SER A class
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerJames Stirling
BuilderAshford Works
Build date1879–1881
Total produced12
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte4-4-0
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Leading dia.3 ft 8 in (1,120 mm)
Coupled dia.6 ft 0+1⁄2 in (1,842 mm)
Wheelbase:​
 • Engine20 ft 10+1⁄4 in (6.356 m)
 • Leading5 ft 4 in (1,630 mm)
 • Coupled8 ft 2 in (2,490 mm)
Axle load:​
 • Leading12 long tons 2 cwt (27,100 lb or 12.3 t)
 • 1st coupled14 long tons 2 cwt (31,600 lb or 14.3 t)
 • 2nd coupled11 long tons 5 cwt (25,200 lb or 11.4 t)
Loco weight37 long tons 19 cwt (85,000 lb or 38.6 t)
Tender weight25 long tons 14 cwt (57,600 lb or 26.1 t)
Total weight63 long tons 13 cwt (142,600 lb or 64.7 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity3 long tons 0 cwt (6,700 lb or 3 t)
Water cap.2,100 imp gal (9,500 L)
Firebox:​
 • TypeRound-top
 • Grate area15+1⁄4 sq ft (1.42 m2)
Boiler:
​
 • TypeDomeless
 • Small tubes230 × 1+5⁄8 in (41 mm)
Boiler pressure140 lbf/in2 (970 kPa)
Safety valveRamsbottom
Heating surface1,129+1⁄4 sq ft (104.91 m2) ​
 • Tubes1,034 sq ft (96.1 m2)
 • Firebox95+1⁄4 sq ft (8.85 m2)
CylindersTwo, inside
Cylinder size18 in × 26 in (460 mm × 660 mm)
Career
Operators
ClassA
Withdrawn1907–1909
DispositionAll scrapped

The SER A class was a class of 4-4-0 locomotives on the South Eastern Railway.

History

For many years the South Eastern Railway (SER) had relied upon locomotives of the 2-4-0 wheel arrangements for their semi-fast passenger services. James Stirling had been appointed to the post of locomotive superintendent of the SER on 28 March 1878. He came from the Glasgow and South Western Railway where, since 1873, he had used 4-4-0 locomotives for express passenger services as being more capable than the 2-4-0s hitherto favoured. Accordingly, his first new class of locomotive for the SER was a 4-4-0, and 12 were built at Ashford Works between 1879 and 1881.[1] The boiler was interchangeable with that of the O class 0-6-0 (introduced 1878) and also with the later Q class (introduced 1881).[2]

When new, the locomotives were painted holly green, and their numbers were scattered between 19 and 179.[3] The green was replaced by black from December 1883. Their SER numbers were retained under the South Eastern and Chatham Railway (SECR), although from 1900 the livery changed from black to Brunswick green.[4]

Table of orders and numbers
YearQuantitySER Nos.
18792165, 157
18809163, 166, 160, 176, 159, 179, 19, 67, 36
18811175

No. 67 was the 200th locomotive built at Ashford.[2]

Rebuilding

The original boilers of all twelve locomotives were replaced between 1889 and 1894, the detail differences were small; and between 1901 and 1908, five were rebuilt for a second time by the SECR with Wainwright-design boilers of a different design.[5]

Withdrawal

Due to the introduction of newer types by the SECR, the class became redundant and in March 1907 it was decided that all twelve A class locomotives were to be withdrawn when next needing heavy repairs. Two were withdrawn in June 1907, five more in 1908 leaving five in service at the start of 1909. After withdrawal in January 1908, the boiler of no. 165 was used to rebuild no. 163 which became the last to be withdrawn, on 30 June 1909.[6]

Table of withdrawals
YearTotal in service at start of yearQuantity withdrawnLocomotive numbers
1907122160, 166
1908105165, 176, 157, 179, 67
19095519, 36, 175, 159, 163

Notes

  1. ↑ Bradley 1985, pp. 139–140.
  2. 1 2 Burtt 1947, p. 22.
  3. ↑ Bradley 1985, pp. 139, 143.
  4. ↑ Bradley 1985, pp. 12–13, 140, 142.
  5. ↑ Bradley 1985, pp. 142, 143.
  6. ↑ Bradley 1985, p. 143.

References

  • Bradley, D.L. (September 1985) [1963]. The Locomotive History of the South Eastern Railway (2nd ed.). London: RCTS. ISBN 0-901115-48-7.
  • Burtt, F. (1947). SE&CR Locomotives: A Survey from 1878-1923. London: Ian Allan.
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