BR Standard Class 4 2-6-0

The BR Standard Class 4 2-6-0 is a class of steam locomotive designed by Robert Riddles for British Railways (BR). 115 locomotives were built to this standard.

BR Standard Class 4 2-6-0
A Standard 4MT 2-6-0 at Salisbury in 1963.
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerR. A. Riddles
BuilderBR Horwich (45)
Doncaster (25)
Derby Works (45)
Build dateDecember 1952 – November 1957
Total produced115
Specifications
Configuration:
  Whyte2-6-0
  UIC1′C h2
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Leading dia.3 ft 0 in (0.914 m)
Driver dia.5 ft 3 in (1.600 m)
Length60 ft 0 in (18.29 m)
Width8 ft 9+12 in (2.68 m)
Height13 ft 0 in (3.96 m)
Axle loadLoco:
16.95 long tons (17.22 t; 18.98 short tons)
BR1B tender:
17.1 long tons (17.4 t; 19.2 short tons)
Adhesive weight50.45 long tons (51.26 t; 56.50 short tons)
Loco weight59.75 long tons (60.71 t; 66.92 short tons)
Tender weightBR1B: 49.15 long tons (49.94 t; 55.05 short tons)
BR2/BR2A:
42.15 long tons (42.83 t; 47.21 short tons)
Tender typeBR1B (17), BR2 (45), BR2A (53)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacityBR1B: 7 long tons (7.1 t; 7.8 short tons)
BR2/BR2A: 6.00 long tons (6.10 t; 6.72 short tons)
Water cap.BR1B: 4,250 imp gal (19,300 L; 5,100 US gal)
BR2/BR2A: 3,500 imp gal (16,000 L; 4,200 US gal)
Firebox:
  Firegrate area
23 sq ft (2.1 m2)
BoilerBR7
Boiler pressure225 psi (1.55 MPa)
Heating surface:
  Tubes and flues
1,075 sq ft (99.9 m2)
  Firebox131 sq ft (12.2 m2)
Superheater:
  Heating area247 sq ft (22.9 m2)
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size17.5 in × 26 in (444 mm × 660 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort24,170 lbf (107.5 kN)
Factor of adh.4.68
Career
OperatorsBritish Railways
Power class4MT
Numbers76000–76114
Axle load classRoute Availability 4
WithdrawnMay 1964 – December 1967
DispositionFour preserved, remainder scrapped

Design and construction

The class was designed at the ex-LNER works at Doncaster which was also responsible for building 25 of the 115-strong class. The remaining 90 were split between Horwich and Derby Works.

The last in the series, No.76114, was also the final steam engine to be constructed at the 'Plant' (as Doncaster works was known). The Standard Four Mogul was essentially a standardised version of the LMS Ivatt Class 4, and was primarily intended for freight use.

Although a BR Standard, the 4 2-6-0 class did not have the same design of wheels as the Swindon-built 82XXX and 77XXX Class 3 engines which also had 5-foot-3-inch (1.600 m) driving wheels, yet all three locomotive classes share the same cylinder casting.

The cylinder covers of engines built early in the programme of construction were fitted with "screw-in" type pressure relief valves. From September 1955 revised cylinder covers were introduced for renewals incorporating "bolt-on" type pressure relief valves.[1]

Operation

With its 5-foot-3-inch (1.60 m) diameter driving wheels this sixth of the BR standard designs was clearly biased towards freight working. An axle-loading of only 16 long tons 15 cwt (37,500 lb or 17 t) meant its route availability was virtually unrestricted. Batches were allocated to every BR region except the Western.[2]

Eastern Region

The Eastern Region divided its 15 between two London depots. Five went to Stratford on the ex-Great Eastern section, and the remainder to the one-time Great Central depot at Neasden. Made redundant by dieselisation the Stratford engines were transferred to the Southern and arrived at Brighton. The Neasden engines also in due course departed the capital, in this case for Chester and ex-Cambrian Railways territory. One Eastern locomotive was 76034 which was fitted with a tablet catcher for running over the M&GN lines in East Anglia.

