LSWR G14 class
Encyclopedia
The LSWR G14 class was a class of 4-6-0
locomotive designed by Dugald Drummond
for the London and South Western Railway
.
design of 1907. This was because the first Drummond 4-6-0, the F13 class
of 1905 had been withdrawn from the heavy boat train services they were designed to undertake, as they were heavy on coal, water and man-hours in terms of upkeep. However, the problem of continually accelerating timetables to the South Coast ports remained, and the E14s could not be relied upon to uphold the heavy passenger services alone.
It was once again clear that another 4-6-0 design was needed due to bolster the strength of heavy express passenger locomotives available to the LSWR's operating department. Their proven ability to ply their trade at faster speeds, and their inherently better power-to-weight ratio on other lines meant that Drummond decided to persevere with the concept. He also returned to the twin-cylinder layout. The resultant design was to become the G14 Class.
The new design was equipped with inside and outside sets of Walschaerts valve gear, therefore reducing the mechanical complexity that had plagued his previous designs, and these powered 6' wheels. This factor also meant a slightly lighter axle-loading, compared to the mixed Stephenson/Walschaerts F13 class
. Large, single splashers were also implemented which covered the wheels, though these would prove troublesome in service. The Drummond 'watercart' eight-wheeled tender was utilised for the long journeys on the LSWR mainline. Full-scale construction was undertaken at Nine Elms
, with the first of five G14s being outshopped in 1908.
, who became Chief Mechanical Engineer
of the newly formed Southern Railway in 1923, decided that the class needed to be rebuilt to conform with the general standardization of Southern locomotive classes. The G14s were reduced to kits of parts, which were utilised in creating a further batch of N15 (King Arthur Class
locomotives.
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
, and were considered to be more successful than their F13 and E14 predecessors. However, the class still had most of the drawbacks associated with Drummond 4-6-0s in terms of high water and coal consumption.
The G14s continued in their Drummond guise without modification until they were rebuilt in 1925 by Richard Maunsell, who used the parts to create new N15 class
locomotives.
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 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...
.
Background
The continuing need to grasp the nettle in terms of Drummond's first two 4-6-0 classes meant that he went back to the drawing board to create yet another design. The LSWR's immediate traffic needs were covered to a certain extent by the relatively unsuccessful E14 classLSWR E14 class
The LSWR E14 Class was a class of 4-6-0 locomotive designed by Dugald Drummond for the London and South Western Railway.- Background :The indifferent feedback gained upon the release of Drummond's first 4-6-0 design, the F13 class meant that he went back to the drawing board to create a new,...
design of 1907. This was because the first Drummond 4-6-0, the F13 class
LSWR F13 class
The London and South Western Railway F13 class was a class of 4-6-0 locomotives designed by Dugald Drummond for the London and South Western Railway .- Background :...
of 1905 had been withdrawn from the heavy boat train services they were designed to undertake, as they were heavy on coal, water and man-hours in terms of upkeep. However, the problem of continually accelerating timetables to the South Coast ports remained, and the E14s could not be relied upon to uphold the heavy passenger services alone.
It was once again clear that another 4-6-0 design was needed due to bolster the strength of heavy express passenger locomotives available to the LSWR's operating department. Their proven ability to ply their trade at faster speeds, and their inherently better power-to-weight ratio on other lines meant that Drummond decided to persevere with the concept. He also returned to the twin-cylinder layout. The resultant design was to become the G14 Class.
Construction history
Drummond decided to continue his development of the 4-6-0 wheel arrangement in anticipation of further increases in speed and length of trains, a concept that had many advantages that would be incorporated onto his third design of this type. A 175 lbf/in² saturated steam boiler was utilised, therefore generating the steam needed to power a four-cylinder front end, which were mounted on the outside.The new design was equipped with inside and outside sets of Walschaerts valve gear, therefore reducing the mechanical complexity that had plagued his previous designs, and these powered 6' wheels. This factor also meant a slightly lighter axle-loading, compared to the mixed Stephenson/Walschaerts F13 class
LSWR F13 class
The London and South Western Railway F13 class was a class of 4-6-0 locomotives designed by Dugald Drummond for the London and South Western Railway .- Background :...
. Large, single splashers were also implemented which covered the wheels, though these would prove troublesome in service. The Drummond 'watercart' eight-wheeled tender was utilised for the long journeys 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 G14s being outshopped in 1908.
| Year | Order | Quantity | LSWR nubers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1908 | 453–457 | |||
Rebuilding under Maunsell
After a period of 17 years in both primary and secondary passenger duties, Richard MaunsellRichard 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....
, who became Chief Mechanical Engineer
Chief Mechanical Engineer
Chief Mechanical Engineer and Locomotive Superintendent are titles applied by British, Australian, and New Zealand railway companies to the person ultimately responsible to the board of the company for the building and maintaining of the locomotives and rolling stock...
of the newly formed Southern Railway in 1923, decided that the class needed to be rebuilt to conform with the general standardization of Southern locomotive classes. The G14s were reduced to kits of parts, which were utilised in creating a further batch of N15 (King Arthur Class
LSWR N15 Class
The LSWR N15 class was a British 2–cylinder 4-6-0 express passenger steam locomotive designed by Robert W. Urie. The class has a complex build history spanning three sub-classes and eight years of construction from 1919 to 1926...
locomotives.
Livery and numbering
Under the LSWR, the G14s were outshopped in the LSWR Passenger Royal 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 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.
Operational details
The G14 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...
, and were considered to be more successful than their F13 and E14 predecessors. However, the class still had most of the drawbacks associated with Drummond 4-6-0s in terms of high water and coal consumption.
The G14s continued in their Drummond guise without modification until they were rebuilt in 1925 by Richard Maunsell, who used the parts to create new N15 class
LSWR N15 Class
The LSWR N15 class was a British 2–cylinder 4-6-0 express passenger steam locomotive designed by Robert W. Urie. The class has a complex build history spanning three sub-classes and eight years of construction from 1919 to 1926...
locomotives.
As a result, no examples survived into preservation.