WD Austerity 2-10-0
Encyclopedia
The War Department "Austerity" 2-10-0 is a type of heavy freight steam locomotive
that was introduced during the Second World War in 1943.
, and was designed to have interchangeable parts by R.A. Riddles. It had the same power output as the 2-8-0 but a lighter axle load
, making it suitable for secondary lines.
) but unusual in Britain. In Britain, wide fireboxes were usually used only where there was a trailing axle, e.g. in 4-4-2
and 4-6-2
types. One exception was the GER Decapod
.
These were the first 2-10-0
locomotives to work in Great Britain, and the first major class of ten-coupled engines — they had been preceded by two 0-10-0
locomotives; the Great Eastern Railway
's Decapod
and the Midland Railway
's Lickey Banker
.
The 2-10-0 wheel arrangement was later used by Riddles when he designed the BR standard class 9F
. This, too, had a wide firebox placed above the driving wheels.
, the first batch of 100 introduced in 1943/1944 and the second batch of 50 in 1945. Their WD Nos were 73650–73799.
20 of the first batch were sent to the Middle East
. During running-in they worked in Britain, but their length made them unsuitable. Most saw service with the British Army
in France after D-Day
.
:
bought those in continental Europe. They formed the NS Series 5000II, and were numbered 5001-103. They had a short working life, the last being withdrawn in 1952.
After the war, the British Railways
(BR) bought twenty-five locomotives. Numbered 90750-74, they were mostly operated by BR's Scottish Region on heavy freight trains and were all withdrawn between 1961 and 1962.
Postwar, two War Department WD 2-10-0 locomotives, 600 Gordon
and No. 601 Kitchener were sent to the Longmoor Military Railway
in Hampshire, where they were utilised for many years in the training of army personnel in the operation of locomotives and railway infrastructure.
No. 600 Gordon survived in operation until the closure of the LMR in 1969 and is currently (2008) preserved on the Severn Valley Railway
.
, where they formed Class Λβ of the Hellenic State Railways
, numbered Λβ951 to Λβ966.
(CFS). These engines formed the CFS Class 150.6.
, though it is out of service, cosmetically restored and on display in the Engine House.
Two more have been repatriated from Greece
. One has been numbered 90775, one higher than the last BR engine, and has carried the name Sturdee (as No. 601 before being numbered 90775). In service on North Norfolk Railway
. The other is WD No. 3672 which has been named Dame Vera Lynn
. The loco is currently awaiting overhaul at Grosmont, NYMR.
WD 73755 (NS 5085) survives in the Dutch Railway Museum
(Nederlands Spoorwegmuseum) in Utrecht
. It carried the nameplate Longmoor, after the Royal Engineer's base at Longmoor
, with the coat of arms of the Royal Engineers
above.
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...
that was introduced during the Second World War in 1943.
Background
The Austerity 2-10-0 was based on the Austerity 2-8-0WD 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 :...
, and was designed to have interchangeable parts by R.A. Riddles. It had the same power output as the 2-8-0 but a lighter axle load
Axle load
The axle load of a wheeled vehicle is the total weight felt by the roadway for all wheels connected to a given axle. Viewed another way, it is the fraction of total vehicle weight resting on a given axle...
, making it suitable for secondary lines.
Design
It had a parallel boiler and round-topped firebox. While the 2-8-0 had a narrow firebox, the 2-10-0 had a wide firebox placed above the driving wheels. This arrangement was common in the USA (e.g. the USRA 0-8-0USRA 0-8-0
The USRA 0-8-0 was a USRA standard class of steam locomotive designed under the control of the United States Railroad Administration, the nationalized railroad system in the United States during World War I...
) but unusual in Britain. In Britain, wide fireboxes were usually used only where there was a trailing axle, e.g. in 4-4-2
4-4-2 (locomotive)
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-4-2 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...
and 4-6-2
4-6-2
4-6-2, in the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle .These locomotives are also known as Pacifics...
types. One exception was the GER Decapod
GER Decapod
The GER Class A55 or Decapod was an experimental steam locomotive with an 0-10-0T wheel arrangement designed by James Holden for the Great Eastern Railway...
.
These were the first 2-10-0
2-10-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-10-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, ten powered and coupled driving wheels on five axles, and no trailing wheels...
locomotives to work in Great Britain, and the first major class of ten-coupled engines — they had been preceded by two 0-10-0
0-10-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-10-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, ten powered and coupled driving wheels on five axles, and no trailing wheels...
locomotives; the Great Eastern Railway
Great Eastern Railway
The Great Eastern Railway was a pre-grouping British railway company, whose main line linked London Liverpool Street to Norwich and which had other lines through East Anglia...
's Decapod
GER Decapod
The GER Class A55 or Decapod was an experimental steam locomotive with an 0-10-0T wheel arrangement designed by James Holden for the Great Eastern Railway...
and the Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
's Lickey Banker
MR 0-10-0 Lickey Banker
In 1919, the Midland Railway built a single 0-10-0 steam locomotive, No 2290 . It was designed by James Clayton for banking duties on the Lickey Incline in Worcestershire , England...
