LSWR C14 class
Encyclopedia
The London and South Western Railway C14 class was a class of ten 0-2-2
tank locomotive
intended to work Push–pull train s on lightly used lines in 1907. The ‘’’S14 class’’’ was an 0-4-0
version of the same basic design. Both classes proved to be underpowered in this role and many examples were sold as light shunters
during the First World War. Three C14 remained with the LSWR and were rebuilt as 0-4-0
Ts. They lasted until the late 1950s..
became concerned about losses incurred on several branch and short-distance passenger services, and began to experiment with the use of steam-powered railbus
es. The resulting units proved to be under-powered during the summer months when traffic was higher, and also inflexible, as the power unit was permanently connected to the coach. As an alternative Dugald Drummond
designed a class of small 0-2-2
tank locomotive
s, based on the railbus power units, which could be coupled to one or more carriages to cater for different levels of load . These were specifically equipped for push-pull working. As built, the outside cylinders were situated between the leading and driving wheels.
The C14 class were tried out on a number of services during 1907. They were found to be more flexible than the railbuses but suffered from the same lack of power, as a result no further examples were built and the existing examples were gradually transferred to light shunting tasks or else were put into store. Drummond persevered with a 0-4-0
S14 version of the design, with the cylinders moved forward in front of the coupled wheels, but only two of these were ever built in 1910 before the order was cancelled. In 1913 Robert Urie
ordered that four examples of the C14 class should be rebuilt as 0-4-0
tanks and the remainder withdrawn as they became in need of heavy repairs. Two examples were rebuilt in 1913, but the onset of the First World War brought an end to this programme.
In 1916 the War Office
bought seven members of the C14 class (including one of the rebuilds) for use in various munitions facilities and dockyards. The two members of the S14 class were likewise sold to the Ministry of Munitions in 1917. After the war these were, sold for scrap, as stationary boiler
s or else exported. The last two 0-2-2
examples of the three locomotives remaining with LSWR were rebuilt in 1922 and 1923.
The three survivors worked as dock shunter
s, or on departmental (non-revenue earning) duties under the Southern Railway
and British Railways and were withdrawn between 1957 and 1959
0-2-2
An 0-2-2, in the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives by wheel arrangement, is one that has two coupled driving wheels followed by two trailing wheels, with no leading wheels...
tank locomotive
Tank locomotive
A tank locomotive or tank engine is a steam locomotive that carries its water in one or more on-board water tanks, instead of pulling it behind it in a tender. It will most likely also have some kind of bunker to hold the fuel. There are several different types of tank locomotive dependent upon...
intended to work Push–pull train s on lightly used lines in 1907. The ‘’’S14 class’’’ was an 0-4-0
0-4-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-0 represents one of the simplest possible types, that with two axles and four coupled wheels, all of which are driven...
version of the same basic design. Both classes proved to be underpowered in this role and many examples were sold as light shunters
Switcher
A switcher or shunter is a small railroad locomotive intended not for moving trains over long distances but rather for assembling trains ready for a road locomotive to take over, disassembling a train that has been...
during the First World War. Three C14 remained with the LSWR and were rebuilt as 0-4-0
0-4-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-0 represents one of the simplest possible types, that with two axles and four coupled wheels, all of which are driven...
Ts. They lasted until the late 1950s..
History
During the first few years of the twentieth century the London and South Western RailwayLondon and South Western Railway
The London and South Western Railway was a railway company in England from 1838 to 1922. Its network extended from London to Plymouth via Salisbury and Exeter, with branches to Ilfracombe and Padstow and via Southampton to Bournemouth and Weymouth. It also had many routes connecting towns in...
became concerned about losses incurred on several branch and short-distance passenger services, and began to experiment with the use of steam-powered railbus
Railbus
A railbus is a very lightweight type passenger rail vehicle that shares many aspects of their construction with a bus, usually having a bus, or modified bus body, and having four wheels on a fixed base, instead of on bogies...
es. The resulting units proved to be under-powered during the summer months when traffic was higher, and also inflexible, as the power unit was permanently connected to the coach. As an alternative Dugald Drummond
Dugald Drummond
Dugald Drummond was a Scottish steam locomotive engineer. He had a career with the North British Railway, LB&SCR, Caledonian Railway and London and South Western Railway...