London Midland Region

76041 at Marylebone station in 1961 (the GCML having been transferred to the LMR in 1958).

Apart from a pair allocated to Leicester, most of the London Midland Region's batch of 15 spent their working lives in the Liverpool, Manchester and Preston areas. Some were allocated to the Nottingham area, and took over the working of the afternoon 16:45 fish train ex Grimsby from 4F 0-6-0s.

North Eastern Region

76023 at Sunderland MPD.

At first the North Eastern Region scattered its 13-strong allocation far and wide: Darlington, Gateshead, Hull, Sunderland and York. Later all were concentrated at either Kirkby Stephen or West Auckland to work over the Stainmore route whose viaducts had severe weight restrictions. Like their small cousins the 2MT 2-6-0 class the Moguls were ideal for working the line. They worked coal trains as well as passenger services and were a regular choice for excursions from Tyneside to the Lancashire coast resorts.

Scottish Region

Thirty-five units were allocated to the Scottish Region, used on the Waverley Line between Carlisle and Hawick. Others appeared on the 'Port Road' from Dumfries to Stranraer. The Scottish examples were mainly concentrated in Ayrshire and around Glasgow, and at one time Corkerhill depot was home to ten of the class. Five units were based in Aberdeen and three went to Thornton in Fife.

Southern Region

76064 (left) and 76065 (right) at Salisbury in 1963.

The Southern moguls (originally 37) were also concentrated in one area around Eastleigh, Southampton and Bournemouth. They were used between Portsmouth, Salisbury and Cardiff, Reading to Redhill, Brighton to Bournemouth and over the Swanage branch. Their most celebrated duty was the London Waterloo to Lymington boat train. However this had nothing to do with the engines' capabilities; it was simply that among tender engines only a 2-6-0 or 4-4-0 could fit on the turntable at Brockenhurst. In the last few years of steam operation on the 'Southern' a few examples were allocated to Guildford shed before moving on to Feltham shed in south-west London.

All 17 locomotives equipped with the BR1B high-sided tender were allocated to the Southern Region. The BR1B tender had a higher axle load than the locomotives.

Withdrawal

Table of withdrawals
YearIn service at
start of year
Withdrawn
during year
Locomotive numbersNotes
1964115776028 /29/32/34/54/72/97
19651081476015 /17/23/25/27/30/50/55/56/60/62/65
76107 /12
76017 preserved
1966945676001 /03/04/10/11/12/13/14/16/18/19/20/21/22/24/35/38/42/43/44/45/47/49
76052 /53/57/59/61/70/71/73/74/76/78/82/83/85/86/89/90/91/92/96/99
76100 /01/02/03/05/06/08/09/10/11/13/14
1967383776000 /02/05/06/07/08/09/26/31/33/36/37/39/40/41/46/48/51/58
76063 /64/66/67/69/75/77/79/80/81/84/87/88/93/94/95/98
76104
76077, 76079 and 76084 preserved
19681176068

Accidents and incidents

  • On 23 September 1954, locomotive No. 76017 was hauling a freight train that overran signals and was derailed by trap points at Whitchurch Town station, Hampshire.[3]
  • In December 1957, locomotive No. 76016 was hauling a freight train that overran signals and was derailed by trap points at Woodhay station, Hampshire.[3]
  • On 12 February 1960, locomotive No. 76026 was hauling a freight train that overran signals and was derailed by trap points at Whitchurch Town station.[3]

Preservation

Four engines have survived into preservation, all four built at Horwich Works and rescued from Woodham Brothers scrapyard at Barry Island. Three members of the class have steamed so far in preservation but 76077 has yet to do so and is at present undergoing restoration from scrapyard condition. As of September 2023, no members of the class are mainline certified. All three engines that have run in preservation have been on the main line, but only two have hauled railtours, 76079 and 76084. On 13 October 2022, 76017 was moved by rail from its home at the Watercress Line to the Bluebell Railway.[4]

76079's main career on the main line was when it was owned by Ian Riley in Bury, Lancashire, but it was eventually sold to the NYMR. After completion of its most recent overhaul in 2014 it once again had a mainline certificate but was restricted between Battersby and Whitby on the Esk Valley Line. 76084 meanwhile, was certified to operate over the national network hauling railtours alongside passenger runs along the Bittern Line and the Esk Valley Line.