.
The 2-10-0 wheel arrangement was later used by Riddles when he designed the BR standard class 9F
BR standard class 9F
The British Railways BR Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 is a class of steam locomotive designed for British Railways by Robert Riddles. The Class 9F was the last in a series of standardised locomotive classes designed for British Railways during the 1950s, and was intended for use on fast, heavy freight...
. This, too, had a wide firebox placed above the driving wheels.
Construction
Two batches were built by the North British Locomotive CompanyNorth British Locomotive Company
The North British Locomotive Company was created in 1903 through the merger of three Glasgow locomotive manufacturing companies; Sharp Stewart and Company , Neilson, Reid and Company and Dübs and Company , creating the largest locomotive manufacturing company in Europe.Its main factories were...
, the first batch of 100 introduced in 1943/1944 and the second batch of 50 in 1945. Their WD Nos were 73650–73799.
20 of the first batch were sent to the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. During running-in they worked in Britain, but their length made them unsuitable. Most saw service with the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in France after D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
.
Post-war service
After the war the 150 locomotives were distributed as follows, the majority going to the NetherlandsNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
:
| No. of engines | Country | Company | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 103 | Netherlands Netherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... |
Nederlandse Spoorwegen Nederlandse Spoorwegen Nederlandse Spoorwegen , or NS, is the principal passenger railway operator in the Netherlands.Its trains operate over the tracks of the Dutch national railinfrastructure, operated by ProRail, which was split off from NS in 2003... (NS) |
NS Series 5000II |
| 25 | Great Britain Great Britain Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles... |
British Railways (BR) | BR ex-WD Austerity 2-10-0 BR ex-WD Austerity 2-10-0 The British Railways ex-WD Austerity 2-10-0 Class was a class of 25 2-10-0 steam locomotives of the WD Austerity 2-10-0 type purchased in 1948 from the War Department. BR officially listed them in running stock in 1948, though most were kept in store until 1949-1950. BR allocated them the... |
| 16 | Greece Greece Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe.... |
Hellenic State Railways Hellenic State Railways Hellenic State Railways or SEK was a Greek public sector entity which was established in 1920 and operated most Greek railway lines until 1970.-History:... (SEK) |
SEK Class Λβ |
| 4 | Syria Syria Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest.... |
Chemins de Fer Syriens Chemins de Fer Syriens Chemins de Fer Syriens is the national railway operator for the state of Syria, headquartered in Aleppo.-History:The first railway in Syria opened when the country was part of the Ottoman Empire, with the gauge line from Damascus to the port city of Beirut in present day Lebanon opened in 1895... (CFS) |
CFS Class 150.6 |
| 2 | Great Britain Great Britain Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles... |
Longmoor Military Railway Longmoor Military Railway The Longmoor Military Railway was a British military railway in Hampshire, built by the Royal Engineers from 1903 in order to train soldiers on railway construction and operations.-Route:... (LMR) |
LMR ex-WD Austerity 2-10-0 |
Netherlands
In 1946, the NetherlandsNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
bought those in continental Europe. They formed the NS Series 5000II, and were numbered 5001-103. They had a short working life, the last being withdrawn in 1952.
Great Britain
British Transport Commission
The British Transport Commission was created by Clement Attlee's post-war Labour government as a part of its nationalisation programme, to oversee railways, canals and road freight transport in Great Britain...
(BR) bought twenty-five locomotives. Numbered 90750-74, they were mostly operated by BR's Scottish Region on heavy freight trains and were all withdrawn between 1961 and 1962.
Postwar, two War Department WD 2-10-0 locomotives, 600 Gordon
LMR 600 Gordon
Longmoor Military Railway number 600 Gordon is a preserved British steam locomotive. It was built during World War II to the War Department "Austerity" 2-10-0 design by the North British Locomotive Co...
and No. 601 Kitchener were sent to the Longmoor Military Railway
Longmoor Military Railway
The Longmoor Military Railway was a British military railway in Hampshire, built by the Royal Engineers from 1903 in order to train soldiers on railway construction and operations.-Route:...
in Hampshire, where they were utilised for many years in the training of army personnel in the operation of locomotives and railway infrastructure.
No. 600 Gordon survived in operation until the closure of the LMR in 1969 and is currently (2008) preserved on the Severn Valley Railway
Severn Valley Railway
The Severn Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Shropshire and Worcestershire, England. The line runs along the Severn Valley from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route...
.
Greece
Sixteen of the twenty Middle East locomotives went to GreeceGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, where they formed Class Λβ of the Hellenic State Railways
Hellenic State Railways
Hellenic State Railways or SEK was a Greek public sector entity which was established in 1920 and operated most Greek railway lines until 1970.-History:...
, numbered Λβ951 to Λβ966.
