GWR 2800 Class
Encyclopedia
The Great Western Railway
(GWR) 2800 Class is a class of steam locomotive designed by G.J. Churchward for heavy freight work. They were the first 2-8-0
class in Great Britain.
The prototype, originally numbered 97 but later renumbered 2800, appeared in 1903. Construction of the production series commenced in 1905 and continued until 1919. The 2884 Class
which appeared in 1938–1942 was developed from the 2800 class and is sometimes classified with it.
was incorporated into the class from 1909 with No.2808 the first to be retro-fitted. Other modifications centred on improving the weight distribution, altering smokebox lengths and fitting larger diameter chimneys.
The 84 2800s built by Churchward remained the GWR's principal long haul freight engines throughout the 1920s and 1930s. The only serious problem met with in traffic was with the sealing of the internal steam pipes. Beginning in 1934 most of the class had them replaced with the outside kind.
to experiment with oil fired
2800 locomotives and 12 of the 2800 class were converted, as were eight of the 2884 class. They were renumbered into the 4800 series, which necessitated re-numbering the entire 4800 class
autotanks
into the 1400 series, and reclassified as 1400 class. 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.
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.
, 2818, 2857, 2859, 2861, 2873, 2874, along with nine 2884 class.
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
(GWR) 2800 Class is a class of steam locomotive designed by G.J. Churchward for heavy freight work. They were the first 2-8-0
2-8-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-8-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and no trailing wheels...
class in Great Britain.
The prototype, originally numbered 97 but later renumbered 2800, appeared in 1903. Construction of the production series commenced in 1905 and continued until 1919. The 2884 Class
GWR 2884 Class
The Great Western Railway 2884 Class is a class of 2-8-0 steam locomotive designed for heavy freight work. They 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...
which appeared in 1938–1942 was developed from the 2800 class and is sometimes classified with it.
Prototype
No.97 undertook two years of trials before going into production. Initial results suggested that only the front end needed further development. Initially the boiler pressure of the 2-8-0 was set at 200 lbf/in2 with 18 inches (457 mm) diameter cylinders. Tractive effort started out at 29775 lbf (132.4 kN) but was increased substantially in the production engines by enlarging the cylinder diameter to 18+1/2 in and raising the steam pressure to 225 lbf/in2. The 8+1/2 in piston valves were enlarged to 10 in (254 mm).Production
The most visible difference between No.97 and the first of the 1905 production batch was the higher pitch of the boiler (8 in 2 in (2.49 m) opposed to 7 foot). At first the prototype was given a 4000 gallons (18,184.4 l) tender but almost without exception the 2800s were harnessed to the 3500 gallons (15,911.3 l) variety throughout their working lives. SuperheatingSuperheater
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...
was incorporated into the class from 1909 with No.2808 the first to be retro-fitted. Other modifications centred on improving the weight distribution, altering smokebox lengths and fitting larger diameter chimneys.
The 84 2800s built by Churchward remained the GWR's principal long haul freight engines throughout the 1920s and 1930s. The only serious problem met with in traffic was with the sealing of the internal steam pipes. Beginning in 1934 most of the class had them replaced with the outside kind.
Oil firing
Between 1945 and 1947, coal shortages caused GWRGreat Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
to experiment with oil fired
Oil burner (engine)
An oil burner engine is a steam engine that uses oil as its fuel. The term is often used with reference to a locomotive or ship engine that burns oil, to heat water, to produce steam which drives the pistons, or turbines, from which the power is derived. Some engines of this form were originally...
2800 locomotives and 12 of the 2800 class were converted, as were eight of the 2884 class. They were renumbered into the 4800 series, which necessitated re-numbering the entire 4800 class
GWR 1400 Class
The GWR 1400 Class is a class of steam locomotive designed by the Great Western Railway for branch line passenger work. It was originally classified as the 4800 Class when introduced in 1932, and renumbered in 1946....
autotanks
GWR Autocoach
The GWR Autocoach is a type of coach that was used by the Great Western Railway for push-pull trains powered by a steam locomotive. The distinguishing design feature of an autocoach is the driving cab at one end, allowing the driver to control the train without needing to be located in the cab of...
into the 1400 series, and reclassified as 1400 class. 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.
