SECR H class

SECR H class

H class 31177 at Tonbridge in 1958

Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Harry Wainwright Builder SECR Ashford Works Build date 1904–1909, 1915 Total produced 66

Specifications Configuration 0-4-4T UIC class B2′ n2t Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Driver dia. 5 ft 6 in (1.676 m) Trailing dia. 3 ft 7 in (1.092 m) Length 32 ft 10 3⁄4 in (10.027 m) Axle load 16 long tons 16 cwt (37,600 lb or 17.1 t) Adhesive weight 33 long tons 12 cwt (75,300 lb or 34.1 t) Loco weight 54 long tons 8 cwt (121,900 lb or 55.3 t) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 1 1⁄2 to 2 1⁄2 long tons (1.5 to 2.5 t; 1.7 to 2.8 short tons) Water cap 1,350 to 1,150 imp gal (6,100 to 5,200 l; 1,620 to 1,380 US gal) Firebox:  • Firegrate area 16 2⁄3 sq ft (1.55 m2) Boiler pressure 160 lbf/in2 (1.10 MPa) Heating surface 1,104 3⁄4 sq ft (102.63 m2)  • Tubes 1,002 1⁄2 sq ft (93.14 m2)  • Firebox 102 1⁄4 sq ft (9.50 m2) Cylinders Two, inside Cylinder size 18 in × 26 in (457 mm × 660 mm)

Performance figures Tractive effort 17,360 lbf (77.22 kN)

Career Operators South Eastern and Chatham Railway → Southern Railway → Southern Region of British Railways Class SECR / SR: H Power class BR: 1P Withdrawn 1944–1964 Disposition One preserved, remainder scrapped

The South Eastern and Chatham Railway (SECR) H Class is a class of 0-4-4T steam locomotive originally designed for suburban passenger work, designed by Harry Wainwright in 1904. Most of the sixty-six members of the class were later equipped for push-pull working for use on rural branch lines.

The two constituent railways of the SECR had both relied on 0-4-4T locomotives for London suburban, and semi-fast train services. The South Eastern Railway (SER) Q class was introduced in 1887, and the London Chatham and Dover Railway (LCDR) R class in 1891. Of these, the R was the most successful design, and was continued in production by Harry Wainwright after the amalgamation of the railways in 1899. However, as traffic continued to increase there was a need for a new powerful 0-4-4T design to take over from the SER Q class. Wainwright therefore based his new design on the LCDR A class.

The first seven locomotives were built by Ashford Works in November and December 1904. The design was soon found to be successful so that sixty-four were built at Ashford between 1904 and 1909. Following Wainwright's retirement Richard Maunsell discovered that sixty-six had been ordered and their components built, but had not been erected earlier. Therefore a further two were erected in 1915.

The H class boiler design was found to be so successful that it was later used as a standard replacement boiler on the SECR R1 class, LCDR B1 class, LCDR B2 class, LCDR R class, SER O1 class, SER Q1 class, and SER R1 class. All 66 locomotives were equipped with vacuum brakes as used on the former SER, but thirteen also had Westinghouse air brakes and were used on the former LCDR lines.