LSWR Class H15
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The LSWR/SR H15 class were a miscellaneous group of 2-cylinder 4-6-0 steam locomotives with 6 ft 0 in (1.82 m) driving wheels. Despite their large wheel size they tended to be employed on freight duties, especially the stone trains from near Okehampton.
There were 5 sub-classes (although they were not officially recognised as sub-classes).
Six examples (Nos 330 to 335) were rebuilds by Robert Urie (in the case of 335) or Richard Maunsell to the Urie design of some Dugald Drummond class F13 4-cylinder 4-6-0s of 1905 vintage. The boilers were pressed to 175 lb/sq in. The rebuilding of No 335 happened in 1914, for the others it was 1924-25.
Nine more (Nos 482 to 490) were new construction by Urie with 180 lb/sq in boilers. They appeared in 1914. A further example (no 491) was constructed by Urie in 1914 and was identical to Nos 482-490 apart from having a lower weight.
Finally Maunsell constructed ten more (Nos 473 to 478 and 521 to 524) to the design of No 491 during 1924.
The ex-Drummond examples were notable for having very tall cabs, requiring footplate staff shorter than 6 foot to stand on improvised stools to reach some controls. This resulted in them being known as 'Cathedrals'. This nickname does not seem to have been applied to the rest of the class, although crews from Guildford depot referred to the others as the 'City Breed'.
No locomotives survive into preservation, although there plans to build a replica of a Southern Class H15 Locomotive which will carry a number which was not issued for the production locomotives.
[edit] External links
| Maunsell: | H15 - Lord Nelson - N15 (King Arthur) - N15X - Q - V (Schools) - U - U1 - W - Z |
| Bulleid: | Leader - Merchant Navy - Q1 - USA - West Country/Battle of Britain |
| Diesels: | 10201 to 10203 |
| Locomotives of: | BR (steam) • GWR • LMS • LNER |
