GWR 2251 Class

4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gaugeDriver dia.5 ft 2 in (1.575 m)Minimum curve4+1⁄2 chains (297 ft; 91 m) normal,
4 chains (264 ft; 80 m) slowLength53 ft 8+1⁄4 in (16.36 m)Width8 ft 5 in (2.565 m)Height12 ft 8+7⁄16 in (3.872 m)Axle load15 long tons 15 cwt (35,300 lb or 16 t)
(17.6 short tons) fullLoco weight43 long tons 8 cwt (97,200 lb or 44.1 t)
(48.6 short tons) fullTender weight36 long tons 15 cwt (82,300 lb or 37.3 t)
(41.2 short tons) fullFuel typeCoalFuel capacity5 long tons 0 cwt (11,200 lb or 5.1 t)
(5.6 short tons)Water cap.3,000 imp gal (14,000 L; 3,600 US gal)Firebox:​ • Grate area17.40 sq ft (1.617 m2)BoilerGWR Standard No. 10[1]Boiler pressure200 lbf/in2 (1.38 MPa)Heating surface:​ • Firebox102 sq ft (9.5 m2)/ • Tubes1,069 sq ft (99.3 m2)Superheater:
​ • Type4-element or 6-element • Heating area4-element: 52.98 sq ft (4.922 m2),
6-element: 70.00 sq ft (6.503 m2)CylindersTwo, insideCylinder size17+1⁄2 in × 24 in (444 mm × 610 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort20,155 lbf (89.65 kN)
Career
OperatorsGWR » BR
Power classGWR: B,
BR: 3MT
Numbers2251–2299, 2200–2250, 3200–3219
Axle load classYellow
Withdrawn1958–1965
DispositionOne preserved, remainder scrapped

The Great Western Railway (GWR) 2251 Class or Collett Goods Class was a class of 0-6-0 steam tender locomotives designed for medium-powered freight. They were introduced in 1930 as a replacement for the earlier Dean Goods 0-6-0s and were built up to 1948.[2]

Overview

In many ways, the 2251s were modernised Dean Goods, sharing the main dimensions, but having more modern features such as taper boilers and full cabs. Increases in both boiler pressure and heating surface gave a useful increase in power at the expense of weight that restricted permitted routes. Numbers 2211–2230, built in 1940 did not have side windows. Designed by Charles Collett for medium freight and passenger duties they had 5 ft 2 in (1.575 m) driving wheels. Carrying a maximum of 3,000 imperial gallons (14,000 L; 3,600 US gal) of water to fuel a boiler operating at 200 psi (1.4 MPa) they developed 20,155 lbf (89.65 kN) of tractive effort. They could be found operating on most parts of the former GWR system. These were the first GWR 0-6-0 to use the standard number 10 boiler as later fitted to the 94xx, 15xx and various rebuilds of absorbed mainly Welsh locomotives.

Table of orders and numbers[3]
Year Quantity Lot No. Locomotive numbers
1930 20 261 2251–2270
1934 10 283 2271–2280
1936 10 298 2281–2290
1938 10 312 2291–2299, 2200
1939 10 322 2201–2210
1940 20 337 2211–2230
1944–45 20 347 2231–2250
1946–48 20 360 3200–3219

No. 3217, delivered December 1947, was the last locomotive built by the GWR. Nos. 3218 and 3219 were delivered in January 1948, the first locomotives built at Swindon for British Railways.[4]

They were withdrawn between 1958 and 1965.

Preservation

Preserved 3205 on the South Devon Railway.

One, 3205, has been preserved and is located on the South Devon Railway in Devon.[5] While the engine has spent most of its preserved life running on heritage railways including the Severn Valley Railway, West Somerset Railway & then the Dart Valley Railway (before renaming to the SDR). For a very brief one-off appearance the engine made a mainline appearance at the Rocket 150 celebrations in 1980. The engine arrived at the event and then later departed for home under its own power.

As of 2022 the engine is stored awaiting an overhaul following early withdrawal in 2017, the ticket having expired in 2020.

Models

Bachmann Branchline manufactures models of the 2251 in OO gauge. Mainline (Palitoy) released the first ready-to-run OO model in 1978. The Bachmann model was released in 1996. It is based on the Mainline model with revised body tooling to complement a completely new chassis design that allows the boiler backhead to be modelled.

In N gauge, the first model was the langley whitemetal kit, designed to fit the Graham Farish 94xx/general purpose tank chassis. The next was the Peco (model railroads) ready to run model. This was a big step forward, and was DCC fitted as standard. Production of these stopped around 2010. The next model of the class was made by Union Mills, and was released in 2017.

In 3mm/TT scale, BEC produced a whitemetal kit body for the Tri-ang LMS Fowler Class 3F chassis, though this is long discontinued.

References

  1. ^ Champ (2018), p. 320.
  2. ^ "Digital Traction GWR Collett 0-6-0 '2251' Class". Steam Sounds Supreme. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  3. ^ Allcock et al. (1968), pp. 35–40.
  4. ^ Tabor 1956, p. D83.
  5. ^ "GWR 0-6-0 No 3205". South Devon Railway. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  • Allcock, N. J.; Davies, F. K.; le Fleming, H. M.; Maskelyne, J. N.; Reed, P. J. T.; Tabor, F. J. White, D. E. (ed.). The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, part one: Preliminary Survey. Kenilworth: RCTS.
  • Champ, Jim (2018). An Introduction to Great Western Locomotive Development. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Transport. ISBN 978-1-4738-7784-9. OCLC 1029234106. OL 26953051M.
  • Tabor, F.J. (February 1956). White, D.E. (ed.). The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, part four: Six-wheeled Tender Engines. Kenilworth: RCTS. ISBN 0-901115-34-7.
  • Whitehurst, Brian (1973). Great Western Engines, Names, Numbers, Types and Classes (1940 to Preservation). Oxford, UK: Oxford Publishing Company. pp. 23–24, 30, 102, 127. ISBN 978-0-9028-8821-0. OCLC 815661.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to GWR 2251 Class.
  • Great Western Archive – Introduction to 2251 Class
  • Great Western Archive – Shed allocations, build and withdrawal dates
  • Class 2251 Details at Rail UK
  • Heritage Railways Loco Database – entry for no. 3205
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