Rhymney Railway A class

4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gaugeDriver dia.4 ft 4+1⁄2 in (1,334 mm)Length35 ft 9 in (10.90 m)Loco weight63.00–64.15 long tons (64.0–65.2 t)Fuel typeCoalBoiler pressure175 lbf/in² (1.21 MPa)CylindersTwo, insideCylinder size18 in × 26 in (457 mm × 660 mm) or 18.5 in × 26 in (470 mm × 660 mm)

Performance figures
Tractive effort	23,870 lbf (106.2 kN) or 25,210 lbf (112.1 kN)

Career
Operators	Rhymney Railway, Great Western Railway, British Railways
Class	RR: A or A1
Power class	BR: 4F
Number in class	A: 16; A1: 8
Withdrawn	1948–1955

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 long tons (72 short tons; 65 t) (63 long tons or 71 short tons or 64 tonnes after rebuilding) and were 35 ft 9 in (10.90 m) in length.

Construction

There were initially five locos in the class augmented by another five in 1911, then three in 1914, two in 1916 and three in 1918. They were built by Robert Stephenson and Company and Hudswell Clarke. The last eight differed in having Belpaire fireboxes and were classed as A1.

Numbering

Year	RR class	RR Nos.	Builder	Builder Nos.	GWR/BR Nos.
1910	A	10–14	Robert Stephenson & Co.	3387–3391	52–56
1910	A	115–119	Robert Stephenson & Co.	3392–3396	71–75
1911	A	15, 18–22	Hudswell Clarke	946–951	57–62
1914	A1	23–25	Hudswell Clarke	1063–1065	63–65
1916	A1	26–27	Hudswell Clarke	1119–1120	66–67
1918	A1	28–30	Robert Stephenson & Co.	3660–3662	68–70

Overview of RR classes

The A class, and the preceding M class of 1904 and R class of 1910, were closely related designs ideally suited to hauling heavy coal trains a relatively short distance.

These three classes (and the larger wheeled P class) were designed for work on the Rhymney Railway, replacing smaller locomotives. When the smaller railway companies were forcibly merged into the Great Western Railway (GWR) in 1923, 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 GWR 5600 Class.

Rebuilds of RR classes

Fifteen A class locos were upgraded from 1926 onwards. All told twenty nine "Stephenson" locos were similarly dealt with up to as late as 1949. In 1929 No 55 was reboilered by the GWR and in this form was visually almost indistinguishable from the GWR 5600 Class.

The GWR number 2 boiler (used on the 5600 class) was also suitable for the M and R class Rhymney locomotives. The A and P classes were also rebuilt but used the slightly shorter standard number 10 boiler, also to good effect.

GWR 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.

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 Stephenson 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.

See also

• Welsh 0-6-2T locomotives

References

• Casserley, H. C. & Johnston, Stuart W. (1966). Locomotives at the Grouping 4: Great Western Railway. Shepperton, Middlesex: Ian Allan Limited. p. 90.

External links

Swindon
Broad gauge

Brunel: (1833–1837)	Haigh Foundry Mather, Dixon Sharp, Roberts Charles Tayleur Hurricane Thunderer
Gooch: (1837–1864)	Ariadne Banking Bogie Caesar Firefly Hercules Iron Duke Leo Metropolitan Premier Prince Pyracmon Star Sun Victoria Waverley
J. Armstrong: (1864–1877)	Hawthorn Rover Sir Watkin Standard Goods Swindon 1076
Dean: (1877–1902)	Experimental locomotives (8, 14, 16) 3001 3501 3521

Wolverhampton
Standard gauge

J. Armstrong: (1854–1864)	7/8/30/110 17 111 302
G. Armstrong: (1864–1897)	34 108 119 322 (tank) 517 633 645 655 850 1016 1901 3571

Swindon
Standard gauge

Gooch: (1855–1864)	57 69 77/167 79 91 93 131/310 149 England/Chancellor 157 Sharps 320 322 Beyer
J. Armstrong: (1864–1877)	55 Queen/Sir Alexander 455 Metro Tank 56/717 927 Coal Goods 360 378 Sir Daniel 388 Standard Goods 439 Bicycle 481 806 1076
Dean: (1877–1902)	Experimental locomotives (1, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 1490) Armstrong 36 69 River 157 Sharpies/Cobham 1661 1813 1854 2021 2201 2301 2361 2600 Aberdare 2602 Kruger 2721 3031 Dean Single 3201 3206 3232 3252 Duke 3300 Bulldog 3521 3600 4100 Badminton Crane tanks
Churchward: (1902–1921)	101 102 La France 103 President 111 The Great Bear 1361 2221 County Tank 2800 2900 Saint 3100 (later 5100) 3150 3700 City 3800 County 3901 4000 Star 4200 4300 4400 4500 4600 4700 Petrol-electric railcar Rail motors
Collett: (1922–1941)	12 1101 1366 2251 2884 3000 (ex-ROD 2-8-0) 3100 3200 (later 9000) Earl 4073 Castle 4575 4800 (later 1400) 4900 Hall 5101 5205 5400 5600 5700 5800 6000 King 6100 6400 6800 Grange 7200 7400 7800 Manor 8100 Diesel railcars Diesel shunters 2
Hawksworth: (1941–1947)	1000 County 1500 1600 6959 Modified Hall 9400 Gas turbine-electric 18000 18100
Proposed designs	8000 Cathedral

Absorbed
locomotives

Barry Railway:	A B B1 C D E F G H K J L
Rhymney Railway:	A AP B I K L L1 M P P1 R S S1
Taff Vale Railway:	A C D E H K L M1 N O O1 O2 O3 O4 S T U U1 V
Other:	Other absorbed locomotives

Narrow gauge
locomotives

Corris Railway:	3 4
Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway:	822–823
Vale of Rheidol Railway:	1198 7–9

By wheel
arrangementGeneral