S&DJR 7F 2-8-0
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LMS 13809, a preserved 7F locomotive, working the Hellifield to Carnforth leg of a Cumbrian Mountain Pullman in 1983. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway (S&DJR) 7F 2-8-0 is a class of steam locomotive designed for hauling heavy coal and goods trains. Eleven were built in two batches in 1914 and 1925, and were used until withdrawn between 1959 and 1964. Two are preserved.
Background
The Midland Railway, joint owners of the S&DJR with the London and South Western Railway (L&SWR), were in charge of locomotive policy on the line. The S&DJR which was heavily graded and required power over and above what was available from the Midland's small engines. M. H. Ryan, S&DJR locomotive superintendent argued for a type specific to the line.
Two plans for 0-8-0s were suggested in 1907 but would have been too heavy. Clearly a special exception to the small engine policy, James Clayton the draughtsman at Derby was given a free hand to design the engine, and produced something unlike any other Derby-designed locomotive of the time.
Design
The design used the G9AS boiler from the Midland Compounds, with a Belpaire firebox and Walschaerts valve gear. A leading pony truck was added, to distribute the weight, making it a 2-8-0. The cylinders were mounted high on the frame, and sloped, to avoid fouling platforms. Because of the gradients that the loco would face, Clayton provided two steam brake cylinders on the engine and a further one on the tender.In service, the cast iron brake blocks originally fitted wore very quickly, and Ferodo blocks were substituted.[1] The Derby standard axle boxes were fitted, so the engines were still subject to the hot boxes that were a fact of life on the Midland. As the locomotives were initially too large for some of the turntables, it was envisaged that they would spend half their time travelling in reverse. Consequently, they were fitted with tablet exchanging apparatus on both sides of the locomotive. In addition, the first six were equipped with cab tenders, but these were later removed circa 1920.[2] The 1914-built locomotives were right-hand drive, while the 1925-built were left-hand drive. In all cases the vacuum brake ejector was located on the driver's side of the smokebox.
Construction
Six were built in 1914 and numbered 80–85 by the S&DJR. In 1925 an additional 5 were ordered from Robert Stephenson and Company in Darlington and built with the larger G9BS boilers, becoming numbers 86–90. Two locomotives, 9679 (ex-89) and 9680 (ex-90) received the smaller G9AS boiler in 1930, while the remaining three retained the larger boiler until it was replaced in the 1950s – 53808 in 1953; 53807 in 1954; and 53806 in 1955. These locomotives gained a packing piece between the smaller boiler and original smokebox saddle. The exception was 53807, the smokebox saddle being rotten and replaced with a one-piece unit like the 1914-built locomotives. This locomotive was therefore unique, as only left-hand drive locomotive with a one piece smokebox saddle.
East Midlands trials
Their success on the Mendip hills prompted the Midland to try them on the East Midlands coal trains, but they were not so satisfactory. They were, after all, designed for climbing hills, but perhaps the reasons were fuel efficiency, for they consumed considerable amounts of high quality coal.[3]
Later life
The S&DJR locos were taken into London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) stock in 1930, and renumbered 9670–9680. They were renumbered as 13800–13810 in 1932. On nationalisation in 1948 British Railways (BR) added 40000 to their numbers making them 53800–53810.
Withdrawals of the 1914-built locomotives occurred between 1959 and 1962 and the five 1925-built engines were all withdrawn between 1963 and 1964.
| Year | Number in service at start of year | Number withdrawn | Locomotive numbers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | 11 | 1 | 53800 |
| 1960 | 10 | 1 | 53802 |
| 1961 | 9 | 2 | 53801, 53805 |
| 1962 | 7 | 2 | 53803, 53804 |
| 1963 | 5 | 1 | 53810 |
| 1964 | 4 | 4 | 53806–53809 |
Preservation
Two have survived, 88 (9678/13808/53808) on the West Somerset Railway and 89 (9679/13809/53809) at the Midland Railway - Butterley. No. 88 returned to service in December 2005 and was painted in S&DJR blue livery, which it never carried in service, for the duration of its boiler ticket. Following withdrawal from service, another overhaul began and is nearing completion. It will be painted back into its authentic guise as 53808, sporting BR black. No. 89's latest overhaul was completed in January 2006, and the locomotive emerged in BR Black Livery as No. 53809 (with Late Crest), entering service in early February at the Midland Railway - Butterley. The locomotive was withdrawn from service early, requiring another overhaul which is nearing completion. 53809 has also worked on the mainline in preservation.
References
- Nock, O. S., Chapter 9 "Locomotives" in Atthill, Robin (1985). The Somerset and Dorset Railway. Newton Abbot: David and Charles. ISBN 0-7153-8692-1.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to S&DJR Class 7F. |
- Information about the class from S&DJR trust
- Rail UK database
- Heißdampf-Güterzuglokomotive der Sommerset—Dorset-Verbindungsbahn mit Rauchröhrenüberhitzer Patent Schmidt from Die Lokomotive (German)