LB&SCR C2 Class
Encyclopedia
The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
C2 class was a class of 0-6-0
steam locomotive
s, intended for heavy freight trains. Fifty-five were built by the Vulcan Foundry
between 1893 and 1902 to the design of Robert J. Billinton
.
was given authority to build ten new 0-6-0
freight locomotives, to take over from Stroudley
's C1 class. However, at the time, Brighton works
was fully committed building Billinton's various classes of radial tanks
and so tenders were sought from outside contractors. Ultimately the Vulcan Foundry
agreed to construct these ten locomotives, and further orders were received at intervals until 55 had been purchased by February 1902. The class were therefore nicknamed 'Vulcans'.
The class was fairly successful initially, but during the first decade of the twentieth century the railway experienced a rapid growth in traffic and by 1905 the locomotives were no longer capable of hauling the heaviest trains without loss of time. Douglas Earle Marsh's
initial response was to introduce his C3 class
with a larger boiler in 1906, but the performance of these also proved to be disappointing.
In 1908 Marsh therefore rebuilt one C2 with a larger diameter steel boiler and extended smokebox. In doing so he created an excellent powerful freight locomotive that was classified "C2X". The rebuild was so successful that all but ten of the class were similarly rebuilt over the next thirty years, and were nicknamed 'Large Vulcans'.
in 1923, but the trade recession of the 1930s caused a decline in freight traffic resulting in the withdrawal of seven C2 locomotives. However, the advent of the Second World War ensured that the remaining examples all survived until after the nationalisation of the railways to British Railways in 1948. The remaining three C2 locomotives were all withdrawn between 1948 and 1950.
The C2X locomotives remained in regular use for a further decade and had completed very impressive mileages for freight locomotives before they were all withdrawn between 1957 and February 1962. Unfortunately, no examples have been preserved.
London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1846 to 1922. Its territory formed a rough triangle, with London at its apex, practically the whole coastline of Sussex as its base, and a large part of Surrey...
C2 class was a class of 0-6-0
0-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels...
steam 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...
s, intended for heavy freight trains. Fifty-five were built by the Vulcan Foundry
Vulcan Foundry
Vulcan Foundry was a British locomotive builder sited at Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire .-History:It was originally opened in 1832 as Charles Tayleur and Company to produce girders for bridges, switches and crossings, and other ironwork following the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway...
between 1893 and 1902 to the design of Robert J. Billinton
R. J. Billinton
Robert John Billinton was the Locomotive, Carriage, Wagon and Marine Superintendent of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway from 1890 until his death.-Early career:...
.
History
In January 1891 Robert BillintonR. J. Billinton
Robert John Billinton was the Locomotive, Carriage, Wagon and Marine Superintendent of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway from 1890 until his death.-Early career:...
was given authority to build ten new 0-6-0
0-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels...
freight locomotives, to take over from Stroudley
William Stroudley
William Stroudley was one of Britain's most famous steam locomotive engineers of the nineteenth century, working principally for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway...
's C1 class. However, at the time, Brighton works
Brighton railway works
Brighton railway works was one of the earliest railway-owned locomotive repair works, founded in 1840 by the London and Brighton Railway in Brighton, England, and thus pre-dating the more famous railway works at Crewe, Doncaster and Swindon...
was fully committed building Billinton's various classes of radial tanks
Radial axle
A radial axle is an axle on a railway locomotive or carriage which has been designed to move laterally when entering a curve in order to reduce the flange and rail wear....
and so tenders were sought from outside contractors. Ultimately the Vulcan Foundry
Vulcan Foundry
Vulcan Foundry was a British locomotive builder sited at Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire .-History:It was originally opened in 1832 as Charles Tayleur and Company to produce girders for bridges, switches and crossings, and other ironwork following the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway...
agreed to construct these ten locomotives, and further orders were received at intervals until 55 had been purchased by February 1902. The class were therefore nicknamed 'Vulcans'.
The class was fairly successful initially, but during the first decade of the twentieth century the railway experienced a rapid growth in traffic and by 1905 the locomotives were no longer capable of hauling the heaviest trains without loss of time. Douglas Earle Marsh's
D. E. Marsh
Douglas Earle Marsh was the Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Superintendent of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway from November 1904 until his early retirement on health grounds in July 1911.-Early career:...
initial response was to introduce his C3 class
LB&SCR C3 class
The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway C3 class was a class of 0-6-0 steam locomotives, intended for heavy freight trains. Ten were built by Brighton railway works in 1906 to the design of Douglas Earle Marsh.-History:...
with a larger boiler in 1906, but the performance of these also proved to be disappointing.
In 1908 Marsh therefore rebuilt one C2 with a larger diameter steel boiler and extended smokebox. In doing so he created an excellent powerful freight locomotive that was classified "C2X". The rebuild was so successful that all but ten of the class were similarly rebuilt over the next thirty years, and were nicknamed 'Large Vulcans'.
Grouping and Nationalisation
All of the C2 and C2X locomotive passed to the Southern RailwaySouthern 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...
in 1923, but the trade recession of the 1930s caused a decline in freight traffic resulting in the withdrawal of seven C2 locomotives. However, the advent of the Second World War ensured that the remaining examples all survived until after the nationalisation of the railways to British Railways in 1948. The remaining three C2 locomotives were all withdrawn between 1948 and 1950.
The C2X locomotives remained in regular use for a further decade and had completed very impressive mileages for freight locomotives before they were all withdrawn between 1957 and February 1962. Unfortunately, no examples have been preserved.
Sources
- Bradley, D.L. (1974) Locomotives of the London Brighton and South Coast Railway, Part 3. Railway Correspondence and Travel Society.
External links
- Semg gallery
- http://www.railuk.info/steam/getsteamclass.php?item=C2 Rail UK database C2
- http://www.railuk.info/steam/getsteamclass.php?item=C2X Rail UK database C2X