M and R class Rhymney locomotives, complete with the traditional brass GWR safety valve casing and copper-capped chimney. |
||
They were substantial sized [[tank engine]]s, 37 |
They were substantial sized [[tank engine]]s, 37 feet 6 inches in length and weighing 62 tons. The side tanks were capable of holding 1900 [[gallons]] of water. The high domed cab, bunker and tanks were closely related to the 31xx and 42xx classes. One hundred of the class were built at the GWR workshops in [[Swindon Works|Swindon]] from 1924 to 1927. |
||
While they were powerful machines, the 5600s were very unpopular with footplate crews at the time. They were beset by numerous failures, the most common of which was hot axle boxes.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://preservedbritishsteamlocomotives.com/5600-0-6-0t-gwr-collett-5600-5699-6600-6699/| title=5600 0-6-0T GWR Collett 5600- 5699 & 6600 – 6699| website=Preserved British Steam Locomotives}}</ref> They lacked the wider tolerances in their boxes that the original Welsh company locomotives had. They also had the tendency to derail, so those driving them preferred them in reverse, where the pony truck was able to guide them around tight curves. When the first batch were hastily recalled back to Swindon, Collett faced criticism from the Director of Caerphilly Works in building such a locomotive unsuited to the lines they were meant to work on.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/208370/manuals/GWR%2056xx%20Class%20Manual.pdf?t=1519829279| title=GWR 5600 Class| first=Peter| last=Gillam| date=2013}}</ref> |
While they were powerful machines, the 5600s were very unpopular with footplate crews at the time. They were beset by numerous failures, the most common of which was hot axle boxes.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://preservedbritishsteamlocomotives.com/5600-0-6-0t-gwr-collett-5600-5699-6600-6699/| title=5600 0-6-0T GWR Collett 5600- 5699 & 6600 – 6699| website=Preserved British Steam Locomotives| date=17 June 2017}}</ref> They lacked the wider tolerances in their boxes that the original Welsh company locomotives had. They also had the tendency to derail, so those driving them preferred them in reverse, where the pony truck was able to guide them around tight curves. When the first batch were hastily recalled back to Swindon, Collett faced criticism from the Director of Caerphilly Works in building such a locomotive unsuited to the lines they were meant to work on.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/208370/manuals/GWR%2056xx%20Class%20Manual.pdf?t=1519829279| title=GWR 5600 Class| first=Peter| last=Gillam| date=2013}}</ref> |
||
In 1927 another 100 similar engines were constructed – these were slightly heavier and numbered in the 66xx series. Nos |
In 1927 another 100 similar engines were constructed – these were slightly heavier and numbered in the 66xx series. Nos 6600–6649 were Swindon-built in 1927–1928, but due to the pressure of work 6650–6699 were built by [[Armstrong Whitworth]] in 1928. This resulted in some minor design differences from the Swindon locomotives, most visible were additional balance weights fitted inside the driving wheels webs opposite the crank pin to remedy the faults. When the Welsh railwaymen discovered that the new [[GWR 5700 Class]] 0-6-0 [[GWR 0-6-0PT|pannier tank]] (introduced 1929) was even more suitable for the same work – being shorter and lighter, with roughly the same (slightly lower) tractive effort – no further Class 56xx/66xx locos were built.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://cdn.steampowered.com/Manuals/65222/56xx%20Locomotive%20Addon.pdf| title=(unknown)| website=Steam Powered}}{{dead link|date=November 2020}}</ref> |
||
The 5600 Class had the distinction of being the only locomotive of [[0-6-2]] wheel arrangement built new by the GWR. Nevertheless, there were just over 400 locos with that wheel arrangement in service from |
The 5600 Class had the distinction of being the only locomotive of [[0-6-2]] wheel arrangement built new by the GWR. Nevertheless, there were just over 400 locos with that wheel arrangement in service from 1940 to 1945, demonstrating the large number acquired in 1923. |
