| Great Western Railway 4300 Class | |
|---|---|
| 6381 at Southampton Terminus 1949 | |
| Power type | Steam |
| Builder | Great Western Railway, Swindon Works, Robert Stephenson and Company (35) |
| Build date | 1911–1932 |
| Total produced | 342 |
| Configuration | 2-6-0 |
| UIC classification | 1'C h |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Leading wheel diameter |
3 ft 2 in (0.965 m) |
| Driver diameter | 5 ft 8 in (1.727 m) |
| Minimum curve | 6 chains (400 ft; 120 m) normal, 5 chains (330 ft; 100 m) slow |
| Length | 58 ft 1 1⁄4 in (17.71 m) |
| Width | 8 ft 11 in (2.72 m) |
| Height | 13 ft 0 in (3.96 m) |
| Axle load | 17.60 long tons (17.88 t) |
| Weight on drivers | 52 tons 0 cwt (116,500 lb or 52.8 t) |
| Locomotive weight | 62 tons 0 cwt (138,900 lb or 63.0 t) |
| Tender weight | 40 tons 0 cwt (89,600 lb or 40.6 t) |
| Fuel capacity | 7 tons 0 cwt (15,700 lb or 7.1 t) |
| Water capacity | 3,500 imp gal (16,000 l; 4,200 US gal) |
| Boiler pressure | 200 psi (1.38 MPa) |
| Firegrate area | 20.56 sq ft (1.910 m2) |
| Heating surface: Tubes |
1,349.64 sq ft (125.386 m2) |
| Heating surface: Firebox |
128.72 sq ft (11.958 m2) |
| Superheater area | 191.88 sq ft (17.826 m2) |
| Cylinders | Two, outside |
| Cylinder size | 18.5 × 30 in (470 × 762 mm) |
| Tractive effort | 25,670 lbf (114.19 kN) |
| Career | Great Western Railway, British Railways |
| Power class | GWR: D; BR: 4MT |
| Number | 4300–4399, 5300–4399, 6300–6399, 7300–7321, 9300–9319 |
| Axle load class | GWR: 4300–7300s Blue; 8300–9300s: Red |
| Locale | Great Britain |
| First run | 1911 |
| Retired | 1936–1964 |
The Great Western Railway (GWR) 4300 Class is a class of 2-6-0 (mogul) steam locomotive.
Contents |
The class was introduced in 1911 to a G.J. Churchward design. 342 were built until 1932. They were initially numbered in the 4300-99, 5300-99, 6300 - 6399 and 7300 - 7321 ranges.
The 4300 Moguls were the maids of all work on the GWR network and later the Western Region of British Railways. Employing a Standard number 4 boiler and the support struts similar to those fitted to the '2800' class, the class very quickly earned an excellent reputation in its ability to handle most types of traffic, from local stopping goods to main line expresses.
After the first twenty locomotives were built, the frames of subsequent engines were lengthened by 9 inches at the rear to give better access for maintenance as well as providing more room in the cab.
Of the class 88 were withdrawn in the 1930s, and the wheels and motion of 80 were used for the Grange Class and 8 for Manor Class engines. The advent of the Second World War in 1939 brought a halt to the conversions.
Eleven examples of the class were transported to France during World War I in the service of the Railway Operating Division of the British Army and these were 5319 - 5326 and 5328 - 5330. One survives in preservation.
Of the 342 engines built only two have been preserved.
In 1925 7300–7304 were modified for better balance and had detail alterations.
Between January and March 1928, due to problems with wear of the flanges of the leading pony truck, 65 engines of 5300 series received additional weight on the pony truck.
In 1932, Charles Collett modified the original design and introduced 9300 - 9319 with side window cabs, outside steam pipes and a screw reverse .
5300–99 were renumbered 8300-399 between 1944 and 1948. After passing into British Railways ownership, the Collett locos 9300–19 were modified back to light buffer beam design and were renumbered 7322–7341 between 1956 and 1959.
6320 was converted to oil firing between 1947 and it was removed in 1949.
The last were withdrawn in 1964.
Only two have survived to preservation:
| Number | Built | Location | Current status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5322 (ex-8322) | 1917 | Didcot Railway Centre | Operational | One of 11 locos exported to France in World War I.
Painted in Rail Operating Division livery |
| 7325 (ex-9303) | 1932 | Severn Valley Railway | On static display | Future overhaul possible with return to original condition |
5322 is the older of the two as it was built in 1917, during the Great War, at Swindon Works. It was sent, with several other members of the class, to France for hauling munitions and hospital trains. There it was painted in War Department livery and given the number ROD5322. Demobbed in 1919 at Chester it returned to the GWR fleet till it was withdrawn from service in April 1964. It was sent to Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, South Wales. The first Barry locomotive to be subject to a preservation fund, it was the second locomotive to leave Woodham's. 5322 thus ended up in preservation as the sole early 43xx to be preserved. It had previously been restored to working order but was not steamed since 1975. It has since returned to steam in 2008 at the Didcot Railway Centre, restored to its 1919 WD condition.
9303 is one of the final batch of 342 locomotives built between 1911 and 1932. They were built with larger cabs and had a weight attached to the buffer beam to place more weight on the leading pony wheels. This was done to reduce the wear on the leading driving wheels. In 1958 the weight was removed from the buffer beam to give the locomotive more route availability. At the same time it was renumbered 7325. The plan is to replace the missing weight at the next overhaul so it can run as 9303.
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