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SR E1/R Class

photograph: Dr. Ian C. Allan/Mike Morant collection N°2124 running into Bideford station in Southern Railway days.

During the early years of the Southern Railway some ex-LBSCR locomotives were tried out on other lines, particularly in the West Country. The case with the class E1/R was a little different though as they were rebuilt from the ex-LBSCR E1 Class 0-6-0T to 0-6-2T to be used on the North Devon and Cornwall Junction line. The experiment was not altogether successful (in common with the attempt to modify ex-LBSCR D1 class locomotives for the Lyme Regis branch) but despite this some ten locomotives were rebuilt as 0-6-2 Radial tanks, with larger bunkers, 170lb boilers and a rounded cab roof. The problem seemed to be with their balancing and four were re-balanced by Bulleid to produce a better result. The six that were not re-balanced were transferred to other duties, banking between Exeter St David's and Central, or shunting at Barnstaple.

Click on the thumbnails for a larger image. Clicking again will close the window. If there is a larger version, clicking on the 'F' key will display it. 32124 Exeter Now in BR days as N°32124 Banking at Exeter St David's on 13th April 1957. Photograph: Mike Morant collection. 32124 Exeter N°32124 and another unidentified E1/R photographed whilst banking a passenger train out of Exeter St David's station. Photograph: Mike Morant collection. 32125 Exeter N°32135 engaged in shunting at Exeter Central. The imposing building in the background is HMP Prison, Exeter! Photograph: Mike Morant collection.

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Technical Details

Introduced: Driving Wheel: Length: Total Weight: Water Capacity: Cylinders (2): Boiler Pressure: Tractive Effort: Coal Capacity: Power Classification:

May 1927 4 ft 6 ins 32 ft 4½ ins 50 tons 5 cwt 900 gals 17 in x 24 in 170 lb sq in 18,560 lb ? 2-F

Data

The following table is set out in order of rebuild:
Early SR N°	Later SR N°	BR N°	Rebuilt from E1	Withdrawn
B94	2094	32094	May 1927	Apr 1955
B95	2095	32095	May 1927	Nov 1956
B96	2096	32096	Oct 1928	Nov 1956
B695	2695	32695	Oct 1928	Feb 1957
B608	2608	32608	Nov 1928	May 1957
B135	2135	32135	Nov 1928	Mar 1959
B696	2696	32696	Dec 1928	Jan 1956
B124	2124	32124	Dec 1928	Jan 1959
B610	2610	32610	Jan 1929	Mar 1956
B697	2697	32697	Jan 1929	Nov 1959
Bibliography: The London Brighton and South Coast Railway by C Hamilton Ellis The London, Brighton & South Coast Railway web site by Dave Searle - www.lbscr.org.uk ABC of British Locomotives 1948 Observer's Book of Railway Locomotives of Great Britain 1958

This page was last updated 12 April 2011