Syria
The remaining 4 Middle East locomotives remained in Syria and operated on the Chemins de Fer SyriensChemins de Fer Syriens
Chemins de Fer Syriens is the national railway operator for the state of Syria, headquartered in Aleppo.-History:The first railway in Syria opened when the country was part of the Ottoman Empire, with the gauge line from Damascus to the port city of Beirut in present day Lebanon opened in 1895...
(CFS). These engines formed the CFS Class 150.6.
Preservation
600 Gordon has survived and has been steamed on the Severn Valley RailwaySevern Valley Railway
The Severn Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Shropshire and Worcestershire, England. The line runs along the Severn Valley from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route...
, though it is out of service, cosmetically restored and on display in the Engine House.
Two more have been repatriated from Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. One has been numbered 90775, one higher than the last BR engine, and has carried the name Sturdee (as No. 601 before being numbered 90775). In service on North Norfolk Railway
North Norfolk Railway
The North Norfolk Railway – also known as the "Poppy Line" – is a heritage steam railway in Norfolk, England, running between the coastal town of Sheringham and Holt, It cuts through the countryside to the east of Weybourne with views of its windmill and passes through the well preserved country...
. The other is WD No. 3672 which has been named Dame Vera Lynn
Vera Lynn
Dame Vera Lynn, DBE is an English singer-songwriter and actress whose musical recordings and performances were enormously popular during World War II. During the war she toured Egypt, India and Burma, giving outdoor concerts for the troops...
. The loco is currently awaiting overhaul at Grosmont, NYMR.
WD 73755 (NS 5085) survives in the Dutch Railway Museum
Nederlands Spoorwegmuseum
The Nederlands Spoorwegmuseum is the Dutch national railway museum. It was established in 1927; since 1954 it has been housed in the "Maliebaan station", a former station in Utrecht.- History :...
(Nederlands Spoorwegmuseum) in Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
. It carried the nameplate Longmoor, after the Royal Engineer's base at Longmoor
Longmoor Military Railway
The Longmoor Military Railway was a British military railway in Hampshire, built by the Royal Engineers from 1903 in order to train soldiers on railway construction and operations.-Route:...
, with the coat of arms of the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
above.
| Numbers | Name | Location | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WD | NS | SEK | BR | LMR | ||
| 73651 | - | - | - | 600 | Gordon | On display in the Engine House, Severn Valley Railway Severn Valley Railway The Severn Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Shropshire and Worcestershire, England. The line runs along the Severn Valley from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route... , England England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental... |
| 73652 | - | Λβ951 | 90775* | - | Sturdee* (name not currently carried) | Failed Boiler Exam, North Norfolk Railway North Norfolk Railway The North Norfolk Railway – also known as the "Poppy Line" – is a heritage steam railway in Norfolk, England, running between the coastal town of Sheringham and Holt, It cuts through the countryside to the east of Weybourne with views of its windmill and passes through the well preserved country... , Norfolk Norfolk Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county... , England England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental... |
| 3672 | - | Λβ960 | - | - | Dame Vera Lynn* | Awaiting overhaul at Grosmont Grosmont Grosmont is a small village and civil parish situated in the Scarborough district of North Yorkshire, England and is within the North York Moors National Park. The village is named after the Grandmontines Priory that used to be there... North Yorks Moors Railway, Yorkshire Yorkshire Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform... , England England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental... |
| 73677 | - | Λβ962 | - | - | - | Greece Greece Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe.... , operational name="mitroo"> |
| 73682 | - | Λβ964 | - | - | - | Greece Greece Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe.... , operational name="mitroo"/> |
| 73684 | - | Λβ966 | - | - | - | Greece Greece Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe.... , static exhibit |
| 73755 WD Austerity 2-10-0 73755 Longmoor War Department Austerity 2-10-0 No. 73755 Longmoor is a preserved steam locomotive.One of the 150 WD Austerity 2-10-0s all of which were built by the North British Locomotive Company. 73755 was built in 1945, NBL Works No. 25601. It subsequently became the 1000th British built steam locomotive... |
5085 WD Austerity 2-10-0 73755 Longmoor War Department Austerity 2-10-0 No. 73755 Longmoor is a preserved steam locomotive.One of the 150 WD Austerity 2-10-0s all of which were built by the North British Locomotive Company. 73755 was built in 1945, NBL Works No. 25601. It subsequently became the 1000th British built steam locomotive... |
- | - | - | Longmoor | Nederlands Spoorwegmuseum Nederlands Spoorwegmuseum The Nederlands Spoorwegmuseum is the Dutch national railway museum. It was established in 1927; since 1954 it has been housed in the "Maliebaan station", a former station in Utrecht.- History :... , Utrecht Utrecht (city) Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features... , Netherlands Netherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... |
Further reading
- J.W.P. Rowledge Heavy Goods Engines of the War Department Vol. 3 Austerity 2-8-0 and 2-10-0
- Roger Tourret Allied Military Locomotives of the Second World War ISBN 0-905878-06-X
External links
- http://www.winwaed.com/rail/LNER/locos/O/WD_Austerity.shtml