SER 235 class
Encyclopedia
The SER 235 class was a class of 0-4-4T steam locomotives on the South Eastern Railway
. Introduced in 1866, they were the first locomotives of this wheel arrangement to be built for an English railway.
locomotives were introduced, for use on the London suburban passenger services; they were designed by James I. Cudworth
, the company's locomotive superintendent. They performed well, but their capabilities were restricted by the small fuel and water capacities; so after twelve of these were in service, Cudworth produced an enlarged version of the design. With the fuel capacity raised from 0.75 long tons (762 kg) to 1.25 LT (1,270.1 kg) and the water capacity raised from 690 gallons (3,136.8 l) to 850 imp gal (3,864.2 l), the extra weight and length that this required behind the cab made it necessary to support the rear of the locomotive on a bogie in place of the single rear axle, producing an 0-4-4T
- the first of that wheel arrangement to be built for an English railway (the first Scottish railway to use the 0-4-4T wheel arrangement was the Caledonian
, in 1873). There were compensating levers to equalise the weight between the coupled axles, and the outside-framed bogie also had compensating levers; it carried about a third of the locomotive's weight. Like the 205 class, they burned coke
as a fuel.
At first, they were mainly used on the services to . Only one batch (of seven) was built, in 1866; there were troubles with the bogie, and so when more were required, Cudworth once more used the 0-4-2T type, producing the 73 class. However, the 235 class continued to be used, and all were given new boilers between 1877 and 1883. Under Stirling's locomotive classification scheme (September 1879), they formed Class J. They were withdrawn between 1887 and 1893.
South Eastern Railway (UK)
The South Eastern Railway was a railway company in south-eastern England from 1836 until 1922. The company was formed to construct a route from London to Dover. Branch lines were later opened to Tunbridge Wells, Hastings, Canterbury and other places in Kent...
. Introduced in 1866, they were the first locomotives of this wheel arrangement to be built for an English railway.
History
Until 1864 the South Eastern Railway had very few tank locomotives. In that year the 205 class 0-4-2T0-4-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-2 represents the wheel arrangement with no leading wheels, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...
locomotives were introduced, for use on the London suburban passenger services; they were designed by James I. Cudworth
James Cudworth
James I'Anson Cudworth was Locomotive Superintendent of the South Eastern Railway . He served in this capacity from 1845–76...
, the company's locomotive superintendent. They performed well, but their capabilities were restricted by the small fuel and water capacities; so after twelve of these were in service, Cudworth produced an enlarged version of the design. With the fuel capacity raised from 0.75 long tons (762 kg) to 1.25 LT (1,270.1 kg) and the water capacity raised from 690 gallons (3,136.8 l) to 850 imp gal (3,864.2 l), the extra weight and length that this required behind the cab made it necessary to support the rear of the locomotive on a bogie in place of the single rear axle, producing an 0-4-4T
0-4-4
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-4 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and four trailing wheels on two axles...
- the first of that wheel arrangement to be built for an English railway (the first Scottish railway to use the 0-4-4T wheel arrangement was the Caledonian
Caledonian Railway
The Caledonian Railway was a major Scottish railway company. It was formed in the early 19th century and it was absorbed almost a century later into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, in the 1923 railway grouping, by means of the Railways Act 1921...
, in 1873). There were compensating levers to equalise the weight between the coupled axles, and the outside-framed bogie also had compensating levers; it carried about a third of the locomotive's weight. Like the 205 class, they burned coke
Coke (fuel)
Coke is the solid carbonaceous material derived from destructive distillation of low-ash, low-sulfur bituminous coal. Cokes from coal are grey, hard, and porous. While coke can be formed naturally, the commonly used form is man-made.- History :...
as a fuel.
At first, they were mainly used on the services to . Only one batch (of seven) was built, in 1866; there were troubles with the bogie, and so when more were required, Cudworth once more used the 0-4-2T type, producing the 73 class. However, the 235 class continued to be used, and all were given new boilers between 1877 and 1883. Under Stirling's locomotive classification scheme (September 1879), they formed Class J. They were withdrawn between 1887 and 1893.