BR No. TOPS No. (if applicable) Built Withdrawn Service life Home base Owner Livery Tender Attached Status Mainline Certified Image Notes
76017 98417 May 1953 Jul 1965 12 Years, 1 month Carnforth MPD John Bunch BR Lined Black, Early Emblem BR2A Operational. Boiler Ticket Expires: 2026. No, to be certified Recently changed ownership following death of previous owner.[5]
76077 - Dec 1956 Dec 1967 11 Years Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Toddington Standard Locomotive Limited N/A Under Restoration from scrapyard condition No Fundraising for the boiler overhaul is underway and the tender pattern is confirmed as being a BR2A pattern.

Restoration anticipated for completion in 2026.[6]

76079 98476 Feb 1957 Dec 1967 10 Years, 10 months North Yorkshire Moors Railway North Yorkshire Moors Railway BR Lined Black, Early Emblem Stored No Withdrawn for overhaul due to issues with boiler.[7]

Currently stored in Pickering carriage shed.[8]

76084 98484 Apr 1957 Dec 1967 10 Years, 8 months North Norfolk Railway 76084 Locomotive Company Limited BR Lined Black, Early Emblem Operational. Boiler Ticket Expires: Dec 2023. No (2016 - 2023) Shortly due to be withdrawn for 10 year overhaul. [9]

Models

The erstwhile Kitmaster company produced an unpowered polystyrene injection moulded model kit for 00 gauge. In late 1962, the Kitmaster brand was sold by its parent company (Rosebud Dolls) to Airfix, who transferred the moulding tools to their own factory; they re-introduced some of the former Kitmaster range, including this locomotive. In time, the moulding tools passed on to Dapol who have also produced the model kit.[10]

Bachmann produces a ready-to-run model in both 00 and N gauge.[11]

Sound

  • 76079 Between Egton and Grosmont
  • 76079 departing from Grosmont

Footnotes

  1. Rear cylinder cover SL/SW/35 being superseded by SL/SW/666 and front cylinder cover SL/SW/85 being superseded by SL/SW/667 for renewals from September 1955
  2. Duggan, Jamie (29 June 2018). "BR Standard 4s (4-6-0, 2-6-0 and 2-6-4T) steam locomotives - Class Information". RailAdvent. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  3. Bishop, Bill (1984). Off the Rails. Southampton: Kingfisher. pp. 55–65. ISBN 0-946184-06-2.
  4. "Light Engine Movement (Alton MHR - East Grinstead)". RailAdvent. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  5. Mogul goes Mainline to Southall Heritage Railway Magazine issue 301 December 2022 page 16
  6. The Roster, loco information on 76077's restoration Steam Railway issue 550 October 2023 page 38
  7. 76079 withdrawn owing to issues with flue ends requiring new tubeplate Steam Railway issue 548 August 2023 page 39
  8. "British Railways 2-6-0 No. 76079". Steam Locomotive Information. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  9. Smith, Roger (15 September 2023). "Norfolk railway to say farewell to steam locomotive this October". RailAdvent. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  10. Knight, Stephen (1999). Let's Stick Together: An Appreciation of Kitmaster and Airfix Railway Kits. Clopthill: Irwell Press. ISBN 1-871608-90-2.
  11. "Catalogue No 32-952A". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2020.

Bibliography

  • A Detailed History of BR Standard Steam Locomotives, - Vol 2 - The 4-6-0 and 2-6-0 Classes. RCTS ISBN 0-901115-93-2
  • Bradley, Rodger P. (1984). The Standard Steam Locomotives of British Railways. David & Charles. ISBN 0715383841.
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