LB&SCR Belgravia class
Encyclopedia
The LB&SCR Belgravia class, were 2-4-0
passenger locomotives designed by William Stroudley
of the London Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) in 1872 for secondary passenger duties.
of the LB&SCR in 1870, he found that some locomotive components had been ordered by his predecessor, John Chester Craven
. These included six sets of frames for some 2-4-0
passenger locomotives designed by Craven, and Stroudley produced a new design of 2-4-0 to use these frames.
The locomotives in this class were very similar to two 2-4-0
locomotives constructed at Cowlairs railway works
for the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
in the early 1860s when William Stroudley
was the works manager and contained many features of his later designs.
Four Belgravia locomotives were constructed at Brighton works in 1872, two of which were rebuilds of earlier 2-2-2
locomotives built for the LB&SCR by Robert Stephenson and Company
and Brighton works. The necessity to use components designed by Craven meant that the locomotives had a number of design features, such as the double frames and the 2-4-0
wheel arrangement, which were not found with Stroudley's later designs. Two further examples later appeared, one each in 1875 and 1876, these having detail differences from the first four. At first the class suffered from poor steaming, but once this was rectified they went on to give reliable service on secondary passenger trains.
Under Stroudley's locomotive classification scheme, the Belgravia class, being "Main Line Express" engines, were included in Class B, along with most of his 0-4-2
locomotives, and one of his 2-2-2
s. By the time that Class B was subdivided into B1, B2, etc. by D. E. Marsh
, none of the Belgravia class remained in service.
2-4-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-4-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and no trailing wheels....
passenger locomotives designed by William Stroudley
William Stroudley
William Stroudley was one of Britain's most famous steam locomotive engineers of the nineteenth century, working principally for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway...
of the London Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) in 1872 for secondary passenger duties.
History
When William Stroudley took up his duties as Locomotive Superintendent at the Brighton worksBrighton railway works
Brighton railway works was one of the earliest railway-owned locomotive repair works, founded in 1840 by the London and Brighton Railway in Brighton, England, and thus pre-dating the more famous railway works at Crewe, Doncaster and Swindon...
of the LB&SCR in 1870, he found that some locomotive components had been ordered by his predecessor, John Chester Craven
John Chester Craven
John Chester Craven was the locomotive, carriage and wagon superintendent of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway from 1847 until his resignation in 1870....
. These included six sets of frames for some 2-4-0
2-4-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-4-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and no trailing wheels....
passenger locomotives designed by Craven, and Stroudley produced a new design of 2-4-0 to use these frames.
The locomotives in this class were very similar to two 2-4-0
2-4-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-4-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and no trailing wheels....
locomotives constructed at Cowlairs railway works
Cowlairs railway works
Cowlairs Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Works , at Cowlairs in Springburn, an area in the north-east of Glasgow, Scotland, was built in 1841 for the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway and was taken over by the North British Railway in 1865. It was named after the nearby mansion of Cowlairs, with both...
for the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
The Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway was a railway built to link Glasgow and Edinburgh. The Act of Parliament for building the railway received its Royal Assent in 1838 which was open on 28 July 1863. Services started between Glasgow Queen Street and Haymarket on 21 February 1842. The line was...
in the early 1860s when William Stroudley
William Stroudley
William Stroudley was one of Britain's most famous steam locomotive engineers of the nineteenth century, working principally for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway...
was the works manager and contained many features of his later designs.
Four Belgravia locomotives were constructed at Brighton works in 1872, two of which were rebuilds of earlier 2-2-2
2-2-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-2-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle two powered driving wheels on one axle, and two trailing wheels on one axle. The wheel arrangement both provided more stability and enabled a larger firebox...
locomotives built for the LB&SCR by Robert Stephenson and Company
Robert Stephenson and Company
Robert Stephenson and Company was a locomotive manufacturing company founded in 1823. It was the first company set up specifically to build railway engines.- Foundation and early success :...
and Brighton works. The necessity to use components designed by Craven meant that the locomotives had a number of design features, such as the double frames and the 2-4-0
2-4-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-4-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and no trailing wheels....
wheel arrangement, which were not found with Stroudley's later designs. Two further examples later appeared, one each in 1875 and 1876, these having detail differences from the first four. At first the class suffered from poor steaming, but once this was rectified they went on to give reliable service on secondary passenger trains.
Under Stroudley's locomotive classification scheme, the Belgravia class, being "Main Line Express" engines, were included in Class B, along with most of his 0-4-2
0-4-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-2 represents the wheel arrangement with no leading wheels, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...
locomotives, and one of his 2-2-2
2-2-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-2-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle two powered driving wheels on one axle, and two trailing wheels on one axle. The wheel arrangement both provided more stability and enabled a larger firebox...
s. By the time that Class B was subdivided into B1, B2, etc. by D. E. Marsh
D. E. Marsh
Douglas Earle Marsh was the Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Superintendent of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway from November 1904 until his early retirement on health grounds in July 1911.-Early career:...
, none of the Belgravia class remained in service.