GWR 4000 Class

The Great Western Railway 4000 or Star were a class of 4-cylinder 4-6-0 passenger steam locomotives designed by George Jackson Churchward for the Great Western Railway (GWR) in 1906 and introduced from early 1907. The prototype was built as a 4-4-2 Atlantic (but converted to 4-6-0 during 1909). They proved to be a successful design which handled the heaviest long-distance express trains, reaching top speeds of 90 mph (145 km/h), and established the design principles for GWR 4-cylinder classes over the next twenty-five years.[1]

Great Western Railway 4000 Star class
4003 Lode Star.
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerGeorge Jackson Churchward
BuilderGWR Swindon Works
Order numberLots 161, 168, 173, 178, 180, 195, 199, 217
Build date1906–1923
Total produced73
Specifications
Configuration:
  Whyte4-6-0 (prototype built as 4-4-2 but rebuilt to 4-6-0 1909).
  UIC2′C h4
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia.3 ft 2 in (0.965 m)
Driver dia.6 ft 8+12 in (2.045 m)
Trailing dia.4 ft 1+12 in (1.257 m) (4-4-2 only)
WheelbaseLoco: 27 ft 3 in (8.31 m)
Loco weight75.8 long tons (77.0 t; 84.9 short tons)
Tender weight40 long tons (41 t; 45 short tons)
Water cap.3,500 or 4,000 imp gal (16,000 or 18,000 L; 4,200 or 4,800 US gal)
Firebox:
  Firegrate area
27.1 sq ft (2.52 m2)
BoilerGWR Standard No. 1 (with variations)
Boiler pressure225 psi (1.55 MPa)
Heating surface:
  Tubes
1,686.6 sq ft (156.69 m2)
  Firebox154.8 sq ft (14.38 m2)
Superheater"Swindon No. 3"
Cylinders4, (2 outside, 2 inside)
Cylinder size14+14 in × 26 in (362 mm × 660 mm) -
15 in × 26 in (381 mm × 660 mm)
Valve gearWalschaerts inside
Valve typePiston valves
Performance figures
Tractive effort25,090 lbf (111.61 kN) - 27,800 lbf (123.66 kN)
Career
Operators
Class4000 or Star
Power class
Numbers4000–4072
Axle load classGWR: Red
Withdrawn1926–1957
15 rebuilt as Castle class, 1 preserved, remainder scrapped.

Background

After finally converting the last broad gauge lines in 1892, the GWR began a period of modernisation as new cut-off lines shortened its routes to west of England, South Wales and Birmingham. During the first decade of the twentieth century, the new Chief Mechanical Engineer, George Jackson Churchward designed or acquired a number of experimental locomotives with different wheel arrangements and boiler designs to help him plan for the future motive power needs of the railway.[2] Following the success of the prototypes of his two-cylinder Saint class 4-6-0 locomotives, introduced in 1902, Churchward became interested in developing a more powerful 4-cylinder type for the longer non-stop express services. He therefore persuaded the GWR to acquire three French 4-cylinder 4-4-2 compound locomotives, 102 La France (1904) and 103 President and 104 Alliance (both 1905) for comparison purposes.

Prototype

Star class prototype No. 40 as built as a 4-4-2

In addition to acquiring the French compound locomotives Churchward built and tested his own prototype 4-cylinder locomotive simple-expansion locomotive, No. 40 North Star in 1906. As with some early members of the Saint class it was built as a 4-4-2 but designed so that it could easily be converted to a 4-6-0. It was completed at the Swindon Works of the GWR (Lot 161) in April 1906.[3] It was numbered 40 and later that year was named 'North Star'. In November 1909 it was converted to 4-6-0. The new design incorporated many ideas from the French locomotives, in particular, the four-cylinder layout, with the inside cylinders placed forward under the smokebox and the outside cylinders placed far back, in line with the rear wheels of the bogie; from this followed the divided drive with the outside cylinders connected to the second set of driving wheels whilst the inside cylinders were connected to the front set of driving wheels.[4] The valve gear was an unusual design, called scissors gear, which eschewed the use of eccentrics, but was basically a variation on Walschaerts gear. The prototype locomotive was rebuilt as a member of the Castle Class in November 1929.

