GWR 1400 Class
Encyclopedia
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.
Although credited to Collett
, the design dated back to 1868 with the introduction of the George Armstrong
517 class
.
between 1868 and 1885.
In this period evolutionary changes included:
Later gradual changes included: Belpaire firebox
es, boilers rated at 165psi as opposed to 150 psi, full cabs, extended bunkers and the progressive conversion of short wheelbase locos to 15' or 15' 6". From 1924 onwards, several were converted to run with an autocoach
, and in this configuration were the direct ancestors of the 48xx class.
In this form, the updated 517's were but a small step away from the 48xx. The wheelbase was still 15' 6", the boiler still rated at only 165 psi, and the wheels 5' 2" and 3' 8". New was the Collett-style cab and bunker and the boiler nominally to a new design. A three bar crosshead was added to the motion. This was a 1924 innovation introduced with the GWR 5600 Class
and also seen in the 1930s-built 54xx, 64xx and 74xx classes.
After the War, all the 4800's were renumbered in the 14xx series in order that some of the 2800 Class
2-8-0s, rebuilt for oil-firing, could be renumbered in the 48xx series.
The twenty 1933-built 5800 Class
locos were almost identical. The defining feature between the two classes of locomotive was that the 48xx was fitted for autotrains
with a mechanical system linking them and the autocoach. The autocoach
was a specialist coach, designed for this purpose, which could also be used with the 517's, the GWR 5400 Class
, the GWR 6400 Class
and the older GWR 2021 Class
. In later life, lack of auto gear was the cause of earlier scrapping of the newer locos as there was no work for them. They were all gone by 1959.
The auto-fitted locos fared little better; scrapping commenced in 1956 and all were withdrawn by early 1965. By the early 1960s several had been 'in store' (parked in an out-of-the-way siding with a tarpaulin over the chimney) for some time, being occasionally steamed to replace failed diesels.
Known affectionately as The Tivvy Bumper, 1442 hauled the last train to Tiverton
in October 1965.
of children's books
written by the Rev. W. Awdry, and in the spin-off TV series (Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
).
Two of these engines (GWR
1401 and GWR 1462) played prominent roles in the film The Titfield Thunderbolt
, the first (1401) as the main locomotive of the Titfield–Mallingford branch, and the second (1462) as a stolen locomotive.
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
designed by the Great Western Railway
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...
for branch line
Branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
passenger work. It was originally classified as the 4800 Class when introduced in 1932, and renumbered in 1946.
Although credited to Collett
Charles Collett
Charles Benjamin Collett was chief mechanical engineer of the Great Western Railway from 1922 to 1941. He designed the GWR's 4-6-0 Castle and King Class express passenger locomotives.-Career:...
, the design dated back to 1868 with the introduction of the George Armstrong
George Armstrong (engineer)
George Armstrong was in charge of standard gauge steam locomotives for the Great Western Railway at Stafford Road Works, Wolverhampton from 1864 to 1897...
517 class
GWR 517 Class
The 517 Class were small 0-4-2T tank engines designed by George Armstrong for local passenger work on the Great Western Railway. They were built at Wolverhampton Works and were outshopped between 1868 and 1885. They were built in thirteen lots commencing with 517–528 and ending with 1477–1488 in...
.
Precursors
Like the 48xx/14xx, the 517 Class was a lightweight loco for branchline work; it was built at Wolverhampton WorksWolverhampton railway works
Wolverhampton railway works was in the city of Wolverhampton in the county of Staffordshire, England. It was almost due north of the city centre, and is commemorated with a small display of level crossing gates and a plaque...
between 1868 and 1885.
In this period evolutionary changes included:
- 517-570 – with 13' 7" wheelbase, inside bearings to trailing wheels, and saddle tanks built 1868-1869.
- 571-576 – with 13' 7" wheelbase, outside bearings and side tanks built 1869-1870
- 826-836, 838-849, 1154–1165, 202-05, 215-222, 1421–1432, 1433–1444, 1465-1482 – all with 15' wheelbase with side tanks built 1873-1883
- 1483-1488 – with 15' 6" wheelbase and side tanks built 1884-1885
Later gradual changes included: Belpaire firebox
Belpaire firebox
The Belpaire firebox is a type of firebox used on steam locomotives. It was invented by Alfred Belpaire of Belgium. It has a greater surface area at the top of the firebox, improving heat transfer and steam production...
es, boilers rated at 165psi as opposed to 150 psi, full cabs, extended bunkers and the progressive conversion of short wheelbase locos to 15' or 15' 6". From 1924 onwards, several were converted to run with an autocoach
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...
, and in this configuration were the direct ancestors of the 48xx class.
In this form, the updated 517's were but a small step away from the 48xx. The wheelbase was still 15' 6", the boiler still rated at only 165 psi, and the wheels 5' 2" and 3' 8". New was the Collett-style cab and bunker and the boiler nominally to a new design. A three bar crosshead was added to the motion. This was a 1924 innovation introduced with the GWR 5600 Class
GWR 5600 Class
The GWR 5600 Class is a class of 0-6-2T steam locomotive built between 1924 and 1928. They were designed by C.B Collett for the Great Western Railway , and were introduced into traffic in 1924. Two hundred locomotives were built and remained in service until withdrawn by British Railways between...
and also seen in the 1930s-built 54xx, 64xx and 74xx classes.
