GWR 2884 Class
3822 at Didcot
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| Type and origin | |
|---|---|
| Power type | Steam |
| Designer | Charles Collett |
| Builder | GWR Swindon Works |
| Build date | 1938–1942 |
| Total produced | 83 |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Configuration | 2-8-0 |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Leading dia. | 3 ft 2 in (0.965 m) |
| Driver dia. | 4 ft 7 1⁄2 in (1.410 m) |
| Minimum curve | 7 chains (460 ft; 140 m) normal, 6 chains (400 ft; 120 m) slow |
| Length | 63 ft 2 1⁄4 in (19.26 m) |
| Width | 8 ft 11 in (2.718 m) |
| Height | 13 ft 0 in (3.962 m) |
| Axle load | 17 long tons 0 cwt (38,100 lb or 17.3 t) (19.0 short tons) full |
| Adhesive weight | 67 long tons 0 cwt (150,100 lb or 68.1 t) (75.0 short tons) full |
| Loco weight | 76 long tons 5 cwt (170,800 lb or 77.5 t) (85.4 short tons) full |
| Tender weight | 40 long tons 0 cwt (89,600 lb or 40.6 t) (44.8 short tons) full |
| Fuel type | Coal |
| Water cap | 3,500 imperial gallons (16,000 l; 4,200 US gal) |
| Firebox: • Firegrate area |
27.07 sq ft (2.515 m2) |
| Boiler pressure | 225 psi (1.55 MPa) |
| Heating surface: • Tubes |
1,686.60 sq ft (156.690 m2) |
| • Firebox | 154.78 sq ft (14.380 m2) |
| Superheater: |
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| • Type | 4 or 6 element |
| • Heating area | 4-element: 191.8 sq ft (17.82 m2), 6-element: 253.38 sq ft (23.540 m2) |
| Cylinders | Two, outside |
| Cylinder size | 18.5 in × 30 in (470 mm × 762 mm) |
| Valve gear | Stephenson |
| Valve type | piston valves |
| Performance figures | |
|---|---|
| Tractive effort | 35,380 lbf (157.4 kN) |
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Operators | GWR » BR |
| Class | 2884 |
| Power class | GWR: E BR: 8F |
| Axle load class | GWR: Blue |
| Withdrawn | 1962–1965 |
| Disposition | Nine preserved, remainder scrapped |
The Great Western Railway (GWR) 2884 Class is a class of 2-8-0 steam locomotive.
They were designed for heavy freight work and were a development of the earlier 2800 Class. The 2884s differed from the original engines in a number of respects, the most obvious being that a more modern Collett side window cab was provided and that they were built with outside steam pipes.
83 of the 2884 class were built between 1938 and 1941. Those built during the war did not have the side window to the cab, and the side window on the others was plated over. This was to reduce glare, as a precaution against enemy air attacks. The windows were reinstated after the war.
The locomotives were so popular with the ex-Great Western crews that the British Railways Western Region operating authorities wanted more of the class built after nationalisation in 1948; however, this request was turned down in favour of BR Standard Class 9Fs.
Between 1945 and 1947, coal shortages caused GWR to experiment with oil fired 2800 locomotives. Eight of the 2884 class were converted and renumbered from 4850. The experiment, encouraged by the government was abandoned in 1948 once the extra maintenance costs were calculated and the bill had arrived for the imported oil.
The year 1948 also saw one of the 2884 class, No.3803 (now preserved), emerge remarkably successfully from the 1948 Locomotive Exchange Trials against more modern engines including the LMS 8F and the WD Austerity 2-8-0 and WD Austerity 2-10-0. It took the appearance in 1954 of the British Railways BR standard class 9F 2-10-0 to displace the 2800s from their main role of mineral haulage. Nevertheless, there was still work for them right up to the end of steam on the Western region in 1965. Six decades of service testify to the fundamental excellence of Churchward's original conception.
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Wikipedia