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LSWR 0298 Class 2-4-0WT

photograph: Mike Watts collection

This photograph of N°265 at Wimbledon, near the West Joint box, was probably taken in the 1870s or 80s.

In April 1962, the Southern Region of BR decided to end the careers of three of the longest living tank engines in the UK. For nearly 70 years, up to three of the renown Beattie Well Tanks of 1874/5 heritage had worked the isolated Wenford Bridge branch line. They had gone through three distinct phases of rebuilding and although replacements had been tried over the years, nothing else was found to be suitable for the picturesque but lightly-laid branch line. Of the three remaining locomotives of the class in 1962, N°298, which eventually became N°30587 in the BR stock list, had worked the branch since 1895.

The Standard Well Tanks were introduced by Joseph Beattie on the LSWR in 1862 as a result of the rapidly expanding network of the railway. The design can be traced back to the 'Nile' class of 2-4-0 well tanks of 1859, but were modified by Beyer Peacock in collaboration with the LSWR. Six of the engines were ordered for working the LSWR trains on the West London Extension Railway. They were so successful that by 1875 a further 79 had been built, all but three coming from Beyer Peacock's works. Of the three which eventually ended their lives at Wadebridge, N°298 (BR N°30587) and N°314 (N°30585) were built in 1874 and N°329 (N°30586) was built in 1875.

Representatives of the class worked over lines over most of the LSWR although in early years most were concentrated in the London area. A few of them carried names in those early years when LSWR engines had appealing names. The five named were N°33 Phoenix, N°34 Osprey, N°36 Comet, N°44 Pluto and N°76 Firefly.

When built all locomotives had the high-domed firebox typical of early Victorian locomotives, but Williams Adams began to replace these fireboxes with conventional coal-burning fireboxes when he came to office. This was a slow process and by 1886-9, with the Beattie fireboxes worn out, 12 of the original 85 were withdrawn from service. Around this time, injectors replaced the donkey pumps, with the feedwater heaters removed, although N°314 retained its donkey pump until rebuilt by the Southern Railway in 1931.

The introduction of Adams class 415 4-4-2 tanks (Radials') in 1883, saw the need for the well- tanks in the London area reduced considerably. Thus 31 of the class were given tenders to become standard 2-4-0 locomotives. As newer and larger locomotives were introduced, particularly the Adams O2 class, the need to keep so many of the well tanks was reduced and gradually their numbers were cut back in the 1890s.

Until the North Cornwall Railway, an independent concern operated by the LSWR, reached Wadebridge in 1895, the LSWR's Bodmin and Wadebridge line, with its Wenford Bridge branch remained isolated. Two years prior to this, one of the well tanks, no 248 was sent by sea to Wadebridge to replace the ancient and worn-out Fletcher Jennings 0-4-0 saddle tank, Bodmin. By 1895, N°44, N°266 and N°298 were working the Bodmin and Wadebridge lines. By the end of 1899 only the last three well tanks of the class remained, all the others having been withdrawn as they become worn out and redundant.

So things remained unchanged on the Bodmin & Wadebridge, through the Great 'War to end all wars', largely forgotten by the rest of the LSWR system. By 1921, the boilers of all three locomotives were almost worn-out. Because of the uniqueness of the Wenford Bridge line, with its very tight curves, replacing the well tanks of the services was not an option, so three new boilers of the 1907 Drummond O2 pattern were built, with N°298 and N°329 receiving injectors.

In 1929 a trial of the SECR P class 0-6-0 tank, N°558, was carried out on the line, but the track was damaged by its longer wheelbase. So the previously condemned 329 was reprieved. The next crisis came in 1931, with frame fractures to N°314, but it was rebuilt with modified frames, as were N°298 and N°329 later. Renumbering took place by adding 3000 to their numbers in May 1933 and so things continued as before right through to BR days, when they acquired their BR numbers. Their last general repair was in 1960 when they received their BR classification 0P.

By chance, three unique, but more modern, ex-GWR 0-6-0 small pannier tanks, N°1367/8/9, became redundant around the docks of Weymouth in 1962. Under the regional reorganisation of 1958, the Southern Region had regained control of the lines around Wadebridge as well as taking over the ex-GWR lines around Weymouth. As a consequence the opportunity was taken to send the three Western Region tank engines down to Cornwall, and bring to an end 70 years of historical working.

Two have been preserved. N°298, now 30587, was a static exhibit under cover at the South Devon Railway at Buckfastleigh but was moved in December 2001 to the Forest of Dean where she has since been restored to full running order and is now based on the Bodmin & Wenford Railway. N°314, now 30585, was overhauled to running status at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre at Quainton Road.

Click on the thumbnails for a larger image.
  • 0329
    Wadebridge
    Before her final rebuilding, during which she would become N°3329, N°0329 is seen here at Wadebridge in the late 1920s..
    Photograph: Mike Watts collection.
  • 3298
    Wadebridge
    N°3298 at Wadebridge during July 1935.
    Photograph: Mike Morant collection.
  • 3329
     
    N°3329 is seen here in her final form, probably in the late 1930s.
    Photograph: Mike Watts collection.
  • 30585 & 30587
    Wimbledon
    N°30585 and N°30587 at the 'C' box end of Wimbledon West Yard on 2nd December 1962. They were here between working the first and third legs of the RTCS and SLS "South West Suburban" rail tour, from Waterloo to Wimbledon via Hampton Court, then returning via Shepperton.
    Photograph by Mike Morant.
  • 30585 & 30587
    Wimbledon
    The two Beatties again, this rail tour was repeated on 16th December, when the locos ran cab to cab, due to the high level of overbooking of the first tour!
    Photograph by Mike Morant.
  • 30585
    Wimbledon
    A closer view of N°30585 at Wimbledon.
    Photograph by Mike Morant.
  • 3298
    Buckfastleigh
    30587 as N°3298, pictured when a cosmetically restored static display at Buckfastleigh on the South Devon Railway.
    Photograph by Jonathan Hall.