Production series

During initial trials the prototype proved to be largely successful although Charles Rous-Marten commented that 'there were indications that with heavier loads, and less favourable weather, greater adhesion would be needed.'[5] The production series were therefore all built with a 4-6-0 wheel arrangement. They also had inside Walschaerts valve gear rather than the scissors gear.[6] Seven series of what would later be known as 'Star Class' locomotives built between 1907 and 1923 each of which contained detailed differences from the others

Table of orders and numbers[7]
YearQuantityLot No.Works Nos.Locomotive numbersNotes
19061161216840Built as 4-4-2; rebuilt to 4-6-0 in 1909; renumbered 4000 in 1912
1907101682229–22384001–4010Star series
1908101732300–23094011–4020Knight series
1909101782365–23744021–4030King series (Monarch series from 1927)
1910–11101802380–23894031–4040Queen series
191351952536–25404041–4045Prince series
1914151992572–25864046–4060Princess series
1922–23122172919–29264061–4072Abbey series

Star series

First series No. 4003 Lode Star, at Tyseley Locomotive Works

The first series of ten locomotives were built at Swindon in 1907 (Lot 168) numbered 4001–4010 and named after well-known Stars, perpetuating the names of the earlier broad gauge GWR Star Class of 1838.[6] All except for No. 4010 Western Star were built without superheaters. No. 4010 received a 'Swindon No. 1' superheater and the remainder received superheated boilers between August 1909 and October 1912. No. 4009 Shooting Star was rebuilt as a member of the Castle Class in April 1925. The surviving members of the series were withdrawn 1932–1951, although No. 4003 Lode Star was preserved.

Knight series

A second series of ten similar locomotives appeared in 1908 (Swindon Lot 173), with improved bogies, numbered 4011–4020 and named after historical knights. Nos. 4011 was built with a Swindon No. 1 superheater, the remainder were fitted with the standard No.3 superheater between 1909 and 1911.[6] They were withdrawn between 1932 and 1951.

King series

No. 4025 - after the name Italian Monarch was removed in 1940

A third series of ten further locomotives appeared during 1909 (Swindon Lot 178), numbered 4021–4030 and named after British Kings. The framing for these had curved ends under the cab and over the cylinders. In June 1909, No. 4021 King Edward was built with a Swindon No. 3 superheater but the remainder had saturated steam boilers until 1910–13.[8] King Edward notably hauled the funeral train for the funeral of King Edward VII on 20 May 1910; the mourners included nine kings and emperors, the largest number of crowned monarchs ever to travel in the same train.[9] The class were all renamed during 1927 to allow for their names to be used on the new King Class. Instead, they were given names of a country followed by the word 'Monarch' (e.g. The Norwegian Monarch). However, several of the names relating to enemy countries were removed during the Second World War (1940-1). They were all withdrawn between 1934 and 1952.

Queen series

No. 4034 Queen Adelaide

A fourth series of ten further locomotives appeared during 1910 and 1911 (Swindon Lot 180). They were numbered 4031–4040 and named after British Queens. This series (and subsequent members of the class) were all built with a Swindon No. 3 superheater.[8] This series was fitted with new style 3,500 imp gal (16,000 L; 4,200 US gal) tenders. Two examples (No. 4032 Queen Alexandra and No. 4037 Queen Philippa) were rebuilt as Castle class locomotives in 1926. The remainder were withdrawn by British Railways between 1950 and 1952.

Prince series

Five further locomotives appeared in 1913 (Swindon Lot 195). These were numbered 4041–4045 and named after the sons of King George V. No. 4041 was built with enlarged 15 in × 26 in (381 mm × 660 mm) diameter cylinders giving a tractive effort of 27,800 lbf (123.66 kN). Once this was proved to be beneficial, this size gradually became the standard for the class, as they visited the works for their periodic overhaul.[8] The boilers were given top-feed apparatus which also later became standard for the whole class.[10] The locomotives were all withdrawn by British Railways between 1950 and 1953.

