LB&SCR Belgravia class

The LB&SCR Belgravia class, were 2-4-0 passenger locomotives designed by William Stroudley of the London Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) in 1872 for secondary passenger duties.

London Brighton and South Coast Railway "Belgravia" Class
Locomotive Belgravia as built in 1872
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer William Stroudley Builder Brighton Works Build date 1872-1876 Total produced 6
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-4-0  • UIC 1'B Gauge 4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Leading dia. 4 ft 0 in (1.22 m) (204/5) 4 ft 3 in (1.30 m) (201/2) 4 ft 1 in (1.24 m) (206/7) Driver dia. 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Wheelbase 16 ft 8 in (5.08 m) Adhesive weight 15 long tons (15.2 t; 16.8 short tons) Loco weight 39.7 long tons (40.3 t; 44.5 short tons) (201/2) 39.25 long tons (39.88 t; 43.96 short tons) (204/5) 41.2 long tons (41.9 t; 46.1 short tons) (206/7) Fuel type Coal Firebox:  • Firegrate area 18.75 sq ft (1.742 m^2) (201/2/4/5) 19 sq ft (1.8 m^2) (206/7) Boiler pressure 140 lbf/in^2 (9.7 bar; 970 kPa) Heating surface 1,234 sq ft (114.6 m^2) 1,123 sq ft (104.3 m^2) Cylinders Two, inside Cylinder size 17 in × 24 in (432 mm × 610 mm)
Career Operators London Brighton and South Coast Railway Class B Number in class 6 Numbers 201/2/4–7 Locale Great Britain First run 1872 Withdrawn 1899–1902 Disposition All scrapped

History

When William Stroudley took up his duties as Locomotive Superintendent at the Brighton works of the LB&SCR in 1870, he found that some locomotive components had been ordered by his predecessor, John Chester Craven. These included six sets of frames for some 2-4-0 passenger locomotives designed by Craven, and Stroudley produced a new design of 2-4-0 to use these frames.[1][2]

The locomotives in this class were very similar to two 2-4-0 locomotives constructed at Cowlairs railway works for the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway in the early 1860s when William Stroudley was the works manager and contained many features of his later designs.[2]

Four Belgravia locomotives were constructed at Brighton works in 1872, two of which were rebuilds of earlier 2-2-2 locomotives built for the LB&SCR by Robert Stephenson and Company and Brighton works.[2] The necessity to use components designed by Craven meant that the locomotives had a number of design features, such as the double frames and the 2-4-0 wheel arrangement, which were not found with Stroudley's later designs, and were the heaviest 2-4-0 locomotives of their time.[3] Two further examples later appeared, one each in 1875 and 1876, these having detail differences from the first four.[4] At first the class suffered from poor steaming,[4] but once this was rectified they went on to give reliable service on secondary passenger trains[5] as well as hauling the "business" expresses between Brighton and London Bridge until about 1881.[3]

Under Stroudley's locomotive classification scheme, the Belgravia class, being "Main Line Express" engines, were included in Class B, along with most of his 0-4-2 locomotives, and one of his 2-2-2s.[6] By the time that Class B was subdivided into B1, B2, etc. by D. E. Marsh, none of the Belgravia class remained in service.[7]

Numbering

The two rebuilds were no. 204 Westminster and no. 205 Kensington.[8] The two new engines of 1872 were no. 202 Goodwood and no. 201 Belgravia.[9] The 1875 loco was no. 206 Carisbrooke, and that of 1876 was no. 207 Freshwater.[9] In 1897 the numbers were increased by 300; nos. 501 & 504 were withdrawn in February 1899, but the other four had their numbers increased by a further 100 later the same year. Nos. 605–7 were withdrawn in 1901, leaving no. 602 which was withdrawn in 1902.[2] No examples have been preserved.[10]

References

1. Haresnape 1985, p. 35.
2. Bradley 1969, p. 133.
3. Ahrons 1987, p. 191.
4. Bradley 1969, p. 134.
5. Haresnape 1985, p. 37.
6. Bradley 1969, pp. 127–8.
7. Bradley 1969, pp. 128–9.
8. Bradley 1969, pp. 133,136.
9. Bradley 1969, p. 136.
10. Haresnape 1985, p. 38.

Sources

• Ahrons, E.L. (1987) [1927]. The British Steam Railway Locomotive 1825-1925. London: Bracken Books. ISBN 1-85170-103-6.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Bradley, D.L. (June 1969). The locomotives of the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway: Part 1. London: Railway Correspondence and Travel Society.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Haresnape, Brian (1985). Stroudley Locomotives: A Pictorial History. Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-1391-8.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)