||
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
|||
|+ Table of orders and numbers{{sfnb|Allcock|Davies|le Fleming|Maskelyne|1968|pp=34–35}} |
|||
! Year !! Quantity !! Lot No. !! Locomotive numbers !! Notes |
|||
|- |
|||
| 1924–25 || 50 || 228 || 5600–5649 || align=left | |
|||
|- |
|||
| 1926–27 || 50 || 235 || 5650–5699 || align=left | |
|||
|- |
|||
| 1927–28 || 30 || 244 || 6600–6629 || align=left | |
|||
|- |
|||
| 1928 || 20 || 252 || 6630–6649 || align=left | |
|||
|- |
|||
| 1928 || 50 || 255 || 6650–6699 || align=left | Armstrong-Whitworth works nos. 938–987 |
|||
|} |
|||
==Dimensions== |
==Dimensions== |
||
* Locomotive weight: |
* Locomotive weight: |
||
** All locos, 68 tons 12 cwt<ref>{{RCTS-LocosGWR-5 |page=E75}}</ref> |
|||
** All locos, 68 tons 12 cwt<ref>{{cite book |last=le Fleming |first=H.M. |editor-last=White |editor-first=D.E. |title=Part 5: Six-coupled Tank Engines |series=The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway |date=April 1958 |publisher=[[Railway Correspondence and Travel Society|RCTS]] |page=E75}}</ref> |
|||
** 5600 Class, 68 tons 12 cwt{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}} |
** 5600 Class, 68 tons 12 cwt{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}} |
||
** 6600 Class, 69 tons 7 cwt{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} |
** 6600 Class, 69 tons 7 cwt{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} |
||
Line 99: | Line 122: | ||
==Service== |
==Service== |
||
[[File:Newport High Street station up coal train geograph-2942116-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg|thumb|right|6614 with a coal |
[[File:Newport High Street station up coal train geograph-2942116-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg|thumb|right|6614 with a coal train at Newport]] |
||
A fall in the South Wales coal trade in the 1930s saw many of the class re-allocated to other parts of the system. Due to the stability of the design, many drivers would typically operate the 56xx class down the Welsh valleys in reverse (bunker first). The placement of the trailing wheels helped the engine enter the curves better than if operated in the other direction. Typically, during operation, when pulling a heavy load the tanks were operated bunker first, and then smokebox first on the return trips up the valleys.<ref>{{cite book |last=Haresnape |first=Brian |title=Collett & Hawksworth Locomotives: A Pictorial History |year=1978 |publisher=[[Ian Allan Publishing|Ian Allan]] |location=Shepperton |isbn=0-7110-0869-8 |page=38}}</ref> |
A fall in the South Wales coal trade in the 1930s saw many of the class re-allocated to other parts of the system. Due to the stability of the design, many drivers would typically operate the 56xx class down the Welsh valleys in reverse (bunker first). The placement of the trailing wheels helped the engine enter the curves better than if operated in the other direction. Typically, during operation, when pulling a heavy load the tanks were operated bunker first, and then smokebox first on the return trips up the valleys.<ref>{{cite book |last=Haresnape |first=Brian |title=Collett & Hawksworth Locomotives: A Pictorial History |year=1978 |publisher=[[Ian Allan Publishing|Ian Allan]] |location=Shepperton |isbn=0-7110-0869-8 |page=38}}</ref> |
||
Line 107: | Line 130: | ||
[[File:Swindon Works withdrawn locomotives geograph-2941882-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg|thumb|right|Withdrawn engines at Swindon]] |
[[File:Swindon Works withdrawn locomotives geograph-2941882-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg|thumb|right|Withdrawn engines at Swindon]] |
||
Withdrawn from 1962 to 1966, with nos. 5605 and 6697 being the last to go. |
|||
The four members of this class were withdrawn in May of 1962 while the last one No. 6668 was withdrawn in the last month of GWR steam, December of 1965.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Daniel |first1=John |title=5600 class introduction |url=http://www.greatwestern.org.uk/m_in_062.htm |website=The Great Western Archive |accessdate=11 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=5600 0-6-0T GWR Collett 5600- 5699 & 6600 – 6699 |url=https://preservedbritishsteamlocomotives.com/5600-0-6-0t-gwr-collett-5600-5699-6600-6699/ |website=Preserved British Steam Locomotives |publisher=WordPress.com |accessdate=22 November 2020}}</ref> |
