| BR Standard Class 5 | |
|---|---|
| No 73142 ready to depart with the 10.50 Express from London St Pancras to Leicester in 1957. Note the Caprotti valve gear. | |
| Power type | Steam |
| Designer | R. A. Riddles |
| Builder | BR Derby Works (130) BR Doncaster Works (42) |
| Build date | April 1951 - June 1957 |
| Total produced | 172 |
| Configuration | 4-6-0 |
| UIC classification | 2'Ch |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Leading wheel diameter |
3 ft 0 in (0.914 m) |
| Driver diameter | 6 ft 2 in (1.880 m) |
| Length | 62 ft 7 in (19.08 m) |
| Width | 8 ft 9 in (2.67 m) |
| Height | 13 ft 0 in (3.96 m) |
| Axle load | 19.70 long tons (20.02 t) |
| Weight on drivers | 58.05 long tons (58.98 t) |
| Locomotive weight | 76.00 long tons (77.22 t) |
| Tender weight | BR1/BR1H: 49.15 long tons (49.94 t); BR1B: 51.25 long tons (52.07 t); BR1C: 53.25 long tons (54.10 t); BR1F: 55.25 long tons (56.14 t); BR1G: 52.50 long tons (53.34 t); |
| Tender type | BR1 (50), BR1B (62), BR1C (35), BR1F (10), BR1G (3), BH1H (12) |
| Fuel capacity | BR1C: 9.00 long tons (9.14 t); All others: 7.00 long tons (7.11 t) |
| Water capacity | BR1/BR1H: 4,250 imp gal (19,300 l; 5,100 US gal); BR1B/BR1C: 4,725 imp gal (21,480 l; 5,674 US gal); BR1F: 5,625 imp gal (25,570 l; 6,755 US gal); BR1G: 5,000 imp gal (23,000 l; 6,000 US gal) |
| Boiler | BR3 |
| Boiler pressure | 225 psi (1.55 MPa) |
| Firegrate area | 28.7 sq ft (2.67 m2) |
| Heating surface: Tubes and flues |
1,479 sq ft (137.4 m2) |
| Heating surface: Firebox |
171 sq ft (15.9 m2) |
| Superheater area | 358 sq ft (33.3 m2) |
| Cylinders | Two, outside |
| Cylinder size | 19 × 28 in (483 × 711 mm) |
| Valve gear | Walschaerts (73000–73124, 73155–73171) Caprotti (73125–73154) |
| Tractive effort | 26,120 lbf (116.2 kN) |
| Factor of adhesion |
4.97 |
| Career | British Railways |
| Power class | 5MT |
| Number | 73000–73171 |
| Axle load class | Route availability 7 BR (WR): red |
| Withdrawn | February 1964 – June 1968 |
| Disposition | Five preserved, remainder scrapped |
The British Railways Standard Class 5MT 4-6-0 was one of the standard classes of steam locomotives built by British Railways in the 1950s. 172 were built, essentially being a development of the LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0 ("Black Five").
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William Stanier's Black Five had been the most successful mixed-traffic type in Great Britain. Construction of the Black Fives had started in 1934 and continued past nationalisation to 1951. A new set of 'standard' locomotives was to be built by British Railways, based on LMS designs and incorporating modern ideas.
In particular, the Standard design incorporated features designed to make disposal easier: a self-cleaning smokebox and a rocking grate removed the necessity for crews to undertake dirty and strenuous duties at the end of a long shift.[1]
The design work was done at the ex-LNER Doncaster Works but the bulk of the construction was done at Derby Works. The locomotive featured a Type 3B boiler almost identical to that of the Black Fives. A higher running plate, slightly enlarged driving wheels (from 6 ft 0 in (1.829 m) to 6 ft 2 in (1.880 m)) and a standard cab were the most obvious visible changes.
The first of the class, 73000, was outshopped from Derby in April 1951 and 30 were in service by January 1952. There was then a gap in construction before Derby resumed building its remaining 100 engines. 42 were built at Doncaster, starting in August 1955 and finishing in May 1957, with Derby's last engine following a month later.
Thirty engines, numbers 73125 to 73154, were built with Caprotti valve gear and poppet valves. One of these engines (73129) survives today at Butterley, and along with BR Standard Class 8 are the only engines with Caprotti gear left in Britain.
In 1959 20 of the Southern Region locomotives were named, the names being transferred from SR King Arthur class locos that were then being withdrawn. These were:
73020 is known to have been used on Southern Region, photographed departing Southampton Terminus on 18 September 1965.[2]
73022 has also been photographed in service on the Southern Region, pulling a Boat Train across Canute Road in Southampton on 29 September 1966.[2]
73114 Etarre has been photographed in service on 20 March 1966, pulling a Boat Train through Fareham while diverted due to electrification work on the Southern Region mainline from Southampton to London Waterloo.[2]
Five have survived:
| Number | Name | Home | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 73050 | - | Nene Valley Railway | Operational. Named City of Peterborough in preservation. |
| 73082 | Camelot | Bluebell Railway | In early stages of overhaul. Featured in 102 Dalmatians. |
| 73096 | - | Mid Hants Railway | Boiler ticket expired September 2011 |
| 73129 | - | Midland Railway - Butterley | Operational, currently visiting the East Lancashire Railway. One of only 2 engines left in Britain with Caprotti valve gear. |
| 73156 | - | Great Central Railway | Undergoing restoration which includes a new tender and motion. |
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