BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4T

The British Railways Standard Class 4 tank is a class of steam locomotive, one of the BR standard classes built during the 1950s. They were used primarily on commuter and outer suburban services. They were capable of reaching speeds of 75 mph (113 km/h).[1]

BR standard class 4 tank
80137 at Neasden MPD in March 1957.
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerR.A. Riddles
BuilderBrighton Works (130)
Derby Works (15)
Doncaster Works (10)
Build dateJuly 1951 – November 1956
Total produced155
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-6-4T
 • UIC1′C2′ h2t
Gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Leading dia.3 ft 0 in (0.914 m)
Driver dia.5 ft 8 in (1.727 m)
Trailing dia.3 ft 0 in (0.914 m)
Length44 ft 10 in (13.67 m)
Width8 ft 9 1⁄4 in (2.67 m)
Height13 ft 0 in (3.96 m)
Axle load17.95 long tons (18.24 t; 20.10 short tons)
Adhesive weight53.05 long tons (53.90 t; 59.42 short tons)
Loco weight86.65 long tons (88.04 t; 97.05 short tons)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity3.50 long tons (3.56 t; 3.92 short tons)
Water cap2,000 imp gal (9,100 l; 2,400 US gal)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		26.7 sq ft (2.48 m2)
BoilerABR5
Boiler pressure225 psi (1.55 MPa)
Heating surface:
 • Tubes and flues		143 sq ft (13.3 m2)
 • Firebox1,223 sq ft (113.6 m2)
Superheater:
​
 • Heating area240 sq ft (22 m2)
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size18 in × 28 in (457 mm × 711 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort25,515 lbf (113.5 kN)
Factor of adh.4.65
Career
OperatorsBritish Railways
Power class4MT
Numbers80000–80154
Axle load classRoute availability 5
WithdrawnJuly 1962 – July 1967
Disposition15 preserved, remainder scrapped

Background

On the nationalisation of British Railways (BR) in 1948, the London Midland Region had a number of ex-London, Midland and Scottish Railway 2-6-4T and the Western Region a number of GWR Large Prairie 2-6-2T types. These tank engines were particularly suited to commuter and secondary services. However, particularly in Scotland and the Southern Region, the situation was not so good, with large numbers of pre-grouping types struggling on.

Design and construction
BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4T engine no. 80118 at Guisborough railway station, 1950s

On the decision to build the BR standard series of locomotives, a series of class four tank engines was ordered, based on the ex-LMS Fairburn 2-6-4T with some modifications. The lineage of the class could therefore be tracked through the LMS/BR Class 4 2-6-4T locomotives back to the Fowler design of 1927.

Design work was done at Brighton, the overall programme being overseen by R.A. Riddles. The principal modifications to the Fairburn design involved the reduction of their envelope to enable them to fit into the L1 loading gauge. To do this, the tanks and cab were made more curved than the Fairburn design, the Fairburn having a straight-sided tank. The biggest mechanical change was a reduction in cylinder size, also to reduce cross-section, and a corresponding increase in boiler pressure to compensate. Other visible changes included the re-introduction of plating ahead of the cylinders.

130 of the class of 155 were built at Brighton, 15 (80000–80009, 80054–80058) at Derby Works and 10 (80106–80115) at Doncaster Works between 1951 and 1956. The first to emerge was 80010 from Brighton in 1951. Fifteen that were due to be constructed in 1957 were cancelled, due to impending dieselisation, and the last five would have been, too, had they not been at an advanced stage of construction when the order came to cancel them.

No significant modifications were made to the design. The tank vent was found to restrict the driver's vision and was moved further forward from 80059 onwards. Initially built with fluted coupling rods, these caused problems on other classes and, from 80079, plain section coupling rods were substituted.

The BR standard class 4 4-6-0 was essentially a tender engine derivative of the Standard Class 4 tank.

Service

The Standard 4 tanks were originally allocated to all regions of British Railways, bar the Western. They became particularly associated with the London, Tilbury and Southend Line (LT&S) working commuter services out of London, until that route was electrified in 1962. They were also widely used in East Sussex and Kent, working from Brighton, Tunbridge Wells and Three Bridges on those lines of the former London Brighton and South Coast Railway that were not electrified. Another group worked from Polmadie depot in the Scottish region on the Glasgow commuter services. Note that, from July 1962, a batch displaced by electrification of the LT&S was transferred to the Western Region's Swansea (East Dock) and Shrewsbury districts, as well as other regions.

