G&SWR 45 Class 0-6-2T


The G&SWR 45 Class were 0-6-2T steam locomotives designed by Peter Drummond for the Glasgow and South Western Railway of which 18 were built in 1915-1917, followed by a further 10 of a slightly modified design in 1919 after Robert Whitelegg took over as Chief Mechanical Engineer.

History

The G&SWR had historically made relatively little use of tank engines, and those which it owned in 1915 were exclusively small locomotives for shunting or suburban passenger services. However, Drummond's tenure as Locomotive Superintendent was a time of considerable change for G&SWR locomotive design and the 45 Class marked a departure from previous practice, as they were built for goods and mineral traffic which had previously used tender engines such as 0-6-0s. They were particularly associated with the Ayrshire coalfield, and were thus a Scottish equivalent to the many Welsh 0-6-2T locomotives employed on similar duties in the South Wales valleys. Their design had many similarities to the Highland Railway X Class 0-6-4Ts which Drummond had built for his previous employer. The Whitelegg engines of 1919 had slightly increased water tank capacity and some minor detail changes, most obviously to the shape of the cabside cutouts, and were employed on similar traffic. Shortly prior to these entering service the entire G&SWR locomotive fleet had been renumbered, and the type now became known as the 1 Class under the new numbering system.
The locomotives were much more successful than some of Drummond's earlier designs for the G&SWR, although their limited water tankage compared to tender engines became a problem after they passed into London, Midland and Scottish Railway ownership in 1923. The LMS wanted to increase the loads which former G&SWR locomotives were permitted to haul, and whilst the 0-6-2Ts were capable of hauling heavier trains they lacked sufficient water capacity to complete longer journeys. They were therefore redeployed to shunting and short-distance trip workings, and the class became quite widely dispersed. By the time withdrawals commenced in 1936 some examples were allocated to Carlisle, Workington and various former Midland Railway depots elsewhere in England. One even spent some years banking on the Highland Main Line. During World War II the surviving locomotives were all returned to the former G&SWR system.
Only one, no. 16905, survived into British Railways ownership in 1948 and this was withdrawn the same year without receiving its BR number. Four locomotives were sold into industrial service and the last survivor was the former LMS 16908 which worked at Ashington Colliery until 1955. All were scrapped.

Numbering and locomotive histories

The class was originally designated 45 Class but, after the G&SWR's 1919 renumbering, this was changed to 1 Class. The LMS initially numbered them 16400-16427 but in 1926 changed this to 16900-16927 to make space for new LMS 3F 0-6-0Ts.
G&SWR no. G&SWR no. LMS no. LMS no. builder's numberdate delivereddate withdrawnnotes
45231642216922NBL 21242
84241642316923NBL 21243
90251642416924NBL 21244
91261642516925NBL 21245
122111641016910NBL 21246sold to Robert McAlpine & Sons no.80
284221642116921NBL 21247
101271642616926NBL 21507
102281642716927NBL 21508
141121641116911NBL 21509
142131641216912NBL 21510
143141641316913NBL 21511
144151641416914NBL 21512
145161641516915NBL 21513
146171641616916NBL 21514
147181641716917NBL 21515
148191641816918NBL 21516
149201641916919NBL 21517
150211642016920NBL 21518
11640016900NBL 22070
21640116901NBL 22071
31640216902NBL 22072
41640316903NBL 22073sold to Robert McAlpine & Sons no.81
51640416904NBL 22074sold to Ashington Coal Company no.1
61640516905NBL 22075withdrawn before receiving BR number 56905
71640616906NBL 22076
81640716907NBL 22077
91640816908NBL 22078sold to Ashington Coal Company no.2
101640916909NBL 22079