Rhymney Railway P class
Encyclopedia
The Rhymney Railway P class was a class of 0-6-2T steam locomotive
introduced into traffic in 1909 designed by the Rhymney Railway's engineer C. T. Hurry Riches. These were substantial sized tank locomotive
s, weighed 60tons (59 tons after rebuilding) and were 35 in 0 in (10.67 m) in length.
There were initially three locos in the class augmented by another in 1917. The first batch were built by Robert Stephenson and Company
but the last by Hudswell Clarke
. The last differed in having a Belpaire firebox
and was classed as P1. Four more were built by Hudswell Clarke in 1921 just before the company was absorbed by the GWR. These had superheater
s and larger cylinders and were classified AP. The Rhymney subsequently rebuilt one of the P class, No. 5, to P1 class.
and 1910 A
and R
classes were closely related designs ideally suited to hauling trains a relatively short distance. The P's were specifically designed for passenger work having larger driving wheels of 5 in 0 in (1,524 mm) diameter.
All four were reboilered by the GWR with the number 10 boiler from 1926 onwards and in this form was visually similar to the GWR 5600 Class apart from the larger wheels.
Thus the P's (as opposed to the related "Stephenson" M class, R and A classes) were designed for passenger work on the Rhymney Railway, replacing smaller locomotives. When the smaller railway companies were forcibly merged into the GWR these modern 0-6-2's were in generally good order (some were a few months old) and had proved successful. Collectively they became the blueprint for the 200 strong 5600 class.
The design of the 5600 class followed the Rhymney designs quite closely but adopted GWR practice as far as possible, by utilising many standardized parts. Included in Collett’s innovations was a standard number 2 boiler which was suitable for the 5600 (and the M and R class Rhymney locomotives), complete with the traditional copper GWR safety valve casing and copper-capped chimney. A and P classes were rebuilt but used the slightly shorter standard number 10 boiler, also to good effect.
All told twenty nine "Stephenson" locos were similarly dealt with up to as late as 1949.
Brecon and Merthyr Railway, BR numbers 431-436
Cardiff Railway, BR number 155
Rhymney Railway, BR numbers 35-83
Taff Vale Railway, BR numbers 204-399
For further information on these pre-grouping locomotives see Locomotives of the Great Western Railway
.
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...
introduced into traffic in 1909 designed by the Rhymney Railway's engineer C. T. Hurry Riches. These were substantial sized tank locomotive
Tank locomotive
A tank locomotive or tank engine is a steam locomotive that carries its water in one or more on-board water tanks, instead of pulling it behind it in a tender. It will most likely also have some kind of bunker to hold the fuel. There are several different types of tank locomotive dependent upon...
s, weighed 60tons (59 tons after rebuilding) and were 35 in 0 in (10.67 m) in length.
There were initially three locos in the class augmented by another in 1917. The first batch were built by Robert Stephenson and Company
Robert Stephenson and Company
Robert Stephenson and Company was a locomotive manufacturing company founded in 1823. It was the first company set up specifically to build railway engines.- Foundation and early success :...
but the last by Hudswell Clarke
Hudswell Clarke
Hudswell, Clarke and Company Limited was an engineering and locomotive building company in Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.-History:...
. The last differed in having a 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...
and was classed as P1. Four more were built by Hudswell Clarke in 1921 just before the company was absorbed by the GWR. These had superheater
Superheater
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...
s and larger cylinders and were classified AP. The Rhymney subsequently rebuilt one of the P class, No. 5, to P1 class.
| Year | RR Class | RR No. | Builder | Builder Nos. | GWR/BR No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1909 | P | 4–6 | Robert Stephenson & Co. | 3372–3374 | 82, 76, 83 |
| 1917 | P1 | 31 | Hudswell Clarke Hudswell Clarke Hudswell, Clarke and Company Limited was an engineering and locomotive building company in Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.-History:... |
1121 | 77 |
| 1921 | AP | 35–38 | Hudswell Clarke Hudswell Clarke Hudswell, Clarke and Company Limited was an engineering and locomotive building company in Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.-History:... |
1443–1444, 1456–1457 | 78–81 |
Overview of RR classes
The P/P1 classes and preceding 1904 introduced MRhymney Railway M class
The Rhymney Railway M class was a class of 0-6-2T tank locomotive introduced into traffic on the Rhymney Railway in 1904. These were substantial sized tank engines, and weighed 66 tons and were in length....
and 1910 A
Rhymney Railway A class
The Rhymney Railway A class were 0-6-2T tank locomotives introduced into traffic in 1910 and designed by the railway's engineer Hurry Riches. These were substantial sized tank engines, and weighed 64 tons and were 35' 9" in length....
and R
Rhymney Railway R class
The Rhymney R class was a class of 0-6-2T steam locomotive introduced into traffic in 1907 designed by the railway's engineer Hurry Riches. These were substantial sized tank locomotives, and weighed 67 tons and were 37 feet in length.There were initially three locos in the class augmented to five...
classes were closely related designs ideally suited to hauling trains a relatively short distance. The P's were specifically designed for passenger work having larger driving wheels of 5 in 0 in (1,524 mm) diameter.
All four were reboilered by the GWR with the number 10 boiler from 1926 onwards and in this form was visually similar to the GWR 5600 Class apart from the larger wheels.
Thus the P's (as opposed to the related "Stephenson" M class, R and A classes) were designed for passenger work on the Rhymney Railway, replacing smaller locomotives. When the smaller railway companies were forcibly merged into the GWR these modern 0-6-2's were in generally good order (some were a few months old) and had proved successful. Collectively they became the blueprint for the 200 strong 5600 class.
The design of the 5600 class followed the Rhymney designs quite closely but adopted GWR practice as far as possible, by utilising many standardized parts. Included in Collett’s innovations was a standard number 2 boiler which was suitable for the 5600 (and the M and R class Rhymney locomotives), complete with the traditional copper GWR safety valve casing and copper-capped chimney. A and P classes were rebuilt but used the slightly shorter standard number 10 boiler, also to good effect.
All told twenty nine "Stephenson" locos were similarly dealt with up to as late as 1949.
Welsh 0-6-2T types
The railways of South Wales seem to have had a particular liking for the 0-6-2T type. This was because the nature of the work they undertook demanded high adhesive weight, plenty of power with good braking ability, but no need for outright speed, nor large tanks or bunker as the distances from pit to port were short. These Welsh locomotives were taken over by the GWR at the grouping in 1923 and many including seventeen of the Rhymney A, M, P and R's were rebuilt with GWR taper boilers. All the Rhymney Stevenson derived locos passed into British Railways (BR) ownership in 1948. Others included (with some gaps in numbering):Brecon and Merthyr Railway, BR numbers 431-436
Cardiff Railway, BR number 155
Rhymney Railway, BR numbers 35-83
Taff Vale Railway, BR numbers 204-399
For further information on these pre-grouping locomotives see Locomotives of the Great Western Railway
Locomotives of the Great Western Railway
The first Locomotives of the Great Western Railway were specified by Isambard Kingdom Brunel but Daniel Gooch was soon appointed as the railway's Locomotive Superintendent. He designed several different broad gauge types for the growing railway, such as the Firefly and later Iron Duke Class 2-2-2s...
.
External links
- Rail UK database entry for Rhymney Railway P class
- Rail UK database entry for Rhymney Railway AP class
- http://www.greatwestern.org.uk/m_in_062.htm