LSWR F13 class
Encyclopedia
The London and South Western Railway F13 class was a class of 4-6-0
locomotive
s designed by Dugald Drummond
for the London and South Western Railway
(LSWR).
designs meant that the LSWR's immediate traffic needs were covered in 1905, he began to undertake a new project that would help solve a new problem. This problem rested in fact that the timetables were continually accelerated because of this success, especially in the case of boat trains to the South Coast ports.
It soon became clear that faster passenger locomotives with a better power-to-weight ratio than the 4-4-0 designs were needed, in order to keep pace with the LSWR's passenger requirements increasing due to lengthened, heavier rolling stock that needed to keep up with faster point-to-point schedules.
As a result, Drummond believed that a new wheel arrangement (for the LSWR) was required in order to support such power, which in turn was provided by a multiple-cylinder layout. The resultant design was to become the F13 Class.
The new design was equipped with Stephenson valve gear
for the inside cylinders and Walschaerts valve gear for the outside, therefore creating an overly complex design in respect to spare parts required during overhauls. This factor also created a heavy locomotive, though route availability was not a high consideration in terms of their intended role to ply their trade on the LSWR mainline.
Full-scale construction was undertaken at Nine Elms
, with the first of five F13s being outshopped in 1905, and the class was married to a Drummond 'watercart' eight-wheeled tender in an attempt to provide adequate provision of coal and water for long journeys.
When transferred to Southern Railway
ownership after 1923, the locomotives were outshopped in Richard Maunsell
's darker version of the LSWR livery. The LSWR standard gilt lettering was changed to yellow with 'Southern' on the water tank sides. The locomotives also featured black and white lining.
and Exeter
, but were unsuccessful resulting in their operation lasting only a year. The class saw more success when rostered to operate on the less arduous stretch of track between Salisbury and Southampton
, hauling coal trains between these two destinations, a far cry from their intended role.
One, number 333 was fitted with an Eastleigh superheater in 1920, but the class was deemed a failure and withdrawn in 1924, although the 334 had been laid aside since the end of 1921. All were rebuilt by Richard Maunsell
into H15 class 4-6-0s.
As a result, no examples survived into preservation.
4-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles in a leading truck, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels. This wheel arrangement became the second-most popular...
locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
s designed by Dugald Drummond
Dugald Drummond
Dugald Drummond was a Scottish steam locomotive engineer. He had a career with the North British Railway, LB&SCR, Caledonian Railway and London and South Western Railway...
for the London and South Western Railway
London and South Western Railway
The London and South Western Railway was a railway company in England from 1838 to 1922. Its network extended from London to Plymouth via Salisbury and Exeter, with branches to Ilfracombe and Padstow and via Southampton to Bournemouth and Weymouth. It also had many routes connecting towns in...
(LSWR).
Background
Whilst Dugald Drummond's success with his previous 4-4-04-4-0
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...
designs meant that the LSWR's immediate traffic needs were covered in 1905, he began to undertake a new project that would help solve a new problem. This problem rested in fact that the timetables were continually accelerated because of this success, especially in the case of boat trains to the South Coast ports.
It soon became clear that faster passenger locomotives with a better power-to-weight ratio than the 4-4-0 designs were needed, in order to keep pace with the LSWR's passenger requirements increasing due to lengthened, heavier rolling stock that needed to keep up with faster point-to-point schedules.
As a result, Drummond believed that a new wheel arrangement (for the LSWR) was required in order to support such power, which in turn was provided by a multiple-cylinder layout. The resultant design was to become the F13 Class.
Construction history
Drummond had settled on the 4-6-0 wheel arrangement in anticipation of further increases in speed and length of trains, a concept that had many advantages. A longer, larger boiler could therefore be utilised, therefore generating the steam needed to power a four-cylinder front end, and 6 in 0 in (1.83 m) wheels were utilised. In terms of the cylinder arrangement, Drummond's first foray into 4-6-0 locomotive design was highly unusual.The new design was equipped with Stephenson valve gear
Stephenson valve gear
The Stephenson valve gear or Stephenson link or shifting link is a simple design of valve gear that was widely used throughout the world for all kinds of steam engine. It is named after Robert Stephenson but was actually invented by his employees....
for the inside cylinders and Walschaerts valve gear for the outside, therefore creating an overly complex design in respect to spare parts required during overhauls. This factor also created a heavy locomotive, though route availability was not a high consideration in terms of their intended role to ply their trade on the LSWR mainline.
Full-scale construction was undertaken at Nine Elms
Nine Elms
Nine Elms is a suburb of London, situated in the far north-eastern corner of the London Borough of Wandsworth between Battersea and Vauxhall.It is primarily an industrial area, dominated by Battersea Power Station, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, railway lines, a major Royal Mail sorting office and...
, with the first of five F13s being outshopped in 1905, and the class was married to a Drummond 'watercart' eight-wheeled tender in an attempt to provide adequate provision of coal and water for long journeys.
| Year | Batch | Quantity | LSWR numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1905 | 330–334 | |||
Livery and numbering
Under the LSWR, the F13s were outshopped in the LSWR Passenger Sage Green livery with purple-brown edging, creating panels of green. This was further lined in white and black with 'LSWR' in gilt on the tender tank sides.When transferred to Southern Railway
Southern Railway (Great Britain)
The Southern Railway was a British railway company established in the 1923 Grouping. It linked London with the Channel ports, South West England, South coast resorts and Kent...
ownership after 1923, the locomotives were outshopped in Richard Maunsell
Richard Maunsell
Richard Edward Lloyd Maunsell held the post of Chief Mechanical Engineer of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway from 1913 until the 1923 Grouping and then the post of CME of the Southern Railway in England until 1937....
's darker version of the LSWR livery. The LSWR standard gilt lettering was changed to yellow with 'Southern' on the water tank sides. The locomotives also featured black and white lining.
Operational details
The F13 design had originally been intended to operate expresses between SalisburySalisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
and Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
, but were unsuccessful resulting in their operation lasting only a year. The class saw more success when rostered to operate on the less arduous stretch of track between Salisbury and Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, hauling coal trains between these two destinations, a far cry from their intended role.
One, number 333 was fitted with an Eastleigh superheater in 1920, but the class was deemed a failure and withdrawn in 1924, although the 334 had been laid aside since the end of 1921. All were rebuilt by Richard Maunsell
Richard Maunsell
Richard Edward Lloyd Maunsell held the post of Chief Mechanical Engineer of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway from 1913 until the 1923 Grouping and then the post of CME of the Southern Railway in England until 1937....
into H15 class 4-6-0s.
As a result, no examples survived into preservation.