Furness Railway K2
Encyclopedia
The Furness Railway 21 class (classified "K2" by Bob Rush) or "Larger Seagulls", were built a class of eight 4-4-0
steam locomotives designed by W. F. Pettigrew and built by Sharp, Stewart and Company of Glasgow
for the Furness Railway
. Six were built in 1896, and two more in 1900.
They were built to supersede the 120 class
on the heavier and more important trains. They had 6 in 0 in (1.83 m) diameter driving wheels with 18 by 24 in (457.2 by 609.6 mm) cylinders.
The first six of 1896 were numbered 21, 22, 34, 35, 36 and 37 by the Furness Railway (works numbers were 4174–4179). In 1900, two extra engines were added to the class, Furness Railway numbers 124–125. (works numbers 4651–4652). In 1913, two engines, FR Nos. 34 and 37, were fitted with experimental Phoenix smokebox superheater
s, however, these were removed the following year. At some point in time locomotives 21, 22, 34 and 35 were renumbered 44–47 respectively.
By 1923 and the grouping of the FR into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
, all eight engines were still in service, and received LMS numbers, these being 10135–10142 (in order of their later numbers). They lasted until the late 1920s and early 1930s, performing secondary duties on the home turf, between Barrow-in-Furness
and Whitehaven
.
The six-wheeled tenders that this class used were also used by the Furness Railway D3 0-6-0 tender engines. They carried 2500 gallons (11,365.2 l) of water and 3.5 LT of coal, their weight being 28.25 LT.
children's books, the author, the Reverend W. Awdry, describes the character Edward the Blue Engine
as resembling a "Larger Seagull", whose origins had been obscured by later modifications (particularly to the cab and tender) applied after joining The Fat Controller
's railway. It is likely that the Rev. Awdry used this explanation to cover for the earliest illustrators of the books, who were not particularly concerned over the accuracy or consistency of the locomotive illustrations.
4-4-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-4-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and no trailing wheels...
steam locomotives designed by W. F. Pettigrew and built by Sharp, Stewart and Company of Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
for the Furness Railway
Furness Railway
The Furness Railway was a railway company operating in the Furness area of Lancashire in North West England.-History:The company was established on May 23, 1844 when the Furness Railway Act was passed by Parliament...
. Six were built in 1896, and two more in 1900.
They were built to supersede the 120 class
Furness Railway K1
The Furness Railway 120 class or "Seagulls", were built a class of four 4-4-0 steam locomotives designed by W. F. Pettigrew and built by Sharp Stewart and Company of Glasgow for the Furness Railway in 1890....
on the heavier and more important trains. They had 6 in 0 in (1.83 m) diameter driving wheels with 18 by 24 in (457.2 by 609.6 mm) cylinders.
The first six of 1896 were numbered 21, 22, 34, 35, 36 and 37 by the Furness Railway (works numbers were 4174–4179). In 1900, two extra engines were added to the class, Furness Railway numbers 124–125. (works numbers 4651–4652). In 1913, two engines, FR Nos. 34 and 37, were fitted with experimental Phoenix smokebox superheater
Superheater
A superheater is a device used to convert saturated steam or wet steam into dry steam used for power generation or processes. There are three types of superheaters namely: radiant, convection, and separately fired...
s, however, these were removed the following year. At some point in time locomotives 21, 22, 34 and 35 were renumbered 44–47 respectively.
By 1923 and the grouping of the FR into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
, all eight engines were still in service, and received LMS numbers, these being 10135–10142 (in order of their later numbers). They lasted until the late 1920s and early 1930s, performing secondary duties on the home turf, between Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and seaport which forms about half the territory of the wider Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria, England. It lies north of Liverpool, northwest of Manchester and southwest from the county town of Carlisle...
and Whitehaven
Whitehaven
Whitehaven is a small town and port on the coast of Cumbria, England, which lies equidistant between the county's two largest settlements, Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness, and is served by the Cumbrian Coast Line and the A595 road...
.
The six-wheeled tenders that this class used were also used by the Furness Railway D3 0-6-0 tender engines. They carried 2500 gallons (11,365.2 l) of water and 3.5 LT of coal, their weight being 28.25 LT.
Fiction
In a book to accompany The Railway SeriesThe Railway Series
The Railway Series is a set of story books about a railway system located on the fictional Island of Sodor. There are 42 books in the series, the first being published in 1945. Twenty-six were written by the Rev. W. Awdry, up to 1972. A further 16 were written by his son, Christopher Awdry; 14...
children's books, the author, the Reverend W. Awdry, describes the character Edward the Blue Engine
Edward the Blue Engine
Edward the Blue Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic steam locomotive from The Railway Series children's books by the Rev W. Awdry, and the related TV Series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. He is a blue 4-4-0 tender engine with red stripes, about the same size as James the Red Engine, and has...
as resembling a "Larger Seagull", whose origins had been obscured by later modifications (particularly to the cab and tender) applied after joining The Fat Controller
The Fat Controller
The Fat Controller is the head of the railway in The Railway Series of books written by the Rev. W. V. Awdry. In the first two books in the series he is known as The Fat Director...
's railway. It is likely that the Rev. Awdry used this explanation to cover for the earliest illustrators of the books, who were not particularly concerned over the accuracy or consistency of the locomotive illustrations.