LCDR R class

LCDR R class

No. 1675 at Tonbridge Locomotive Depot, 18 May 1946

Type and origin Power type Steam Designer William Kirtley Builder Sharp, Stewart & Co Serial number 3722–3739 Build date September–December 1891 Total produced 18

Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-4-4T  • UIC B2′ n2t Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Driver dia. 5 ft 6 in (1.676 m) Wheelbase 21 ft 6 in (6.55 m) Loco weight 49.75 long tons (50.55 t) Fuel capacity 2 long tons (2.0 t) Water cap 1,100 imp gal (5,000 l; 1,300 US gal) Firebox:  • Firegrate area 16.25 sq ft (1.510 m2) Boiler pressure 150 psi (1.03 MPa) Heating surface 1,071 sq ft (99.5 m2) Cylinders Two, inside Cylinder size 17 in × 24 in (432 mm × 610 mm) Train brakes Westinghouse

Career Operators London, Chatham and Dover Railway → South Eastern and Chatham Railway → Southern Railway → British Railways Class R Numbers LCDR: 199–216 SECR: 658–675 SR: A658–A675 → 1658–1675 BR: 31658–31675 Nicknames Bobtails Withdrawn May 1940 – December 1955 Disposition All scrapped

The LCDR R class was a class of 0-4-4T locomotives on the London, Chatham and Dover Railway (LCDR). No. 207 (eventually no. 31666) is notable as being the last former LCDR locomotive to be withdrawn from service. The whole class was fitted with condensing apparatus for working on the Widened Lines.

For many years the London, Chatham and Dover Railway (LCDR) had favoured the 0-4-4T wheel arrangement for suburban and stopping passenger trains, and when more were required in 1890, consideration was given to ordering a further batch of the existing A2 class 0-4-4T (introduced 1883); it was then decided that a modified design was required. The R class locomotives were designed by William Kirtley as a development of his earlier A2 class, and 18 were built by Sharp, Stewart & Co in 1891.

Their LCDR numbers were 199–216, which under the South Eastern and Chatham Railway became 658–675 from 1899. They were renumbered three more times: to A658–A675 by the Southern Railway (SR) from 1923; to 1658–1675 by the SR from 1931; and to 31658–31675 by British Railways from 1948.

Three (nos. 1664, 1668 & 1669) were withdrawn in 1940 to provides spares for the others, and withdrawal of the rest occurred between 1949 and 1955.