GWR 850 Class
Encyclopedia
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. Aptly described as the GWR equivalent of the LBS&CR "Terrier"
Class of William Stroudley, their wide availability and lively performance gave them long lives, and eventually they were replaced from 1949 by what were in essence very similar locomotives, the short-lived 1600
Class of Frederick Hawksworth
, which in the headlong abandonment of steam outlived them by a mere seven years or so.
The 850 Class consisted of 170 locomotives and was built in 14 lots:
In addition Nos. 93 and 94 were supplied in 1875 and 1877 as renewals of the original Gooch
locomotives of 1860. The locomotives from No. 1216 onwards were originally described as a separate class, the 1901 Class.
The original 36 locomotives had their domes on the firebox, while the domes of the rest were on the middle of the boiler. The two classes became more uniform on rebuilding. All had full-length saddle-tanks; the wheels were 4'0" diameter, the wheelbase was 13'8", and cylinders 15" x 24". They had inside frames. Pannier tanks were fitted from 1910, as rebuilding with Belpaire
boilers took place, and from 1924 larger coal bunkers were fitted to many of the class.
The engines were widely spread over the GWR network. They were useful for shunting in dock areas, as at Plymouth, Bristol, Llanelly, and Birkenhead, which was their last stronghold; in 1881-2 four went new to the Cornwall Minerals Railway
. In 1906 and 1913 four were sold into industrial service, followed by four more in 1939. Up to 1927 the class were used on empty stock work at Paddington
. 43 would pass into British Railways ownership and were classified "2F"; ten were painted in BR unlined black, and the last examples survived as late as 1958, the last Armstrong engines in service.
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...
was an extensive class of small 0-6-0 saddle tank locomotives designed by George Armstrong
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...
and built at the Wolverhampton Works of the Great Western Railway between 1874 and 1895. Aptly described as the GWR equivalent of the LBS&CR "Terrier"
LB&SCR A1 Class
The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway A1 Class is an English class of 0-6-0T steam locomotive. Designed by William Stroudley, 50 members of the class were built in 1872 and between 1874 and 1880, all at Brighton Works. The class have received several nicknames, initially being known as...
Class of William Stroudley, their wide availability and lively performance gave them long lives, and eventually they were replaced from 1949 by what were in essence very similar locomotives, the short-lived 1600
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...
Class of Frederick Hawksworth
Frederick Hawksworth
Frederick W. Hawksworth , was Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Great Western Railway ....
, which in the headlong abandonment of steam outlived them by a mere seven years or so.
The 850 Class consisted of 170 locomotives and was built in 14 lots:
- Nos. 850-861 (Lot T, 1874)
- Nos. 862-873 (Lot V, 1874-5)
- Nos. 987-998 (Lot X, 1875-6)
- Nos. 1216-1227 (Lot Y, 1876-7)
- Nos. 1901-1912 (Lot J2, 1881-82)
- Nos. 1913-1924 (Lot L2, 1882)
- Nos. 1925-1936 (Lot O2, 1883-4)
- Nos. 1937-1948 (Lot Q2, 1886-7)
- Nos. 1949-1960 (Lot R2, 1888)
- Nos. 1961-1972 (Lot T2, 1889-90)
- Nos. 1973-1984 (Lot V2, 1890-91)
- Nos. 1985-1996 (Lot X2, 1891)
- Nos. 1997-2008 (Lot Y2, 1891-92)
- Nos. 2009-2020 (Lot Z2, 1894-5)
In addition Nos. 93 and 94 were supplied in 1875 and 1877 as renewals of the original Gooch
Daniel Gooch standard gauge locomotives
The Daniel Gooch standard gauge locomotives comprise several classes of locomotives designed by Daniel Gooch, Superintendent of Locomotive Engines for the Great Western Railway from 1837 to 1864.-History:...
locomotives of 1860. The locomotives from No. 1216 onwards were originally described as a separate class, the 1901 Class.
The original 36 locomotives had their domes on the firebox, while the domes of the rest were on the middle of the boiler. The two classes became more uniform on rebuilding. All had full-length saddle-tanks; the wheels were 4'0" diameter, the wheelbase was 13'8", and cylinders 15" x 24". They had inside frames. Pannier tanks were fitted from 1910, as rebuilding with Belpaire
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...
boilers took place, and from 1924 larger coal bunkers were fitted to many of the class.
The engines were widely spread over the GWR network. They were useful for shunting in dock areas, as at Plymouth, Bristol, Llanelly, and Birkenhead, which was their last stronghold; in 1881-2 four went new to the Cornwall Minerals Railway
Cornwall Minerals Railway
The Cornwall Minerals Railway operated a network of railway lines in Cornwall, United Kingdom. Based at St Blazey, its network stretched from Fowey to Newquay and lasted as an independent company from 1874 to 1896, after which it became a part of the Great Western Railway.-Authorisation:The...
. In 1906 and 1913 four were sold into industrial service, followed by four more in 1939. Up to 1927 the class were used on empty stock work at Paddington
Paddington station
Paddington railway station, also known as London Paddington, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex.The site is a historic one, having served as the London terminus of the Great Western Railway and its successors since 1838. Much of the current mainline station dates...
. 43 would pass into British Railways ownership and were classified "2F"; ten were painted in BR unlined black, and the last examples survived as late as 1958, the last Armstrong engines in service.