Princess series

No. 4049 Princess Maud

The GWR experienced a substantial growth in long-distance passenger traffic immediately before the First World War requiring a further series of fifteen locomotives during the first six months of 1914 (Swindon Lot 199).[11] These were numbered 4046–4060 and named after British princesses. They were all built with 15 in (381 mm) diameter cylinders and had improved boilers compared to the previous batch.[8] They also introduced an improved four-cone vacuum ejector made necessary to improve braking on the increasingly long passenger trains.[11] The locomotives were all withdrawn by British Railways between 1950 and 1957.

Abbey series

4061 Glastonbury Abbey

A final batch of twelve further locomotives appeared in 1922-1923 (Swindon Lot 217). These were numbered 4061–4072 and were named after famous Abbeys in the GWR territory. They were built with improved crank axles.[8] In 1937 Nos. 4063–4072 were all rebuilt as Castle Class locomotives, being renumbered 5083–5092 but retaining their original names. The remaining two locomotives were withdrawn by British Railways in 1956 and 1957.

Trials

The class was criticised in letters to The Engineer for being expensive to build and maintain and Churchward was asked by his Directors to explain why 'the London and North Western Railway could build three 4-6-0 locomotives for the cost of two of his.' His response was 'Because one of mine could pull two of their bloody things backwards'.[12] As a result, there were exchange trials proposed by Churchward with a LNWR Whale Experiment Class during August 1910 which vindicated the Star Class in terms of performance and coal consumption.

Performance

Members of the class performed well as passenger locomotives over all the long-distance routes of the GWR on the fastest express trains and those requiring the longest distance between stops. They gradually became displaced to secondary services by members of the Castle and King classes in the late 1920s and 1930s. Survivors continued to perform well until the mid-1950s. The 4000 class became a template for two later famous GWR 4-cylinder 4-6-0 classes - the Castle and King Class.[13] According to le Fleming "their performance was consistently of the highest standard and they were remarkable free-running engines which rarely suffered breakdown in service. ... No engines were more aptly named than the 'Stars.'"[14]

Modifications

As already noted, between 1925 and 1940 Churchward's successor Charles Collett ordered fifteen examples to be dismantled and their parts used in the construction of new Castle class locomotives. Throughout their careers the remainder of the class was subject to detailed modifications and improvements to their boilers, smokeboxes, and steam pipes so that "the only period when the appearance of the class was approximately uniform was from 1925 to 1927".[15] 4,000 imp gal (18,000 L; 4,800 US gal) tenders were also fitted from 1938 onwards.

Preservation

One example No. 4003 Lode Star has been preserved, after it was finally withdrawn in 1951, having covered 2,005,898 miles. The locomotive was preserved at Swindon railway works until 1962, then in the Museum of the Great Western Railway until transferred to the National Railway Museum in York in 1992, where it was a static non-working exhibit. In 2010 Lode Star was moved to Steam Museum in Swindon, as a static non-working exhibit. In November 2015, 4003 was moved back to the National Railway Museum.

In August 2022 the Great Western Society's 4709 group bought the GWR 4073 Class 7027 Thornbury Castle, with the intention of using the boiler to recreate a GWR 4700 Class. A few days after the purchase the 4709 group stated that Thornbury Castle's chassis and other components were to be used to recreate a GWR Star class locomotive, and eventually rebuilding it back into Thornbury Castle.[16] However, in September of 2022, those plans were cancelled.[17]