|||
== Preservation == |
== Preservation == |
||
Line 113: | Line 136: | ||
Several ended up in [[Woodham Brothers]]' [[scrapyard]] in [[Barry, South Wales]], with eight of the nine preserved engines saved from Barry. The majority of the class in preservation were built at [[Swindon Works]], three of them: 6686, 6695 & 6697 being built by [[Armstrong Whitworth]]. |
Several ended up in [[Woodham Brothers]]' [[scrapyard]] in [[Barry, South Wales]], with eight of the nine preserved engines saved from Barry. The majority of the class in preservation were built at [[Swindon Works]], three of them: 6686, 6695 & 6697 being built by [[Armstrong Whitworth]]. |
||
As the locomotives were operated mainly in South Wales, some [[railfan]]s know the Class by the nickname "Taffy Tank";<ref>{{cite web| last=Morgan| first=Keith| title=Latest progress on GWR Taffy Tank No. 6695 at Herston Works, Swanage| work=Swanage Railway News Gallery| page=118| publisher=[[Swanage Railway]]| date=2002-02-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title=Saved loco pulls passengers again| website=[[BBC News Online]]| date=13 February 2006| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/4707756.stm| |
As the locomotives were operated mainly in South Wales, some [[railfan]]s know the Class by the nickname "Taffy Tank";<ref>{{cite web| last=Morgan| first=Keith| title=Latest progress on GWR Taffy Tank No. 6695 at Herston Works, Swanage| work=Swanage Railway News Gallery| page=118| publisher=[[Swanage Railway]]| date=2002-02-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title=Saved loco pulls passengers again| website=[[BBC News Online]]| date=13 February 2006| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/4707756.stm| access-date=10 January 2010}}</ref> 'Taffy' being a [[Taffy was a Welshman|derogatory term]] for someone of [[Welsh people|Welsh]] descent. However, the 56xx class never had this title officially, whereas the more typical examples of the Rhymney Railway's M and R classes they replaced, were arguably the original 'Taffy Tanks' of fame. |
||
As of |
As of 2023, six members of the class have run in preservation, with three engines currently in operation, 5668 undergoing restoration from scrapyard condition at the Kent and East Sussex Railway, 6634 and 6686 both awaiting restoration from scrapyard condition at [[Peak Rail]] and the [[Barry Tourist Railway]] respectively, and 6697 on static display at Didcot Railway Centre. |
||
The following table lists the |
The following table lists the preserved locomotives: |
||
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
||
Line 125: | Line 148: | ||
!Withdrawn |
!Withdrawn |
||
!Working Life |
!Working Life |
||
!Owner |
|||
!Current Location |
|||
!Location |
|||
!Current Status |
|||
!Livery |
|||
!Status |
|||
!Notes |
!Notes |
||
|- |
|- |
||
Line 134: | Line 159: | ||
|June 1964 |
|June 1964 |
||
|39 Years, 3 months |
|39 Years, 3 months |
||
|[[Telford Steam Railway]] |
|||
|[[Telford Steam Railway]] |
|||
|BR Unlined Black |
|||
|In Service |
|In Service |
||
|align="left"| |
|||
|align="left"|In BR unlined Black, owned by the [[Telford Steam Railway]] |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
|5637 |
|5637 |
||
Line 143: | Line 170: | ||
|June 1964 |
|June 1964 |
||
|38 Years, 9 months |
|38 Years, 9 months |
||
|5637 Steam Locomotive Group |
|||
|Swindon & Cricklade Railway |
|||
|{{nowrap|[[Swindon and Cricklade Railway]]}} |
|||
|Awaiting overhaul |
|||
|BR Lined Green |
|||
|align="left"|In BR lined Green, owned by the 5637 Steam Loco Group. The loco moved back to Blunsdon just before the lockdown and is awaiting overhaul. |
|||
|Awaiting Overhaul |
|||
|align="left"|Permanently based at the S & CR, awaiting 10-year Heavy General Overhaul. |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
|5643 |
|5643 |
||
Line 152: | Line 181: | ||
|July 1963 |
|July 1963 |
||
|37 Years, 9 months |
|37 Years, 9 months |