This section was last updated 6 February 2012


30585

photograph reproduced with kind permission of Joanes Publications

Trains from your bed? N°30585 passing Helland on 22nd April 1960.

Click on the thumbnails for a larger image.
  • 30585
    Pencarrow
    Probably the most famous water stop in England! N°30585 at the water tank in Pencarrow Woods.
    Photograph reproduced with kind permission of Joanes Publications.
  • 30585
    Wadebridge
    N°30585 pausing in its duties at Wadebridge on 31st August 1961.
    Photograph by Chris Knowles-Thomas.
  • 30585
    Dunmere Jn
    N°30585 approaching Dunmere Junction ground frame on 31st August 1961.
    Photograph by Chris Knowles-Thomas.
  • 30585
    Dunmere Jn
    Running light engine N°30585 paused at Dunmere Junction on 31st August 1961. The Boscarne Junction signals in the background
    Photograph by Chris Knowles-Thomas.
  • 30585
    Wenford Branch
    N°30585 taking its train of empty clay wagons onto the Wenfordbridge branch on 31st August 1061.
    Photograph by Chris Knowles-Thomas.

This section was last updated 15 December 2007


30586

photograph: Mike Morant collection

Panned action shot! N°30586 at speed.

Click on the thumbnails for a larger image.
  • 30586
    Wadebridge
    N°30586 shunting the yard at Wadebridge during the 1950s. This site is now all housing, although part of the station buildings remain as the John Betjeman Centre and the former goods shed is now the Betty Fisher Centre, used for community projects.
    Photograph by Stephen Hughes, courtesy of Terry Heeley.
  • 30586
    Wadebridge
    Another photo of N°30586 shunting at Wadebridge. Of the three survivors, this was the only one to be scrapped after withdrawal.
    Photograph by Colin Williams.
  • 30586
    Wadebridge
    And another shunting shot of N°30586 at Wadebridge. Note that this loco had square shaped splashers as opposed to the round ones of the two surviving members of the class.
    Photograph by Colin Williams.
  • 30586
    Wadebridge
    Almost as well-known as the four doll bracket signal in the, previous photo, the goods shed at Wadebridge was norm
    Photograph: Mike Morant collection.
  • 30586
    Wadebridge
    One of the Beatties was usually used as Wadebridge station pilot, and this photograph could well be N°30586 detaching vans from a down train. She was frequently to be found on this duty as her water filler was less conveniently placed for taking water in Pencarrow Woods than the other two locos, so was rarely used for the Wenford Bridge clay trains, though did work passenger services between Bodmin and Padstow.
    Photograph: Mike Morant collection.

This section was last updated 15 December 2007


30587

photograph reproduced with kind permission of Joanes Publications.

N°30587 being passed by Bodmin-bound O2 class N°30199 whilst standing on the Western road at Boscarne Junction on 7th September 1961.

Click on the thumbnails for a larger image.
  • 30587
    York
    Following restoration in 2003, N°30587 was a proud participant at Railfest, celebrating the two hundredth anniversary of the first steam railway locomotive, in York during 2004.
    Photograph by Adam Warr.
  • 30587
    Bodmin
    Since returning to steam N°30587 has been based at Bodmin. Here she was seen in the shed alongside Bulleid light pacific N°34007 Wadebridge on 31st August 2006, the day of 34007's Steam Test..
    Photograph by Peter Richards.
  • 30587
    Northiam
    During March 2008 N°30587 paid a visit to the Kent & East Sussex Railway. She is seen here at Northiam on 15th March, waiting as K&ESR A1x class N°3 runs in with another train.
    Photograph by Keith Harwood.
  • 30587
    Northiam
    >Running bunker first, N°30587 is seen taking water at Northiam.
    Photograph by Keith Harwood.
  • 30587
    Northiam
    Running smokebox first once more, N°30587 is arriving at Northiam again.
    Photograph by Keith Harwood.
  • 30587
    Backhead
    N°30587's boiler backhead detail, photographed whilst at York. It is interesting to compare the interior of this vintage steam loco with much later locos. The technology mostly remains the same!
    Photograph by Colin Duff.

This section was last updated 19 March 2008


Technical Details

Introduced:
Driving Wheel:
Leading Wheel:
Length:
Total Weight:
Water Capacity:
Cylinders (2):
Boiler Pressure:
Tractive Effort:
Coal Capacity:
Power Classification:
1874
5 ft 6 ins / 5 ft 7 ins *
3 ft 6 ins / 3ft 7¾ ins *
26 ft 2 ins
37 tons 16 cwt
550 gals
12½ x 20 in
160 lb sq in
11,050 lb *
1 ton
0-P
  * After rebuilding
 
LSWR N°
when built
Built Rebuilt Rebuilt Rebuilt Renumbered Renumbered BR Number Withdrawn
298 May 1874 Jun 1884 Nov 1921 May 1933 0298 Jun 1898 3298 May 1933 30587 Dec 1962 *
314 May 1874 May 1889 Aug 1921 Jun 1931 0314 Jul 1901 3314 May 1933 30585 Dec 1962 *
329 Oct 1875 Dec 1892 Apr 1922 Sep 1935 0329 Oct 1901 3329 May 1933 30586 Dec 1962
*  Preserved and based at the Bodmin & Wenford Railway
*  Preserved and based at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre

Reference: L&SWR Locomotives, The Early Engines 1838-53 and the Beattie Classes, by D.L.Bradley. Wild Swan, 1989. ISBN 0 906867 61 9

 

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