BR ex-WD Austerity 2-8-0
Encyclopedia
The British Railways (BR) ex-WD Austerity 2-8-0 was a class of 733 2-8-0 steam locomotive
s designed for heavy freight. These locomotives of the WD Austerity 2-8-0
type had been constructed by the War Department
as war locomotives 1943-1945. After the war they were surplus and so in 1946 the LNER bought 200 of them, classifying them as LNER Class O7, and by the end of 1947 when the LNER was nationalised, had taken another 278 O7s on loan. After nationalisation, BR purchased 533 more 2-8-0s, including all of those on loan, giving a class total of 733. As many of these needed overhauling before being put to work, they were activated slowly. BR chose to reclassified from LNER Class O7 and renumbered them from the 6xxxx LNER series in the 90000-722 series for BR standard designs.
90722 was named Vulcan after the Vulcan Foundry
.
None of the BR Austerity 2-8-0s was preserved. However, one Austerity 2-8-0 (out of a total of 935 engines) has survived; WD No. 79257
. This has via Holland and Sweden
and been returned to original condition, and given the "BR number" 90733.
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s designed for heavy freight. These locomotives of the WD Austerity 2-8-0
WD Austerity 2-8-0
The War Department "Austerity" 2-8-0 is a type of heavy freight steam locomotive that was introduced in 1943 for war service. A total of 935 were built.- Overview :...
type had been constructed by the War Department
War Department
War Department may refer to:* War Department * United States Department of War - See also :* War Office , a former department of the British Government...
as war locomotives 1943-1945. After the war they were surplus and so in 1946 the LNER bought 200 of them, classifying them as LNER Class O7, and by the end of 1947 when the LNER was nationalised, had taken another 278 O7s on loan. After nationalisation, BR purchased 533 more 2-8-0s, including all of those on loan, giving a class total of 733. As many of these needed overhauling before being put to work, they were activated slowly. BR chose to reclassified from LNER Class O7 and renumbered them from the 6xxxx LNER series in the 90000-722 series for BR standard designs.
90722 was named Vulcan after the Vulcan Foundry
Vulcan Foundry
Vulcan Foundry was a British locomotive builder sited at Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire .-History:It was originally opened in 1832 as Charles Tayleur and Company to produce girders for bridges, switches and crossings, and other ironwork following the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway...
.
Withdrawal
The engines were withdrawn from service as follows:| Year | No. withdrawn | Nos |
|---|---|---|
| 1959 | 1 | |
| 1960 | 2 | 90062 etc |
| 1961 | 0 | |
| 1962 | 80 | |
| 1963 | 97 | |
| 1964 | 125 | |
| 1965 | 201 | |
| 1966 | 104 | |
| 1967 | 123 |
Preservation
WD Austerity 2-8-0 79257
War Department "Austerity" 2-8-0, WD No. 79257 is a preserved British steam locomotive. It is the only survivor of its type.Originally built by the Vulcan Foundry in 1945, works No. 5200, it was given the WD No. 79257. During the liberation of Europe, it was transferred to Mainland Europe with...
. This has via Holland and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and been returned to original condition, and given the "BR number" 90733.