Accidents and incidents
  • On 24 April 1956, Locomotive No. 80119 was derailed at Scalby, Yorkshire when the track spread under it whilst shunting. An instruction banning heavy locomotives from shunting at Scalby had been forgotten.[2]
  • On 30 January 1958, locomotive No. 80079 was hauling a passenger train that overran signals and was in a rear-end collision with another passenger train at Dagenham, Essex. Ten people were killed and 89 were injured.
  • On 18 April 1961, locomotive No. 80075 was hauling a passenger train that was derailed at Pitsea, Essex due to a pointsman's error during single line working.[3]
  • On 9 December 1962, locomotive No. 80102 was derailed at Gosport, Hampshire due to vandalism.[4]

Withdrawal

There was a mass withdrawal of steam locomotive classes in the 1960s. Older types were withdrawn in preference to the Standard 4s, which class remained intact until 1964 (except for 80103 as noted below). The final nine were withdrawn from the Southern Region on 9 July 1967. One Scottish Region example, 80002, remained in Glasgow past the end of steam haulage until 1969 as a static carriage heating boiler.

No. 80103 was withdrawn in 1962 after being reported for rough riding. It was towed between two other locomotives to Stratford Works, where it was discovered that the mainframe was broken in half. Considered beyond economic repair, 80103 was withdrawn and scrapped. It was the first of the 'Standard' locomotives to be withdrawn, and the only one scrapped at Stratford.

Table of withdrawals
YearQuantity in
service at
start of year		Quantity
withdrawn		Locomotive numbersNotes
1962155180103
19641543180008–10/17/21/30–31/36/38/40/44/49–50/52–53/56/62/71/73–77/87,
80106–07/15/25/27/29/48.
19651234280003/14/18/20/22–23/29/35/42/48/64/66–67/70/72/78–81/84/88/90/97–99,
80100–02/04–05/08–10/19/31/35–37/47/49–50/53.
1966815680000–01/05–07/13/24–28/33–34/37/39/41/43/47/51/54–55/57–61/63/65/68–69/82–83/89/91–96,
80111–14/17–18/21–24/26/30/32/38/41–42/44.
1967252580002/04/11–12/15–16/19/32/45–46/85–86,
80116/20/28/33–34/39–40/43/45–46/51–52/54.

Operation in preservation
British Railways 2-6-4T Class Standard Four No. 80072 runs round its train at Ongar

Of the fifteen engines to survive into preservation, only one was purchased directly from BR and this was No. 80002, all the others being purchased from Barry Scrapyard. Of the fifteen engines to be preserved only two members of the class are yet to run in preservation, these being: 80100 and 80150. 80097 has recently been steamed in preservation and entered service in March 2019 following its restoration from scrapyard condition at the East Lancashire Railway.[5] Five of them have also seen mainline operation: Nos. 80002, 80079, 80080, 80098 and 80135. 80002 operated over the former BR system in the 1970s when it appeared at an open weekend in Leeds arriving and returning home from the event under its own power. Three of the class were regular mainline performers around the '90s, with 80080 being originally used on LU 'Steam on the Met' trips. In 1991, steam was to return to the Folkestone Harbour branch with 80080 taking the train down from the mainline to the station at Folkestone Harbour and then for the journey back up to the mainline 80080 was used to bank West Country Pacific No. 34027 Taw Valley.

No 80079 and No 80080 at Tenby in October 1993 on a main line special from Swansea to Pembroke Dock and return.

80080 became the first steam locomotive to work a normal stopping passenger service on the mainline in March 1993. It also returned to the Cambrian network in 1992. In 1994, 80079 joined up with 80080 to work a number of steam specials including a run over the Cambrian Coast Line.

In 1998, 80079 became the first steam locomotive to work a steam special down the Conwy Valley Line to Blaenau Ffestiniog since 1967.

80079 returned to Blaenau in 1999 with 80098.

80135 has been used on the Grosmont to Whitby workings for the North Yorkshire Moors Railway on the Esk Valley Line

The Bluebell Railway had hoped to preserve No. 80154 since it was the last steam locomotive to be built at Brighton Works, but that sadly never happened since they didn't have the available funds at the time.[6][7]

Locomotives

No fewer than fifteen Standard Four tanks have survived the cutter's torch.

All but one member of the class in preservation were built at Brighton Works with 80002 being built at Derby Works.