||
|Furness Railway Trust |
|||
|[[Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway|Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway]] |
|||
|[[Ribble Steam Railway]] |
|||
|In Service |
|||
|BR Lined Green |
|||
|align="left"|In BR lined Green, owned by the Furness Railway Trust. Based at the [[Ribble Steam Railway]] but currently out on loan. |
|||
|Undergoing Overhaul |
|||
|align="left"| Currently at its home the [[Ribble Steam Railway]], the locomotive is currently undergoing a 10 year overhaul. It is hoped to complete the overhaul in time to allow the marking of the celebration of the centenary of the locomotive in 2025. |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
|5668 |
|5668 |
||
Line 161: | Line 192: | ||
|September 1964 |
|September 1964 |
||
|38 Years, 3 months |
|38 Years, 3 months |
||
|Privately owned |
|||
|[[Kent & East Sussex Railway]] |
|||
|[[Kent and East Sussex Railway]] |
|||
| |
|||
|Awaiting Restoration |
|Awaiting Restoration |
||
|align="left"| |
|align="left"|Asbestos stripped in readiness for a boiler lift. |
||
|- |
|-ererg |
||
|6619 |
|6619 |
||
|Swindon Works |
|Swindon Works |
||
Line 170: | Line 203: | ||
|March 1963 |
|March 1963 |
||
|35 Years, 1 month |
|35 Years, 1 month |
||
|6619 Ltd |
|||
|[[Kent & East Sussex Railway]] |
|||
|[[Kent and East Sussex Railway]] |
|||
|Awaiting Overhaul. |
|||
|BR Unlined Black |
|||
|align="left"|In BR unlined Black. Owned by 6619 Ltd. Boiler Ticket Expired 1 January 2015. |
|||
|Awaiting Overhaul |
|||
| align="left" |Boiler ticket expired 1 January 2015. |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
|6634 |
|6634 |
||
Line 179: | Line 214: | ||
|June 1964 |
|June 1964 |
||
|35 Years, 8 months |
|35 Years, 8 months |
||
|[[Pete Waterman]] |
|||
|[[Peak Rail]] |
|[[Peak Rail]] |
||
| |
|||
|Under Restoration |
|Under Restoration |
||
|align="left"| |
|align="left"|Restoration was to be undertaken by the [[Severn Valley Railway|SVR]] but never commenced. Moved to Rowsley in Nov 2017. |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|6686 |
|6686 |
||
Line 188: | Line 225: | ||
|June 1964 |
|June 1964 |
||
|35 Years, 6 months |
|35 Years, 6 months |
||
|Vale of Glamorgan Council |
|||
|[[Barry Tourist Railway]] |
|[[Barry Tourist Railway]] |
||
| |
|||
|{{nowrap|Under Restoration}} |
|{{nowrap|Under Restoration}} |
||
|align="left"| |
|align="left"|One of the [[Barry Ten]]. |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|6695 |
|6695 |
||
Line 197: | Line 236: | ||
|July 1964 |
|July 1964 |
||
|35 Years, 9 months |
|35 Years, 9 months |
||
|6695 Locomotive Ltd |
|||
|[[Swindon & Cricklade Railway]] |
|||
|[[Swindon and Cricklade Railway]] |
|||
|Undergoing Overhaul |
|||
|GWR Unlined Green |
|||
|align="left"|In BR lined Green, formerly based at [[Swanage Railway]]. Under overhaul and repairs at WSR after low loader incident where the trailer collapsed but now on the Swindon & Cricklade for the completion of this work. |
|||
|Operational |
|||
|align="left"|Withdrawn following expiry of boiler ticket in 2015. Re-entered service on the S & CR September 2022. |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
|6697 |
|6697 |
||
Line 206: | Line 247: | ||
|May 1966 |
|May 1966 |
||
|37 Years, 7 months |
|37 Years, 7 months |
||
| |
|||
|[[Didcot Railway Centre]] |
|[[Didcot Railway Centre]] |
||
|GWR Unlined Green |
|||
|On Static Display |
|On Static Display |
||
|align="left"| |
|align="left"|Only member of the class not to go through Woodham Brothers' scrapyard. |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|} |
|} |
||
Line 214: | Line 257: | ||
==References== |
==References== |
||
{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
||
*{{RCTS-LocosGWR-1|year=1968}} |
|||
== External links == |
== External links == |
Latest revision as of 01:30, 2 July 2024
Great Western Railway 5600 class[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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.
Two hundred GWR 5600 Class replacement locomotives were built and remained in service until withdrawn by British Railways between 1962 and 1965. Nine of the class have survived into preservation.
