GWR 1361 Class

1361 Class

1363 preserved at Didcot

Type and origin Power type Steam Designer G. J. Churchward Builder GWR Swindon Works Order number Lot 179 Serial number 2375–2379 Build date 1910 Total produced 5

Specifications Configuration 0-6-0ST UIC class C nt Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Driver dia. 3 ft 8 in (1.118 m) Minimum curve 2 chains (132 ft; 40 m) Wheelbase 11 ft 0 in (3.35 m) Length 25 ft 7 1⁄2 in (7.81 m) over buffers Width 8 ft 6 in (2.591 m) Height 11 ft 7 in (3.531 m) Axle load 12 long tons 0 cwt (26,900 lb or 12.2 t) (12.2 t; 13.4 short tons) Loco weight 35 long tons 4 cwt (78,800 lb or 35.8 t) (35.8 t; 39.4 short tons) full Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 2 long tons 0 cwt (4,500 lb or 2 t) (2.0 t; 2.2 short tons) Water cap 800 imp gal (3,600 l; 960 US gal) Firebox:  • Firegrate area 10.71 sq ft (0.995 m2) Boiler pressure 150 lbf/in2 (1,030 kPa) Heating surface 890.25 sq ft (82.707 m2)  • Tubes 815.5 sq ft (75.76 m2)  • Firebox 74.75 sq ft (6.945 m2) Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 16 in × 20 in (406 mm × 508 mm)

Performance figures Tractive effort 14,835 lbf (65.99 kN)

Career Operators Great Western Railway Power class Unclassed Numbers 1361–1365 Axle load class Unclassed Withdrawn 1961–1962 Disposition One preserved, four scrapped

The 1361 Class were small 0-6-0ST steam locomotives built by the Great Western Railway at their Swindon railway works, England, mainly for shunting in docks and other sidings where track curvature was too tight for large locomotives.

The 1361 Class were designed by George Jackson Churchward as an update of the 1392 Class, originally built in 1874 for the Cornwall Minerals Railway. As such they combined unusual and outdated elements, such as saddle tanks and Allan valve gear, with current Great Western details such as the cab, bunker and many minor fittings. G.W.R. 0-6-0T were generally being converted to have Belpaire fireboxes and pannier tanks by this date, but the firebox on the 1361 was round topped, so the saddle tank was more appropriate. The 11 ft 0 in (3.35 m) wheelbase allowed them to negotiate 2 chains (132 ft; 40 m) radius curves, a feature necessary for their intended duties in docks and on lightly laid branch lines. Although, as is conventional, the design is credited to the C.M.E., Harold Holcroft was the junior draughtsman who did all the actual work on the class.

The five locomotives were built at Swindon in 1910 and were set to work alongside the ex-Cornwall Minerals Railway locomotives. Their usual home was Plymouth Millbay, Devon, (later Laira shed) from where they worked in Millbay Docks and on the Sutton Harbour branch. Until 1928 some of the locomotives could also be found at St Blazey engine shed, Cornwall, where they worked on ex-Cornwall Minerals Railway branches, and also at Moorswater for working the Looe branch.