GWR 2021 Class
Encyclopedia
The GWR 2021 Class was a class of 140 0-6-0 saddle tank steam locomotive
s. They were built at the Wolverhampton railway works
of the Great Western Railway
between 1897 and 1905. 1897 was the very year of George Armstrong's
retirement, so it is uncertain if the design should be attributed to him or to his superior at Swindon, William Dean.
In fact the 2021s were simple enlargements of the Armstrong-designed 850 class
of 1874. The changes were fundamentally confined to a longer wheelbase to permit fitting of a larger firebox.
The class was built in eight batches:
Rebuilding with Belpaire firebox
es commenced in the early years of the Churchward
era. Unsuccessful attempts to form a saddle tank around the firebox directly led to the switch to pannier tanks. The rebuilding of the whole class took place over many years. In their final form, with or without fully enclosed cabs, 110 of them survived into British Railways ownership, the last of them being retired in 1956. They were superseded by the short-lived GWR 1600 Class
, nominally a Hawksworth
design, but in reality a straightforward update of the then 75-year-old design, with new boiler, bigger cab and bunker.
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. They were built at the Wolverhampton railway works
Wolverhampton railway works
Wolverhampton railway works was in the city of Wolverhampton in the county of Staffordshire, England. It was almost due north of the city centre, and is commemorated with a small display of level crossing gates and a plaque...
of the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
between 1897 and 1905. 1897 was the very year of George Armstrong's
George Armstrong (engineer)
George Armstrong was in charge of standard gauge steam locomotives for the Great Western Railway at Stafford Road Works, Wolverhampton from 1864 to 1897...
retirement, so it is uncertain if the design should be attributed to him or to his superior at Swindon, William Dean.
In fact the 2021s were simple enlargements of the Armstrong-designed 850 class
GWR 850 Class
Class 850 of the Great Western Railway was an extensive class of small 0-6-0 saddle tank locomotives designed by George Armstrong and built at the Wolverhampton Works of the Great Western Railway between 1874 and 1895...
of 1874. The changes were fundamentally confined to a longer wheelbase to permit fitting of a larger firebox.
The class was built in eight batches:
- 2021-2030 (Lot D3, 1897)
- 2031-2040 (Lot F3, 1897-8)
- 2041-2060 (Lot G3, 1898-9)
- 2061-2080 (Lot H3, 1899-1900)
- 2081-2100 (Lot J3, 1900-01)
- 2101-2120 (Lot K3, 1902-3)
- 2121-2140 (Lot L3, 1903-4)
- 2141-2160 (Lot M3, 1904-5)
Rebuilding with Belpaire firebox
Belpaire firebox
The Belpaire firebox is a type of firebox used on steam locomotives. It was invented by Alfred Belpaire of Belgium. It has a greater surface area at the top of the firebox, improving heat transfer and steam production...
es commenced in the early years of the Churchward
George Jackson Churchward
George Jackson Churchward CBE was Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Great Western Railway in the United Kingdom from 1902 to 1922.-Early career:...
era. Unsuccessful attempts to form a saddle tank around the firebox directly led to the switch to pannier tanks. The rebuilding of the whole class took place over many years. In their final form, with or without fully enclosed cabs, 110 of them survived into British Railways ownership, the last of them being retired in 1956. They were superseded by the short-lived GWR 1600 Class
GWR 1600 Class
The Great Western Railway 1600 class is a class of 0-6-0 pannier tank steam locomotive.-History:The class was based on the 2021 class designed by Dean and built from 1897 onwards...
, nominally a Hawksworth
Frederick Hawksworth
Frederick W. Hawksworth , was Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Great Western Railway ....
design, but in reality a straightforward update of the then 75-year-old design, with new boiler, bigger cab and bunker.
See also
- GWR 0-6-0PT – list of classes of GWR 0-6-0 pannier tank, including table of preserved locomotives