Number Builder Built Withdrawn Service life Location Livery Status Image
80002 Derby Works Nov 1952 March 1967 14 years, 4 months Keighley and Worth Valley Railway BR Lined Black, Early Emblem Awaiting overhaul. Boiler certificate expired in August 2013.
80064 Brighton Works June 1953 Sep 1965 12 years, 3 months Bluebell Railway BR Lined Black, Early Emblem Awaiting major boiler work Boiler certificate expired in 1991.[8]
80072 Brighton Works Nov 1953 July 1965 11 years, 8 months Llangollen Railway BR Lined Black, Late Emblem Awaiting overhaul. Boiler ticket expired in 2019.
80078 Brighton Works Feb 1954 July 1965 11 years, 5 months Privately Owned, currently operational at Mid Norfolk Railway. BR Lined Black, Early Emblem Operational. Returned to service May 2017, based in Essex and visits other heritage railways throughout the year.
80079 Brighton Works March 1954 July 1965 11 years, 4 months Severn Valley Railway BR Lined Black, Late Emblem Restored. Cosmetically restored in The Engine House.
80080 Brighton Works March 1954 July 1965 11 years, 4 months Midland Railway - Butterley BR Lined Black, Late Emblem Operational at the East Lancashire Railway.
80097 Brighton Works Dec 1954 July 1965 10 years, 7 months East Lancashire Railway BR Lined Black, Early Emblem Restoration from scrapyard condition completed in January 2019.
80098 Brighton Works Dec 1954 July 1965 10 years, 7 months Midland Railway - Butterley BR Lined Black, Late Emblem Undergoing overhaul.
80100 Brighton Works Jan 1955 July 1965 10 years, 6 months Bluebell Railway N/A Awaiting extremely major restoration from ex-Barry condition.
80104 Brighton Works March 1955 July 1965 10 years, 4 months Swanage Railway BR Lined Black, Late Emblem Operational, boiler ticket expires in 2021.
80105 Brighton Works April 1955 July 1965 10 years, 3 months Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway BR Lined Black, Early Emblem Under overhaul, Boiler certificate expired 2010. Undergoing major 4-year overhaul.
80135 Brighton Works April 1956 July 1965 9 years, 3 months North Yorkshire Moors Railway BR Lined Green, Late Emblem Currently under overhaul. 80135 is the only 4MT to carry lined BR Brunswick Green, a livery not carried by any 4MT's in BR service. Will be fitted with TWPS for main line use between Pickering and Whitby when finished.
80136 Brighton Works May 1956 July 1965 9 years, 2 months North Yorkshire Moors Railway BR Lined Black, Early Emblem Resteamed in late July 2016 after a complete overhaul, mostly at Crewe but finished at Grosmont.
80150 Brighton Works Dec 1956 Nov 1965 8 years, 11 months Mid Hants Railway Unlined Black Awaiting restoration from Barry scrapyard condition. Swapped to the MHR by the Vale of Glamorgan District Council in exchange for the ex-Bricklayers Arms turntable.
80151 Brighton Works Jan 1957 June 1967 10 years, 5 months Bluebell Railway BR Lined Black, Late Emblem Operational, boiler ticket expires in 2029.

In fiction

Belle, a character from Thomas & Friends, is loosely based on this engine. The difference is that she has water cannons on top of her tanks (for a role as a fictional fire engine) and a large brass bell.[9]

References
  1. Train: The Definitive Visual History. DK. 2014. p. 210. ISBN 9781465495181. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  2. Hoole, Ken (1983). Trains in Trouble: Vol. 4. Redruth: Atlantic Books. p. 32. ISBN 0-906899-07-9.
  3. Hoole, Ken (1982). Trains in Trouble: Vol. 3. Redruth: Atlantic Books. p. 45. ISBN 0-906899-05-2.
  4. Bishop, Bill (1984). Off the Rails. Southampton: Kingfisher. p. 85. ISBN 0-946184-06-2.
  5. http://www.burystandard4group.org.uk/news/workshop-update-5th-october-2018 80097 under final assembly
  6. Salmon, Richard. "Bluebell Railway Locomotives". bluebell-railway.co.uk/. Bluebell Railway. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  7. Salmon, Richard. "The Bluebell Railway's Locomotives: Operational Locomotives". bluebell-railway.com. Bluebell Railway. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  8. "Bluebell Railway - Locomotives on Static Display". bluebell-railway.co.uk.
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 30 June 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

Sources
  • Bradley, Rodger P. (1984). The Standard Steam Locomotives of British Railways. David & Charles. ISBN 0715383841.
  • Chancellor, Paul J. (December 1997). Taylor, R. K. (ed.). A Detailed History of British Railways Standard Steam Locomotives: vol 3 Tank Engine Classes. Railway Correspondence and Travel Society (RCTS). ISBN 0-901115-77-0.
Preserved engines
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.