GWR 1366 Class

GWR 1366 class
1367 at Weymouth in 1961
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerCharles Collett
BuilderGWR Swindon Works
Order numberLot 286
Build dateFebruary 1934
Total produced6
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte0-6-0PT
 • UICC n2t
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver dia.3 ft 8 in (1.118 m)
Wheelbase11 ft 0 in (3.353 m)
Length26 ft 2+1⁄4 in (7.982 m) over buffers
Width8 ft 6 in (2.591 m)
Height11 ft 11+5⁄8 in (3.648 m)
Axle load13 long tons 0 cwt (29,100 lb or 13.2 t)
13 long tons 0 hundredweight (14.6 short tons; 13.2 t) full
Loco weight35 long tons 15 cwt (80,100 lb or 36.3 t)
35 long tons 15 hundredweight (40.0 short tons; 36.3 t) full
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity2 long tons 3 cwt (4,800 lb or 2.2 t)
2 long tons 3 hundredweight (2.4 short tons; 2.2 t)
Water cap.830 imp gal (3,800 L; 1,000 US gal)
Firebox:​
 • Grate area10.7 sq ft (0.99 m2)
BoilerGWR 1392[1]
Boiler pressure165 psi (1.14 MPa)
Heating surface:​
 • Firebox73 sq ft (6.8 m2)
 • Tubes715 sq ft (66.4 m2)
SuperheaterNone
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size16 in × 20 in (406 mm × 508 mm)
Valve gearAllan
Valve typeSlide valves
Performance figures
Tractive effort16,320 lbf (72.6 kN)
Career
OperatorsGWR » BR
Class1366
Power classGWR: Unclassified,
BR: 1F
Numbers1366–1371
Axle load classGWR: Unclassified
Withdrawn1960–1964
PreservedNo. 1369
DispositionOne preserved, remainder scrapped

The Great Western Railway (GWR) 1366 Class is a class of 0-6-0 pannier tank steam locomotives built in 1934. They were a useful design and because of their light weight and short wheelbase and were often used on dockside branches or other lines with sharp curvatures.

History and development

The 1366 class was one of only two pannier tank designs built by the GWR that utilised outside cylinders (alongside the GWR 1500), although various existing engines inherited by the GWR had pannier tanks and outside cylinders. The 1366 class was developed from the 1361 Class but differed by including a pannier tank rather than a saddle tank, Belpaire firebox, etc. They were designed to replace the 1392 Class.

Operational history

The preserved 1369, seen at Buckfastleigh on the South Devon Railway in 2021.

Originally, five of the six locomotives of the class were allocated to Swindon shed; No. 1371 was originally sent to Llanelly [sic][2] but when they were taken over by British Railways Western Region in 1948 three of the six had been reallocated to Weymouth for use on the docks there.

In 1950 the situation remained as it had in 1948[3] while by 1955 one of the locomotives had moved shed allocation from Swindon to Taunton (although actually used at Bridgwater[2]) with three still remaining at Weymouth[4] and this in turn continued until 1959.[5] With the move from steam to diesel the first of the class to be withdrawn was 1370 which was withdrawn from Weymouth shed in January 1960[2] followed by 1371 from Swindon shed in November of that year[2] and then 1366 from Taunton the following February.[2]

However, the three remaining locomotives were offered a new lease of life. No. 1369 was sent via Yeovil[6] to Wadebridge and after successful clearance trials had taken place numbers 1367 and 1368 followed,[7] the locomotives being used to replace the Beattie Well Tanks that had run over the Bodmin and Wadebridge Railway to Wenfordbridge for the previous 87 years.[8] However, dieselisation caught up with them again, and all three were withdrawn in 1964[2] having operated for just 2 years in Cornwall. The final locomotive, 1369, left Wadebridge under its own steam for the Dart Valley Railway on 20 February being the last operational British Railways steam locomotive to be based in Cornwall.[9]

Withdrawal

Table of withdrawals
Year Quantity in
service at
start of year		 Number withdrawn Locomotive numbers
1960 6 2 1370-1371
1961 4 1 1366
1962-1963 3 0
1964 3 3 1367-1369

Preservation

One example, No. 1369, survives on the South Devon Railway.[10]

See also

  • GWR 0-6-0PT – list of classes of GWR 0-6-0 pannier tank, including table of preserved locomotives

References

  1. ^ Champ, Jim (2018). An Introduction to Great Western Locomotive Development. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Transport. pp. 226, 233, 319. ISBN 978-1-4738-7784-9. OCLC 1029234106. OL 26953051M.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Rowledge, J.W.P. (1986). GWR locomotive allocations; first and last sheds 1922-1967. Newton Abbott: David & Charles. p. 109. ISBN 0-7153-8820-7.
  3. ^ Allan 1950, p. 21
  4. ^ British Railways Locomotives & Locoshed book 1955 (reprint). Shepperton: Ian Allan. 1955. ISBN 0-7110-0506-0.
  5. ^ Bolger, Paul (1983). BR Steam Motive Power Depots - WR. Shepperton: Ian Allan. pp. 23, 29, 33. ISBN 0 7110-1311-X.
  6. ^ Gammell, Chris (April 1993). "Devon & Somerset journey Part II". Steam World. No. 70. Leicester: EMAP Apex Publications Ltd. p. 70.
  7. ^ Tony, Fairclough; Wills, Alan (1979). Bodmin and Wadebridge 1834 - 1978. Truro: D Bradford Barton. p. 83. ISBN 0-85153-343-4.
  8. ^ Tony, Fairclough; Wills, Alan (1979). Bodmin and Wadebridge 1834 - 1978. Truro: D Bradford Barton. p. 70. ISBN 0-85153-343-4.
  9. ^ Tony, Fairclough; Wills, Alan (1979). Bodmin and Wadebridge 1834 - 1978. Truro: D Bradford Barton. p. 89. ISBN 0-85153-343-4.
  10. ^ Fox & Hall 1993, p. 7

Bibliography

  • Allan, Ian (1950). ABC of British Railway Locomotives - Western Region. Hersham: Ian Allan. reprinted in facsimile edition, ISBN 978-0-7110-3106-7
  • Fox, Peter; Hall, Peter (1993). Preserved Locomotives of British Railways. Platform 5 Publishing. ISBN 1-872524-54-0.
  • le Fleming, H. M. (April 1958). White, D. E. (ed.). The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, part five: Six-coupled Tank Engines. RCTS. ISBN 0-901115-35-5. OCLC 500544510.
  • Whitehurst, Brian (1973). Great Western Engines, Names, Numbers, Types and Classes (1940 to Preservation). Oxford, UK: Oxford Publishing Company. pp. 17, 102, 165. ISBN 978-0-9028-8821-0. OCLC 815661.
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