designed a class of small 0-2-2
0-2-2
An 0-2-2, in the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives by wheel arrangement, is one that has two coupled driving wheels followed by two trailing wheels, with no leading wheels...
tank locomotive
Tank locomotive
A tank locomotive or tank engine is a steam locomotive that carries its water in one or more on-board water tanks, instead of pulling it behind it in a tender. It will most likely also have some kind of bunker to hold the fuel. There are several different types of tank locomotive dependent upon...
s, based on the railbus power units, which could be coupled to one or more carriages to cater for different levels of load . These were specifically equipped for push-pull working. As built, the outside cylinders were situated between the leading and driving wheels.
The C14 class were tried out on a number of services during 1907. They were found to be more flexible than the railbuses but suffered from the same lack of power, as a result no further examples were built and the existing examples were gradually transferred to light shunting tasks or else were put into store. Drummond persevered with a 0-4-0
0-4-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-0 represents one of the simplest possible types, that with two axles and four coupled wheels, all of which are driven...
S14 version of the design, with the cylinders moved forward in front of the coupled wheels, but only two of these were ever built in 1910 before the order was cancelled. In 1913 Robert Urie
Robert Urie
Robert Wallace Urie was a Scottish locomotive engineer who was the last chief mechanical engineer of the London and South Western Railway....
ordered that four examples of the C14 class should be rebuilt as 0-4-0
0-4-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-0 represents one of the simplest possible types, that with two axles and four coupled wheels, all of which are driven...
tanks and the remainder withdrawn as they became in need of heavy repairs. Two examples were rebuilt in 1913, but the onset of the First World War brought an end to this programme.
In 1916 the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
bought seven members of the C14 class (including one of the rebuilds) for use in various munitions facilities and dockyards. The two members of the S14 class were likewise sold to the Ministry of Munitions in 1917. After the war these were, sold for scrap, as stationary boiler
Boiler
A boiler is a closed vessel in which water or other fluid is heated. The heated or vaporized fluid exits the boiler for use in various processes or heating applications.-Materials:...
s or else exported. The last two 0-2-2
0-2-2
An 0-2-2, in the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives by wheel arrangement, is one that has two coupled driving wheels followed by two trailing wheels, with no leading wheels...
examples of the three locomotives remaining with LSWR were rebuilt in 1922 and 1923.
The three survivors worked as dock shunter
Dock shunter
A Dock shunter, or "Dock tank", is a locomotive used for shunting wagons in the vicinity of docks. It is usually of 0-4-0 or 0-6-0 wheel arrangement and has a short wheelbase and large buffers...
s, or on departmental (non-revenue earning) duties under the Southern Railway
Southern Railway (Great Britain)
The Southern Railway was a British railway company established in the 1923 Grouping. It linked London with the Channel ports, South West England, South coast resorts and Kent...
and British Railways and were withdrawn between 1957 and 1959
| Class | Year | LSWR numbers | Rebuilt | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1906 | |||||
| Sold to Ministry of Munitions 3/1917 | |||||
| 1906 | |||||
| Sold to Admiralty 12/1917 | |||||
| 1906 | |||||
| Sold to Ministry of Munitions 3/1917 | |||||
| 1906 | |||||
| Sold to Bute Works Supply Company 2/1917 | |||||
| 1906 | |||||
| Sold to War Department 12/1916 | |||||
| 1906 | 3/1922 | BR 30588, withdrawn 12/1957 | |||
| 1906 | |||||
| Sold to Ministry of Munitions 3/1917 | |||||
| 1906 | 6/1913 | Sold to Admiralty 11/1917 | |||
| 1907 | 10/1923 | BR 30589, withdrawn 6/1957 | |||
| 1907 | 4/1913 | BR Engineer’s Dept 77S, withdrawn 4/1959 | |||
| 1910 | |||||
| Sold Ministry of Munitions 5/1917 | |||||
| 1910 | |||||
| Sold Ministry of Munitions 5/1917 | |||||