GWR 3100 Class

GWR 3100 Class (Details for 1938 rebuild of 3150 Class)
3120, as originally built c. 1907
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Churchward (rebuilt by Collett) Builder GWR Swindon Works Order number Lot 319 Build date 1906 Rebuild date 1938 Number rebuilt 5
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-6-2T  • UIC 1'C1 ht Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Leading dia. 3 ft 0 in (0.914 m) Driver dia. 5 ft 3 in (1.600 m) Trailing dia. 3 ft 8 in (1.118 m) Minimum curve 6 chains (400 ft; 120 m) normal, 5 chains (330 ft; 100 m) slow Length 41 ft 0 in (12.50 m) over buffers Width 8 ft 11+1⁄4 in (2.72 m) Height 13 ft 2 in (4.01 m) Axle load 19 long tons 3 cwt (42,900 lb or 19.5 t) full Adhesive weight 57 long tons 6 cwt (128,400 lb or 58.2 t) full Loco weight 81 long tons 9 cwt (182,400 lb or 82.8 t) full Fuel type Coal Water cap. 2,000 imp gal (9,100 L; 2,400 US gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 20.56 sq ft (1.910 m2) Boiler pressure 225 lbf/in2 (1.55 MPa) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 128.72 sq ft (11.958 m2)  • Tubes 1,349 sq ft (125.3 m2) Superheater: ​  • Type 4-element or 6-element  • Heating area 4-element: 136.64 sq ft (12.694 m2), 6-element: 181.10 sq ft (16.825 m2) Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 18.5 in × 30 in (470 mm × 762 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 31,170 lbf (138.7 kN)
Career Power class GWR: D, BR: 4MT Axle load class GWR: Red Withdrawn 1957–1960 Disposition All scrapped

The Great Western Railway (GWR) 3100 Class was a class of 2-6-2T side tank steam locomotive. This was developed from one of George Jackson Churchward's pioneer designs; the experimental No 99. The basic design was so sound that derivatives were built until the end of the company's life in 1948 and even beyond.

No 99 was produced in 1903 and given an extended trial over the next two years. Fitted with the standard number 2 boiler running at 200 p.s.i., flat topped tanks and driving wheels of 5 feet 8 inches diameter, this was the genesis of 289 similar locos that were to follow. Thirty nine more examples were built to this initial design. This production batch differed from the prototype only in that the tank tops were sloping to aid visibility and the cab sides were incorporated into the tanks. The running numbers of this batch were 3111 to 3149 and the prototype was logically renumbered 3100.

3150 class

1906 saw the first alteration to the design of the class, when numbers 3150 to 3190 (known as the GWR 3150 Class) were produced using the larger standard number 4 boiler, again running at 200 p.s.i. These two classes were the basis of what was to follow for over forty years.

5100 and 5101 classes

A renumbering in 1927 saw the original forty renumbered 5100, and 5111 to 5149. The next additions to the class filled in the numbers 5101 to 5110 and extended the class to 5189. These locos were known as the GWR 5101 Class but were really little changed from the first batch but had an increased axle loading of 17 tons 12 hundredweight. Bunkers were of the standard Collett design with greater coal capacity. Additions to the 51xx class were made until available numbers were exhausted, and forty engines were then built in the 41xx series.

New 3100 class

In 1938 Collett rebuilt some of the oldest locos in the 31xx series with a view to using them as bankers, particularly from Severn Tunnel Junction shed. One of the two classes of rebuilds were a "new" 3100 class derived from the old 3150 class. These engines used the standard class 4 boiler again, but pressed to 225 p.s.i. and using smaller coupled wheels of 5 feet 3 inches diameter, and a half inch increase in cylinder diameter, nominal tractive effort rose to 31,170 pounds. Almost impossible to pick out was a 2" reduction in pony truck wheel diameter to 3'. Only five engines were ever modified, namely 3173, 3156, 3181, 3155 and 3179 which were rebuilt as 3100 to 3104 respectively.

See also

• GWR 2-6-2T

References

• Whitehurst, Brian (1973). Great Western Engines, Names, Numbers, Types and Classes (1940 to Preservation). Oxford, UK: Oxford Publishing Company. pp. 30, 102, 135. ISBN 978-0-9028-8821-0. OCLC 815661.

External links

• Rail UK database entry for "new" 3100 Class