Background: Welsh 0-6-2T types
[edit]The railways of South Wales seem to have had a particular liking for the 0-6-2T type. This was because the nature of the work they undertook demanded high adhesive weight, plenty of power with good braking ability, but no need for outright speed, nor large tanks or bunker as the distances from pit to port were short. The 0-6-2 configuration was discovered to confidently handle the sharp curves so prevalent in the area. These Welsh locomotives were taken over by the GWR at the Grouping in 1922, as follows:[3]
Railway | Quantity | GWR numbers |
---|---|---|
Alexandra (Newport and South Wales) Docks and Railway | 4 | 190–2, 663 |
Barry Railway | 72 | 193–201/3/4/6–214, 223–235/8, 240–277 |
Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway (B&M) | 18 | 11, 21, 332, 504, 698, 888, 1084, 1113, 1372–5, 1668/70/4/7/92, 1833 |
Cardiff Railway | 13 | 151–163 |
Neath and Brecon Railway | 5 | 1114/7, 1277, 1327/71 |
Port Talbot Railway and Docks Company | 7 | 183–189 |
Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway | 19 | 164–182 |
Rhymney Railway | 101 | 30–44, 46–91, 97–101, 105–110/2–5/7–9, 122/7/9/30/1/3–145/7–150 |
Taff Vale Railway (TVR) | 209 | 236, 278–302, 310/1/3–5/7–321/4, 333/5/7, 343–9, 351/2/6/7, 360–2/4–8, 370–391/3/4/7–9, 401–4/6/8–421/3–435/7–455, 462/6, 471–496/8–503/5–8, 511/3/5/6, 520, 552, 560/7, 573, 577–593/5–600/2/3 |
Some were rebuilt with GWR taper boilers. In 1946, all of the surviving B&M locomotives and several TVR locomotives were allotted new numbers, which were applied between 1946 and 1950 (although some were withdrawn before the new number could be applied). A number of them passed into British Railways (BR) ownership in 1948, including (with some gaps in numbering):
- Alexandra (Newport and South Wales) Docks and Railway, BR number 190
- Barry Railway, BR numbers 198–277
- Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway, BR numbers 422-436
- Cardiff Railway, BR number 155
- Port Talbot Railway and Docks, BR number 184
- Rhymney Railway, BR numbers 30-83
- Taff Vale Railway, BR numbers 200–411
Of the Taff Vale Railway, many engines continued to operate up to the 1950s, but today only two locomotives survived, TVR 'O1' No.28, the last-surviving Welsh-built engine, and TVR 'O2' No.85.
For further information on these pre-grouping locomotives see Locomotives of the Great Western Railway.
Origins
[edit]When the GWR took over the Welsh valley lines, they discovered that the Welsh locomotive crews liked their 0-6-2T locomotives. Rather than a new design the 5600 Class was a "Swindonised" version of the Rhymney Railway M class and R class locomotives. The 1904 M class (and the similar 1909 R class) were successful designs ideally suited to hauling heavy coal trains a relatively short distance.
The 5600 Class was specially designed for work in South Wales, replacing the elderly, worn-out locomotives that had been 'inherited' in 1923, when the smaller railway companies were forcibly merged into the GWR at The Grouping. Contrary to this trend, the Rhymney Railway's more modern 0-6-2s were in generally good order and had proved successful. Thus they became the blueprint for the 56xx.[4][5]
The first of five R class locos was re-boilered by the GWR in 1926 and a single M class was upgraded in 1930. In this form, both were visually almost indistinguishable from the 5600 Class.
Design
[edit]The design of the 5600 Class followed Great Western Railway practice as far as possible, by utilising many standardised parts. Included in Churchward's innovations was a Standard Number 2 boiler which was suitable for the 5600 Class, and the M and R class Rhymney locomotives, complete with the traditional brass GWR safety valve casing and copper-capped chimney.
They were substantial sized tank engines, 37 feet 6 inches in length and weighing 62 tons. The side tanks were capable of holding 1900 gallons of water. The high domed cab, bunker and tanks were closely related to the 31xx and 42xx classes. One hundred of the class were built at the GWR workshops in Swindon from 1924 to 1927.
