BR ex-WD Austerity 2-10-0
90768 at Motherwell shed in 1958
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer R. A. Riddles Builder North British Locomotive Company Build date 1943–1945 Total produced 25
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-10-0  • UIC 1′E h2 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Leading dia. 2 ft 9 in (838 mm) Driver dia. 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Length 67 ft 6+1⁄4 in (20.58 m) over buffers Axle load 13 long tons 9 cwt (30,100 lb or 13.7 t) Adhesive weight 67 long tons 3 cwt (150,400 lb or 68.2 t) full Loco weight 78 long tons 6 cwt (175,400 lb or 79.6 t) full Tender weight 55 long tons 10 cwt (124,300 lb or 56.4 t) full Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 9 long tons 0 cwt (20,200 lb or 9.1 t) Water cap. 5,000 imp gal (23,000 L; 6,000 US gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 40 sq ft (3.7 m2) Boiler pressure 225 lbf/in2 (1.55 MPa) Heating surface: ​  • Tubes 1,170 sq ft (109 m2)  • Flues 589 sq ft (54.7 m2)  • Firebox 192 sq ft (17.8 m2) Superheater: ​  • Heating area 423 sq ft (39.3 m2) Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 19 in × 28 in (483 mm × 711 mm) Valve gear Walschaerts Valve type 10-inch (250 mm) piston valves
Performance figures Tractive effort 34,215 lbf (152.20 kN)
Career Operators War Department British Railways Power class BR: 8F Numbers 90750-90774 Withdrawn 1961-1962 Disposition All scrapped.

The British Railways (BR) ex-WD Austerity 2-10-0 Class was a class of 25 2-10-0 steam locomotives of the WD Austerity 2-10-0 type purchased in 1948 from the War Department.

Operational history

BR officially listed them in their running stock in 1948, though most were kept in store until 1949–1950. BR allocated them the numbers 90750–74. They were used to haul heavy freight trains and were mostly allocated to Scottish Region ex-LMS (Caledonian) motive power depots in the Central Belt, Motherwell and Grangemouth always being their principal bases, where they were mixed with the much more widespread WD 2-8-0s. They were withdrawn after about 12 years service, between 1961 and 1962. In addition to the above engines, another WD Austerity 2-10-0 Longmoor Military Railway 601 Kitchener (original WD No. 73797) was hired from the War Department between 1957 and 1959.

Names

Both 90773 and 90774 were named North British after the North British Locomotive Company which built them (the last of the BR ex-WD Austerity 2-8-0s No. 90732 was similarly named Vulcan after the Vulcan Foundry). As one of 49 LNER Peppercorn Class A1s, No. 60161, was also named North British, BR had three locomotives with this name, though the A1 was named after the North British Railway rather than the engineering firm.

Classification

They were given the power classification 8F. BR considered them as standard locomotives, numbering them in the numbering series reserved for BR standard engines and assigning them the boiler No. BR11. The tenders were given the classification BR5.

Stock list

Withdrawal

Withdrawals started in 1961 and continued at a reasonable pace before the remaining 17 were withdrawn en masse in December 1962.

Preservation

None of the BR engines was preserved. However, there is a "90775" running in Great Britain which was repatriated from Greece, formerly being WD No.76352, SEK No. Lb951. It is based on the North Norfolk Railway. Ex-WD No. 3672 Dame Vera Lynn, which is under overhaul at North Yorkshire Moors Railway, has been repatriated from Greece as well. There is also ex-WD LMR 600 Gordon which has survived and has been steamed on the Severn Valley Railway, though since 2008 it has been out of service, cosmetically restored and on display in Highley Engine House.

See also

BR ex-WD Austerity 2-8-0

References