List of locomotives

No.First nameSecond nameThird name Date builtDate withdrawnNotes
40
4000
North Star Apr 1906Nov 1929Renumbered December 1912, rebuilt as Castle Class 4000
4001
Dog Star Feb 1907Jan 1934
4002
Evening Star Mar 1907Jun 1933
Lode Star Feb 1907Jul 1951Preserved at Museum of the Great Western Railway, Swindon
4004
Morning Star Feb 1907Apr 1948
4005
Polar Star Feb 1907Nov 1934
4006
Red Star Apr 1907Nov 1932
4007
Rising StarSwallowfield Park Apr 1907Sep 1951Renamed May 1937
4008
Royal Star May 1907Jun 1935
4009
Shooting Star May 1907Apr 1925Rebuilt as Castle Class 4009
4010
Western Star May 1907Nov 1934
4011
Knight of the Garter Mar 1908Nov 1932
4012
Knight of the Thistle Mar 1908Oct 1949
4013
Knight of St. Patrick Mar 1908May 1950
4014
Knight of the Bath Mar 1908Jun 1946
4015
Knight of St. John Mar 1908Feb 1951
4016
Knight of the Golden Fleece Apr 1908Oct 1925Rebuilt as Castle Class 4016
4017
Knight of the Black Eagle Knight of LiègeKnight of Liége Apr 1908Nov 1949Renamed August 1914; name adjusted c.1925 from French to Belgian spelling
4018
Knight of the Grand Cross Apr 1908Apr 1951
4019
Knight Templar May 1908Oct 1949
4020
Knight Commander May 1908Mar 1951
4021
King EdwardThe British MonarchBritish Monarch Jun 1909Oct 1952Renamed June 1927 and October 1927
4022
King WilliamThe Belgian MonarchBelgian Monarch Jun 1909Feb 1952Renamed June 1927 and October 1927, name removed May 1940
4023
King GeorgeThe Danish MonarchDanish Monarch Jun 1909Jul 1952Renamed July 1927 and October 1927, name removed November 1940
4024
King JamesThe Dutch MonarchDutch Monarch Jun 1909Feb 1935Renamed September 1927 and November 1927
4025
King CharlesItalian Monarch Jul 1909Aug 1950Renamed October 1927, name removed June 1940
4026
King RichardThe Japanese MonarchJapanese Monarch Sep 1909Feb 1950Renamed July 1927 and November 1927, name removed January 1941
4027
King HenryThe Norwegian MonarchNorwegian Monarch Sep 1909Oct 1934Renamed July 1927 and November 1927
4028
King JohnThe Romanian MonarchRomanian Monarch Sep 1909Nov 1951Renamed July 1927 and November 1927, name removed November 1940
4029
King StephenThe Spanish MonarchSpanish Monarch Oct 1909Nov 1934Renamed July 1927 and November 1927
4030
King HaroldThe Swedish MonarchSwedish Monarch Oct 1909May 1950Renamed July 1927 and November 1927, name removed November 1940
4031
Queen Mary Oct 1910Jun 1951
4032
Queen Alexandra Oct 1910Apr 1926Rebuilt as Castle Class 4032
4033
Queen Victoria Nov 1910Jun 1951
4034
Queen Adelaide Nov 1910Sep 1952
4035
Queen Charlotte Nov 1910Oct 1951
4036
Queen Elizabeth Dec 1910Mar 1952
4037
Queen Philippa Dec 1910Jun 1926Rebuilt as Castle Class 4037, renamed 'The South Wales Borderers'
4038
Queen Berengaria Jan 1911Apr 1952
4039
Queen Matilda Feb 1911Nov 1950
4040
Queen Boadicea Mar 1911Jun 1951
4041
Prince of Wales Jun 1913Apr 1951
4042
Prince Albert May 1913Nov 1951
4043
Prince Henry May 1913Jan 1952
4044
Prince George May 1913Feb 1953
4045
Prince John Jun 1913Nov 1950
4046
Princess Mary May 1914Nov 1951
4047
Princess Louise May 1914Jul 1951
4048
Princess Victoria May 1914Jan 1953
4049
Princess Maud May 1914Jul 1953
4050
Princess Alice Jun 1914Feb 1952
4051
Princess Helena Jun 1914Oct 1950
4052
Princess Beatrice Jun 1914Jun 1953
4053
Princess Alexandra Jun 1914Jul 1954
4054
Princess Charlotte Jun 1914Feb 1952
4055
Princess Sophia Jul 1914Feb 1951
4056
Princess Margaret Jul 1914Oct 1957Briefly seen at 'Mallingford' station in the 1953 Ealing Comedy film "The Titfield Thunderbolt"
4057
Princess Elizabeth Jul 1914Feb 1952
4058
Princess Augusta Jul 1914Apr 1951
4059
Princess Patricia Jul 1914Sep 1952
4060
Princess Eugenie Jul 1914Oct 1952
4061
Glastonbury Abbey May 1922Mar 1957
4062
Malmesbury Abbey May 1922Nov 1956
4063
Bath Abbey Nov 1922Jun 1937Rebuilt as Castle Class 5083
4064
Reading Abbey Dec 1922Apr 1937Rebuilt as Castle Class 5084
4065
Evesham Abbey Dec 1922Jul 1939Rebuilt as Castle Class 5085
4066
Malvern Abbey Sir Robert Horne Viscount Horne Dec 1922Dec 1937Rebuilt as Castle Class 5086
4067
Tintern Abbey Jan 1923Nov 1940Rebuilt as Castle Class 5087
4068
Llanthony Abbey Jan 1923Feb 1939Rebuilt as Castle Class 5088
4069
Margam AbbeyWestminster Abbey Jan 1923Oct 1939Renamed 1923. Rebuilt as Castle Class 5089
4070
Neath Abbey Feb 1923Apr 1939Rebuilt as Castle Class 5090
4071
Cleeve Abbey Feb 1923Dec 1938Rebuilt as Castle Class 5091
4072
Tresco Abbey Feb 1923Apr 1938Rebuilt as Castle Class 5092