After the War, all the 4800's were renumbered in the 14xx series in order that some of the 2800 Class
GWR 2800 Class
The Great Western Railway 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....
2-8-0s, rebuilt for oil-firing, could be renumbered in the 48xx series.
The twenty 1933-built 5800 Class
GWR 5800 Class
The Great Western Railway 5800 Class was a twenty-strong class of 0-4-2T side tank steam locomotive. These were introduced in 1933 for light branch work. They were similar to the GWR 1400 Class but were not equipped for working autotrains. The entire class was scrapped.-Model form:A 5-inch gauge...
locos were almost identical. The defining feature between the two classes of locomotive was that the 48xx was fitted for autotrains
Push-pull train
Push–pull is a mode of operation for locomotive-hauled trains allowing them to be driven from either end.A push–pull train has a locomotive at one end of the train, connected via some form of remote control, such as multiple-unit train control, to a vehicle equipped with a control cab at the other...
with a mechanical system linking them and the autocoach. The autocoach
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...
was a specialist coach, designed for this purpose, which could also be used with the 517's, the GWR 5400 Class
GWR 5400 Class
The Great Western Railway 5400 Class is a class of 0-6-0 pannier tank steam locomotive. They were similar in appearance to many other GWR tank engines but smaller than the ubiquitous GWR 5700 Class....
, the GWR 6400 Class
GWR 6400 Class
The Great Western Railway 6400 Class is a class of 0-6-0 pannier tank steam locomotive introduced by Charles Collett in 1932. All 40 examples were 'auto-fitted' – equipped with the remote-control equipment needed for working autotrains....
and the older GWR 2021 Class
GWR 2021 Class
The GWR 2021 Class was a class of 140 0-6-0 saddle tank steam locomotives. They were built at the Wolverhampton railway works of the Great Western Railway between 1897 and 1905...
. In later life, lack of auto gear was the cause of earlier scrapping of the newer locos as there was no work for them. They were all gone by 1959.
The auto-fitted locos fared little better; scrapping commenced in 1956 and all were withdrawn by early 1965. By the early 1960s several had been 'in store' (parked in an out-of-the-way siding with a tarpaulin over the chimney) for some time, being occasionally steamed to replace failed diesels.
Preservation
Four examples have been preserved, all late withdrawals from service in the 1963-1965 period. All went direct to preservation from British Railways in relatively good condition. The current location of the preserved examples is as follows:- 1420 – South Devon RailwaySouth Devon Railway TrustThe South Devon Railway Trust is a charitable organisation that operates a heritage railway from Totnes to Buckfastleigh in Devon, alongside the River Dart...
(under overhaul) - 1442 – Tiverton Museum, Tiverton, Devon (static exhibit)
- 1450 – Dean Forest RailwayDean Forest RailwayThe Dean Forest Railway is a long heritage railway that runs between Lydney and Parkend in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. The route was part of the Severn and Wye Railway which ran from Lydney to Cinderford. The society that operates the line started steam locomotive operations in 1971, and...
(Operational-on Tours) - 1466 – Didcot Railway CentreDidcot Railway CentreDidcot Railway Centre, located in the town of Didcot in the English county of Oxfordshire, is based around the site of a comprehensive "engine shed" which became redundant after the nationalisation of the UK railways, due to the gradual changeover from steam to diesel motive power.-Description:The...
(awaiting overhaul)
Known affectionately as The Tivvy Bumper, 1442 hauled the last train to Tiverton
Tiverton railway station
Tiverton railway station served the town of Tiverton, Devon, England. It opened in 1848 as the terminus station of a broad gauge branch line from the Bristol and Exeter Railway main line: the main line junction station four miles away had originally been called Tiverton Road but was renamed as ...
in October 1965.
In fiction
A fictional 1400 class locomotive (Oliver the Western Engine) appears in 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...
of children's books
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
written by the Rev. W. Awdry, and in the spin-off TV series (Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
Thomas and Friends is a British children's television series, first broadcast on the ITV network in September 1984. Until 2003, it was named Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. This series was shot on 35mm film...
).
Two of these engines (GWR
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...
1401 and GWR 1462) played prominent roles in the film The Titfield Thunderbolt
The Titfield Thunderbolt
The Titfield Thunderbolt is a 1953 British comedy film about a group of villagers trying to prevent British Railways from closing the fictional Titfield branch line. The film was written by T.E.B...
, the first (1401) as the main locomotive of the Titfield–Mallingford branch, and the second (1462) as a stolen locomotive.
External links
- The Great Western Archive – 1400 class
- South Devon Railway - Details of no. 1420 (includes drawing and specifications)
- GWR 14xx Class - Past & Present (includes operating history of the preserved examples)