G&SWR 403 Class

The Glasgow and South Western Railway (G&SWR) 403 (or 'Austrian Goods') Class was a class of 2-6-0 (mogul) steam locomotive designed by Peter Drummond, of which 11 were built in 1915 by the North British Locomotive Company at its Queens Park works. Originally built as the 403 class, as a result of renumbering they became known as the 33 Class in 1916 and then 51 Class in 1919, before passing to the London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) on its formation in 1923, where they were given power classification 4F.

Glasgow and South Western Railway 403 class
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerPeter Drummond
BuilderNorth British Locomotive Co., Queen's Park Works, Glasgow
Serial number21172–21182
Build date1915
Total produced11
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-6-0
 • UIC1′C h2
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia.3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Driver dia.5 ft 0 in (1,524 mm)
Wheelbase
  • 06 ft 6 in (1.98 m) +
  • 08 ft 1 in (2.46 m) +
  • 09 ft 0 in (2.74 m) =
  • 23 ft 7 in (7.19 m)
Length58 ft (17.68 m)
Loco weight62 long tons (63.0 t; 69.4 short tons)
Fuel typeCoal
Water cap.3,970 imp gal (18,000 L; 4,770 US gal)
Boiler pressure180 psi (1.24 MPa)
Heating surface1,491 sq ft (138.5 m2)
Superheater:
​
 • TypeRobinson
 • Heating area211 sq ft (19.6 m2)
CylindersTwo
Cylinder size19+1⁄2 in × 26 in (495 mm × 660 mm)
Valve gearStephenson
Performance figures
Tractive effort25,210 lbf (112.14 kN)
Career
ClassG&SWR 403, 33, 51
LMS: 4F
Retired1935–1947
DispositionAll scrapped

These freight-traffic locomotives were given the nickname Austrian Goods. The nickname was acquired because when the locomotives were delivered it was rumoured that they had been built from materials that NBL had gathered for a contract for Austria which was cancelled when World War I broke out. However, this rumour was unfounded as the design was entirely Drummond's and there is no evidence of any Austrian contract.[1]

History

The class was a development of Drummond's earlier 279 Class 0-6-0, fitted with superheating, pony trucks and numerous other improvements. They were far more successful than the 279s, being free-running and remarkably economical in coal and water. However, there were some reliability problems, notably with the design of the big ends and they were not considered suitable for passenger duties except in emergencies at reduced speed.[2]

The locomotives were initially allocated to the G&SWR's Carlisle Currock shed for goods trains to Glasgow, Greenock, and Ayrshire. Under LMS ownership they were transferred to the former Caledonian Railway shed at Carlisle Kingmoor, after which they were also used on runs over the Caledonian main line and occasionally the Settle-Carlisle Line. As new LMS 'Crab' 2-6-0s took over their duties in the early 1930s most were displaced from Kingmoor to various LMS sheds throughout Scotland, with some even operating from Inverness for a time.[3]

In addition to their fuel economy, the type had the significant advantage that unlike most G&SWR locomotives it was possible to fit a Caledonian Railway type boiler. This saved them from being withdrawn by the LMS as non-standard as soon as their boilers became due for replacement.[4] The class, therefore, outlived all other G&SWR tender locomotive types, being withdrawn between 1935 and 1947. All of them were scrapped.

Numbering
Table of locomotives[5][6]
GSWR (original) no. GSWR (1915/16) no. GSWR (1919) no. LMS no. Builder's no. Delivered Withdrawn
403 33 52 17821 NBL 21172 Sep 1915 Sep 1946
404 34 53 17822 NBL 21173 Sep 1915 Apr 1944
405 92 55 17824 NBL 21174 Sep 1915 Sep 1935
406 93 56 17825 NBL 21175 Sep 1915 Nov 1936
407 94 57 17826 NBL 21176 Sep 1915 Nov 1945
408 99 58 17827 NBL 21177 Sep 1915 Apr 1938
409 16 51 17820 NBL 21178 Nov 1915 Jan 1938
410 61 54 17823 NBL 21179 Oct 1915 Dec 1936
116 116 59 17828 NBL 21180 Nov 1915 Dec 1935
117 117 60 17829 NBL 21181 Nov 1915 Mar 1947
121 121 61 17830 NBL 21182 Nov 1915 Nov 1938

References
  1. Smith (1976), p. 126.
  2. Smith (1976), pp. 127–128.
  3. Smith (1976), p. 127.
  4. Essery & Jenkinson (1986), p. 167.
  5. Smith (1976), pp. 179–180.
  6. Baxter (1984), p. 167.
  • Baxter, Bertram (1984). Baxter, David (ed.). British Locomotive Catalogue 1825–1923, Volume 4: Scottish and remaining English Companies in the LMS Group. Ashbourne, Derbyshire: Moorland Publishing Company. p. 167.
  • Casserley, H.C.; Johnson, Stuart W. (1974) [1966]. Locomotives at the Grouping 3, London Midland and Scottish Railway. Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allan Limited. ISBN 0-7110-0554-0.
  • Essery, Bob; Jenkinson, David (1986). An Illustrated History of L.M.S. Locomotives, Volume Three: Absorbed Pre-Group Classes, Northern Division. Poole: Oxford Publishing Co.
  • Highet, Campbell (1965). The Glasgow & South-Western Railway. Lingfield: Oakwood Press.
  • Smith, David L. (1976). Locomotives of the Glasgow and South Western Railway. Newton Abbot: David & Charles.
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