While they were powerful machines, the 5600s were very unpopular with footplate crews at the time. They were beset by numerous failures, the most common of which was hot axle boxes.[6] They lacked the wider tolerances in their boxes that the original Welsh company locomotives had. They also had the tendency to derail, so those driving them preferred them in reverse, where the pony truck was able to guide them around tight curves. When the first batch were hastily recalled back to Swindon, Collett faced criticism from the Director of Caerphilly Works in building such a locomotive unsuited to the lines they were meant to work on.[7]
In 1927 another 100 similar engines were constructed – these were slightly heavier and numbered in the 66xx series. Nos 6600–6649 were Swindon-built in 1927–1928, but due to the pressure of work 6650–6699 were built by Armstrong Whitworth in 1928. This resulted in some minor design differences from the Swindon locomotives, most visible were additional balance weights fitted inside the driving wheels webs opposite the crank pin to remedy the faults. When the Welsh railwaymen discovered that the new GWR 5700 Class 0-6-0 pannier tank (introduced 1929) was even more suitable for the same work – being shorter and lighter, with roughly the same (slightly lower) tractive effort – no further Class 56xx/66xx locos were built.[8]
The 5600 Class had the distinction of being the only locomotive of 0-6-2 wheel arrangement built new by the GWR. Nevertheless, there were just over 400 locos with that wheel arrangement in service from 1940 to 1945, demonstrating the large number acquired in 1923.
Year | Quantity | Lot No. | Locomotive numbers | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1924–25 | 50 | 228 | 5600–5649 | |
1926–27 | 50 | 235 | 5650–5699 | |
1927–28 | 30 | 244 | 6600–6629 | |
1928 | 20 | 252 | 6630–6649 | |
1928 | 50 | 255 | 6650–6699 | Armstrong-Whitworth works nos. 938–987 |
Dimensions
[edit]- Locomotive weight:
- All locos, 68 tons 12 cwt[10]
- 5600 Class, 68 tons 12 cwt[citation needed]
- 6600 Class, 69 tons 7 cwt[citation needed]
- 5600 Class, 62 tons 18 cwt[1]
- 6600 Class, 15 cwt more than 5600[1]
Service
[edit]A fall in the South Wales coal trade in the 1930s saw many of the class re-allocated to other parts of the system. Due to the stability of the design, many drivers would typically operate the 56xx class down the Welsh valleys in reverse (bunker first). The placement of the trailing wheels helped the engine enter the curves better than if operated in the other direction. Typically, during operation, when pulling a heavy load the tanks were operated bunker first, and then smokebox first on the return trips up the valleys.[11]
All the 56xx/66xx locomotives passed into British Railways ownership at nationalisation in 1948, and all remained in service until 1962, at which time they were withdrawn from service quite rapidly, with the onset of diesel traction on BR gaining momentum. All had been retired by 1965.
Withdrawal
[edit]Withdrawn from 1962 to 1966, with nos. 5605 and 6697 being the last to go.
Preservation
[edit]Several ended up in Woodham Brothers' scrapyard in Barry, South Wales, with eight of the nine preserved engines saved from Barry. The majority of the class in preservation were built at Swindon Works, three of them: 6686, 6695 & 6697 being built by Armstrong Whitworth.
As the locomotives were operated mainly in South Wales, some railfans know the Class by the nickname "Taffy Tank";[12][13] 'Taffy' being a derogatory term for someone of Welsh descent. However, the 56xx class never had this title officially, whereas the more typical examples of the Rhymney Railway's M and R classes they replaced, were arguably the original 'Taffy Tanks' of fame.
As of 2023, six members of the class have run in preservation, with three engines currently in operation, 5668 undergoing restoration from scrapyard condition at the Kent and East Sussex Railway, 6634 and 6686 both awaiting restoration from scrapyard condition at Peak Rail and the Barry Tourist Railway respectively, and 6697 on static display at Didcot Railway Centre.
