GWR 2884 Class

GWR 2884 Class

3822 at Didcot
Type and origin
Power type Steam
Designer Charles Collett
Builder GWR Swindon Works
Build date 1938–1942
Total produced 83
Specifications
Configuration 2-8-0
Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia 3 ft 2 in (0.965 m)
Driver diameter 4 ft 7 1⁄2 in (1.410 m)
Minimum curve 7 chains (460 ft; 140 m) normal,
6 chains (400 ft; 120 m) slow
Length 63 ft 2 1⁄4 in (19.26 m)
Width 8 ft 11 in (2.72 m)
Height 13 ft 0 in (3.96 m)
Axle load 17 long tons 0 cwt (38,100 lb or 17.3 t) full
Adhesive weight 67 long tons 0 cwt (150,100 lb or 68.1 t) full
Loco weight 76 long tons 5 cwt (170,800 lb or 77.5 t) full
Tender weight 40 long tons 0 cwt (89,600 lb or 40.6 t) full
Fuel type Coal
Water cap 3,500 imperial gallons (16,000 l; 4,200 US gal)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		 27.07 sq ft (2.515 m2)
Boiler pressure 225 psi (1.55 MPa)
Heating surface:
 • Tubes		 1,686.60 sq ft (156.690 m2)
 • Firebox 154.78 sq ft (14.380 m2)
Superheater 4 or 6 element
 • Heating area 4-element: 191.8 sq ft (17.82 m2),
6-element: 253.38 sq ft (23.540 m2)
Cylinders Two, outside
Cylinder size 18.5 in × 30 in (470 mm × 762 mm)
Valve gear Stephenson
Valve type piston valves
Performance figures
Tractive effort 35,380 lbf (157.4 kN)
Career
Operators GWR » BR
Class 2884
Power class GWR: E
BR: 8F
Axle load class GWR: Blue
Withdrawn 1962–1965
Disposition Nine preserved, remainder scrapped

The Great Western Railway (GWR) 2884 Class is a class of 2-8-0 steam locomotive.

History

They were designed for heavy freight work and were a development of the earlier 2800 Class. The 2884s differed from the original engines in a number of respects, the most obvious being that a more modern Collett side window cab was provided and that they were built with outside steam pipes.

Production

83 2884 class were built between 1938 and 1941. Those built during the war did not have the side window to the cab, and the side window on the others was plated over. This was to reduce glare as a precaution against air attack. [1] The windows were reinstated after the war.

They were so popular with the ex-Great Western crews that the British Railways Western Region operating authorities wanted more of the class built after nationalisation in 1948; however, this request was turned down in favour of BR Standard Class 9Fs.

Oil firing

Between 1945 and 1947, coal shortages caused GWR to experiment with oil fired 2800 locomotives. Eight of the 2884 class were converted and renumbered from 4850. The experiment, encouraged by the government was abandoned in 1948 once the extra maintenance costs were calculated and the bill had arrived for the imported oil.


1948 Locomotive Exchange Trials

The year 1948 also saw one of the 2884 class, No.3803 (now preserved), emerge remarkably successfully from the 1948 Locomotive Exchange Trials against more modern engines including the LMS 8F and the WD Austerity 2-8-0 and WD Austerity 2-10-0. It took the appearance in 1954 of the British Railways BR standard class 9F 2-10-0 to displace the 2800s from their main role of mineral haulage. Nevertheless, there was still work for them right up to the end of steam on the Western region in 1965. Six decades of service testify to the fundamental excellence of Churchward's original conception.

No. 3863 on a down freight west of Patchway 12 August 1963

Preservation

Nine 2884s were saved from Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales:

Number Year Built Withdrawn Location Status Notes
2885 Mar 1938 Jan 1964 Tyseley Locomotive Works Stored Formerly on display at Birmingham Moor Street.
3802 Dec 1938 Aug 1965 Llangollen Railway Undergoing Overhaul Currently paired with a 4,000 gallon Collett tender instead of the usual 3,500 gallon Churchward tender.
3803 Jan 1939 Jul 1963 Battlefield Line Railway Operational Based at the South Devon Railway.
3814 Mar 1940 Dec 1964 North Yorkshire Moors Railway Stored Currently awaiting restoration to running condition.
3822 Apr 1940 Jan 1964 Didcot Railway Centre Static Display Awaiting overhaul after being withdrawn from traffic in 2010. In 1989, 3822 was used in the Music video of the song Breakthru by the band Queen.
3845 Apr 1942 Jun 1964 TBC Stored At a private site in the West Midlands awaiting restoration.
3850 Jun 1942 Aug 1965 Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Undergoing Overhaul Originally restored at and operated at the West Somerset Railway, now moved to Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway for 10-year overhaul.
3855 Oct 1942 Aug 1965 East Lancashire Railway Stored Currently in ex Barry Scrapyard condition awaiting restoration.
3862 Nov 1942 Feb 1965 Northampton & Lamport Railway Undergoing Restoration Being restored from ex Barry Scrapyard condition to full running condition.

Models

Hornby Railways manufacture a model of the 2884 Class in OO gauge.
Dapol produce a model in N gauge.

References

  1. ↑ "3822 - 2-8-0". Retrieved 22 April 2014.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to GWR 2884 Class.
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