Trials
The year 1948 also saw one of the 2800 class, No.3803, emerge remarkably successfully from trials against more modern engines including the LMS 8F and the WD Austerity 2-8-0WD Austerity 2-8-0
The War Department "Austerity" 2-8-0 is a type of heavy freight steam locomotive that was introduced in 1943 for war service. A total of 935 were built.- Overview :...
and WD Austerity 2-10-0
WD Austerity 2-10-0
The War Department "Austerity" 2-10-0 is a type of heavy freight steam locomotive that was introduced during the Second World War in 1943.-Background:...
. It took the appearance in 1954 of the British Railways BR standard class 9F
BR standard class 9F
The British Railways BR Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 is a class of steam locomotive designed for British Railways by Robert Riddles. The Class 9F was the last in a series of standardised locomotive classes designed for British Railways during the 1950s, and was intended for use on fast, heavy freight...
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.
Preservation
Seven 2800 class survive, these being 2807GWR 2800 Class 2807
thumb|[[Great Western Railway|GWR]] [[2-8-0]] [[GWR 2800 Class|2800 Class]] No. 2807 on the occasion of her 100th birthday celebration. This photograph was taken at [[Toddington railway station|Toddington]] on the [[Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway]] during September 2005.Great Western Railway...
, 2818, 2857, 2859, 2861, 2873, 2874, along with nine 2884 class.
- No. 2807GWR 2800 Class 2807thumb|[[Great Western Railway|GWR]] [[2-8-0]] [[GWR 2800 Class|2800 Class]] No. 2807 on the occasion of her 100th birthday celebration. This photograph was taken at [[Toddington railway station|Toddington]] on the [[Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway]] during September 2005.Great Western Railway...
is in service on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire RailwayGloucestershire Warwickshire RailwayThe Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway is a volunteer-run heritage railway on the Gloucestershire/Worcestershire/Warwickshire Borders that has reopened the closed railway line between Laverton Halt and Cheltenham Racecourse railway stations in Gloucestershire/Worcestershire., it currently... - No. 2818 is on static display at the National Railway MuseumNational Railway MuseumThe National Railway Museum is a museum in York forming part of the British National Museum of Science and Industry and telling the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. It has won many awards, including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001...
- No. 2857 is in service on the Severn Valley RailwaySevern Valley RailwayThe Severn Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Shropshire and Worcestershire, England. The line runs along the Severn Valley from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route...
- No. 2859 is awaiting restoration on the Llangollen RailwayLlangollen RailwayThe Llangollen Railway is a volunteer-run preserved railway in Denbighshire, Wales, which operates between Llangollen and Carrog; at long, it is the longest preserved standard gauge line in Wales and operates daily in Summer as well as weekends throughout the Winter months using a wide variety of...
- No. 2861 is awaiting restoration on the Vale of Glamorgan RailwayVale of Glamorgan RailwayThe Barry Tourist Railway is a railway developed to attract visitors to Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales...
- No. 2873 is awaiting restoration on the South Devon RailwaySouth Devon RailwaySouth Devon Railway could mean:* South Devon Railway Company - the company that built the railway from Exeter to Plymouth* South Devon Railway Trust - the heritage railway from Totnes to BuckfastleighOther heritage railways in South Devon include:...
- No. 2874 is awaiting restoration by Dinmore Manor Locomotive LtdGWR 7800 Class 7820 Dinmore Manor7820 Dinmore Manor is a British Railways locomotive part of the Manor Class. It is one of nine locomotives preserved from the class, which originally numbered 30....
on the West Somerset RailwayWest Somerset RailwayThe West Somerset Railway is a railway line that originally linked and in Somerset, England.It opened in 1862 and was extended from Watchet to by the Minehead Railway in 1874. Although just a single track, improvements were needed in the first half of the twentieth century to accommodate the...