GWR 3600 Class

The Great Western Railway (GWR) 3600 Class was a class of 2-4-2T side tank steam locomotive, designed by William Dean and built at Swindon in three lots in 1900-1903:

GWR 3600 class
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerWilliam Dean
BuilderSwindon Works
Order numberLots 130, 134, 143
Build date1900–1903
Total produced31
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-4-2T
 • UIC1′B1′
Gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia.3 ft 8 in (1.118 m)
Driver dia.5 ft 2 in (1.575 m)
Trailing dia.3 ft 8 in (1.118 m)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity3 long tons (3.0 t; 3.4 short tons)
Water cap1,900 imp gal (8,600 l; 2,300 US gal)
Boiler pressure200 lbf/in2 (1.38 MPa)
CylindersTwo, inside
Cylinder size17 in × 24 in (432 mm × 610 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort19,020 lbf (84.61 kN)
Career
OperatorsGreat Western Railway
WithdrawnOctober 1930 – November 1934
DispositionAll scrapped

Construction
  • 11 (renumbered 3600) (Lot 130, 1900)
  • 3601–3620 (Lot 134, 1902)
  • 3621–3630 (Lot 143, 1903)

History

Dean had built an experimental 2-4-2T numbered 11, whose success led to the cancellation of another batch of 2-4-0 "Metro" Tanks and the construction of the 3600s in their place. The new 2-4-2Ts had 5 ft 2 in (1.575 m) coupled wheels and 17 in × 24 in (432 mm × 610 mm) cylinders. The second batch were slightly longer than the prototype, resulting in greater tank capacity, and the third lot, delivered under Churchward, were slightly larger again, and had taper boilers. The class gained the nickname "Birdcage" due to their (for the GWR) unusually spacious cabs.

Use

The 3600 class were fitted with steam reversing gear, steam brakes, and two steam-operated water pick-ups for forward and reverse working. This reflects their intended work as fast suburban engines. About half were employed on such duties in the Birmingham area. The rest worked in the London area, though later a few worked Chester-Birkenhead trains,[1] and some were allocated to South Wales sheds. They were essentially passenger train locomotives, and were eventually superseded by Collett's 2-6-2Ts. All were withdrawn and scrapped between 1930 and 1934.[2]

References
  1. Hendry, R. Preston; Hendry, R. Powell (1992). Paddington to the Mersey: G.W.R's Forgotten Route from London to Birkenhead. OPC Railprint. ISBN 086093442X.
  2. Tabor 1959, pp. F38-F41.
  • Tabor, F.J. (1959). White, D.E. (ed.). The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, part six: Four-coupled Tank Engines. Kenilworth: RCTS.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.