Accidents and incidents

  • On 15 April 1923, locomotive No. 4048 Princess Victoria was hauling a freight train that was in a head-on collision with a passenger train, hauled by GWR 517 Class 0-4-2T No. 215, at Curry Rivel, Somerset due to a signalman's error. Nine people were injured.[18]

References

  1. Train: The Definitive Visual History. DK Publishing. 2014. p. 97. ISBN 1465436588. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  2. Nock 1980, p. 11
  3. le Fleming 1953, p. H6
  4. Nock 1983, p. 154
  5. Nock 1980, p. 29
  6. le Fleming 1953, p. H7
  7. Allcock et al. (1968), pp. 30–32.
  8. le Fleming 1953, p. H8
  9. Maggs, Colin (2011). The Branch Lines of Berkshire. Stroud, Gloucestershire: Amberley Publishing. p. 10. ISBN 978-1848683471.
  10. Nock 1980, p. 51
  11. Nock 1980, pp. 51–2
  12. Nock 1980, p. 48
  13. le Fleming 1953, p. H4
  14. le Fleming 1953, p. H10
  15. le Fleming 1953, p. H9
  16. Perton, Paul (15 August 2022). "Breathing new life into Thornbury Castle — 4709 – The Ultimate British 2–8–0". 4709 – The Ultimate British 2–8–0. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  17. Holden, Michael (26 September 2022). "Great Western Society to 'consider' offers for steam locomotive 7027 Thornbury Castle". RailAdvent. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  18. Vaughan 1989, pp. 29–32.
  • 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.
  • le Fleming, H.M. (July 1953). White, D.E. (ed.). The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway. Part 8. Modern Passenger Classes (1st ed.). Kenilworth: The Railway Correspondence and Travel Society. ISBN 0-901115-19-3. OCLC 500544523.
  • Nock, O. S. (1983). British Locomotives of the 20th Century Vol.1. London: Book Club Associates.
  • Nock, O. S. (1980). The GWR Stars, Castles and Kings. London: Book Club Associates.
  • Vaughan, Adrian (1989). Obstruction Danger. Wellingborough: Patrick Stephens Limited. ISBN 1-85260-055-1.

Models

Hornby produce an OO scale model of 4003 Lode Star.

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