The following table lists the preserved locomotives:
Number | Builder | Built | Withdrawn | Working Life | Owner | Location | Livery | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5619 | Swindon Works | March 1925 | June 1964 | 39 Years, 3 months | Telford Steam Railway | Telford Steam Railway | BR Unlined Black | In Service | |
5637 | Swindon Works | September 1925 | June 1964 | 38 Years, 9 months | 5637 Steam Locomotive Group | Swindon and Cricklade Railway | BR Lined Green | Awaiting Overhaul | Permanently based at the S & CR, awaiting 10-year Heavy General Overhaul. |
5643 | Swindon Works | October 1925 | July 1963 | 37 Years, 9 months | Furness Railway Trust | Ribble Steam Railway | BR Lined Green | Undergoing Overhaul | Currently at its home the Ribble Steam Railway, the locomotive is currently undergoing a 10 year overhaul. It is hoped to complete the overhaul in time to allow the marking of the celebration of the centenary of the locomotive in 2025. |
5668 | Swindon Works | June 1926 | September 1964 | 38 Years, 3 months | Privately owned | Kent and East Sussex Railway | Awaiting Restoration | Asbestos stripped in readiness for a boiler lift. | |
6619 | Swindon Works | January 1928 | March 1963 | 35 Years, 1 month | 6619 Ltd | Kent and East Sussex Railway | BR Unlined Black | Awaiting Overhaul | Boiler ticket expired 1 January 2015. |
6634 | Swindon Works | August 1928 | June 1964 | 35 Years, 8 months | Pete Waterman | Peak Rail | Under Restoration | Restoration was to be undertaken by the SVR but never commenced. Moved to Rowsley in Nov 2017. | |
6686 | Armstrong Whitworth | October 1928 | June 1964 | 35 Years, 6 months | Vale of Glamorgan Council | Barry Tourist Railway | Under Restoration | One of the Barry Ten. | |
6695 | Armstrong Whitworth | October 1928 | July 1964 | 35 Years, 9 months | 6695 Locomotive Ltd | Swindon and Cricklade Railway | GWR Unlined Green | Operational | Withdrawn following expiry of boiler ticket in 2015. Re-entered service on the S & CR September 2022. |
6697 | Armstrong Whitworth | October 1928 | May 1966 | 37 Years, 7 months | Didcot Railway Centre | GWR Unlined Green | On Static Display | Only member of the class not to go through Woodham Brothers' scrapyard. |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Casserley, H.C. (1960) [1955]. The Observer's Book of Railway Locomotives of Britain (Revised ed.). Frederick Warne. p. 56.
- ^ Champ, Jim (2018). An Introduction to Great Western Locomotive Development. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Transport. p. 320. ISBN 978-1-4738-7784-9. OCLC 1029234106. OL 26953051M.
- ^ Allcock, N.J.; Davies, F.K.; le Fleming, H.M.; Maskelyne, J.N.; Reed, P.J.T.; Tabor, F.J. (June 1951). White, D.E. (ed.). The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, part one: Preliminary Survey. Kenilworth: RCTS. p. 16 & table I (facing p. 17). ISBN 0-901115-17-7. OCLC 650412984.
- ^ Duggan, Jamie (30 October 2018). "GWR 56XX Class steam locomotives - Class Information". RailAdvent. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
- ^ Maidment, David (2020). Great Western, 0-6-2 Tank Classes: Absorbed and Swindon Designed Classes. Pen and Sword Transport. ISBN 978-1-5267-5205-5. OCLC 1137744949.
- ^ "5600 0-6-0T GWR Collett 5600- 5699 & 6600 – 6699". Preserved British Steam Locomotives. 17 June 2017.
- ^ Gillam, Peter (2013). "GWR 5600 Class" (PDF).
- ^ "(unknown)" (PDF). Steam Powered.
{{cite web}}
: Cite uses generic title (help)[dead link ] - ^ Allcock et al. (1968), pp. 34–35.
- ^ le Fleming, H. M. (April 1958). White, D. E. (ed.). The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, part five: Six-coupled Tank Engines. RCTS. p. E75. ISBN 0-901115-35-5. OCLC 500544510.
- ^ Haresnape, Brian (1978). Collett & Hawksworth Locomotives: A Pictorial History. Shepperton: Ian Allan. p. 38. ISBN 0-7110-0869-8.
- ^ Morgan, Keith (17 February 2002). "Latest progress on GWR Taffy Tank No. 6695 at Herston Works, Swanage". Swanage Railway News Gallery. Swanage Railway. p. 118.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty|url=
(help) - ^ "Saved loco pulls passengers again". BBC News Online. 13 February 2006. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
- Allcock, N. J.; Davies, F. K.; le Fleming, H. M.; Maskelyne, J. N.; Reed, P. J. T.; Tabor, F. J. (1968) [1951]. White, D. E. (ed.). The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, part one: Preliminary Survey. Kenilworth: RCTS.
External links
[edit]- 5600 class (Great Western Archive)
- No. 5637 (5637 Steam Locomotive Group)
- No. 5643 (Furness Railway Trust)
- No. 6619 (Kent & East Sussex Railway)
- No. 6695 (Swanage Railway)