LSWR P14 class
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The LSWR P14 class was a class of 4-6-0 locomotive designed by Dugald Drummond for the London and South Western Railway.
Background
[edit]The continued need to improve his first two 4-6-0 classes led Drummond to create another design. The LSWR's immediate traffic needs were covered by the relatively successful G14 design of 1908, though with only five locomotives in the class they were unable to cover all heavy boat train services.[1][page needed] However the need for faster trains to the South Coast ports remained, and the G14s needed assistance from a new class of similar design.[1][page needed] The G14's proven ability to pull trains at faster speeds and their larger power-to-weight ratio on other lines led Drummond to continue developing the concept.[1][page needed]
Construction history
[edit]On his penultimate 4-6-0 design, Drummond had to produce a locomotive that was capable of hauling increased traffic at speed. Once again, the possible advantages of the design presented themselves.[2] A similar boiler to the other classes= rated to 175 psi (1,210 kPa) saturated steam pressure= was utilised, powerful enough for four cylinders and 6 ft (1.8 m) driving wheels.[1][page needed] The new design was equipped with four sets of Walschaerts valve gear, therefore reducing the mechanical complexity of his previous designs[2] and also gave a marginally lighter axle-loading. Large, single splashers covered the wheels, though these would prove troublesome in service.[1][page needed] The Drummond 'watercart' eight-wheeled tender was utilised for the long journeys on the LSWR mainline.
Although ordered from Nine Elms Works in February 1909, they had stopped building new locomotives following the delivery of the final B4 class in 1908. After some delays, full-scale construction was transferred to Eastleigh Works, with the first of five P14s being outshopped in October 1910, more than two years after the completion of his G14 design. They were the first tender locomotives built at Eastleigh, being preceded by two S14 class tank locomotives.[1][page needed][3]
| Year | Order | Quantity | LSWR numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | P14 |
5 |
448–452 |
Rebuilding under Maunsell
[edit]After 15 years in both primary and secondary passenger duties, Richard Maunsell, chief mechanical engineer of the newly formed Southern Railway in 1923, decided the class needed to be rebuilt to conform with the general standardization of Southern locomotives.[4][page needed] The P14s were reduced to kits of parts that were used to build a further batch of N15 class locomotives.[5][page needed] However, 0449 (renumbered to make way for the new N15) ran for several months as part of the development work for the Lord Nelsons, at the same time its alleged rebuild as the new N15 449 was in service.[6]
Livery and numbering
[edit]Under the LSWR, the P14s were outshopped in the LSWR Passenger Sage Green livery with purple-brown edging, creating panels of green.[1][page needed] This was further lined in white and black with 'LSWR' in gilt on the tender tank sides.
When transferred to Southern Railway ownership after 1923, the locomotives were outshopped in Richard Maunsell's darker version of the LSWR livery.[7][page needed] The LSWR standard gilt lettering was changed to yellow with 'Southern' on the water tank sides. The locomotives also featured black and white lining.[4][page needed]
Operational details
[edit]The P14 design had originally been intended to operate expresses between Salisbury and Exeter, replacing the failed F13 and E14 predecessors. They were considered to be more successful than these locomotives by their crews, and acted as supplements to their G14 class siblings on these duties.[1][page needed] However, the class still had most of the drawbacks associated with Drummond 4-6-0s in terms of high water and coal consumption.[1][page needed]
The P14s continued in their Drummond guise without modification until they were rebuilt in 1925 by Richard Maunsell, who used the parts to create a new batch of N15 locomotives.[1][page needed] As a result, no examples survived into preservation.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Bradley (1986).
- ^ a b Swift, Peter W. Railway Archive 6: pp. 3–24.
- ^ Bradley (1967), pp. 159, 162
- ^ a b Haresnape & Rowledge (1982).
- ^ Haresnape (1977)
- ^ Maidment, David (2016). Southern Urie & Maunsell 2-Cylinder 4-6-0s. Pen and Sword. p. 62. ISBN 9781473852532.
- ^ Swift, Peter (2006). Maunsell 4-6-0 King Arthur Class.
- Bradley, D.L. (1967). Locomotives of the L.S.W.R.: Part 2. Kenilworth: RCTS. ISBN 0-901115-07-X.
- Bradley, D. L. (1986). LSWR Locomotives: The Drummond Classes. Didcot, Oxon: Wild Swan Publications. ISBN 0-906867-42-8.
- Haresnape, Brian (1977). Maunsell Locomotives: A Pictorial History. Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allan Limited. ISBN 0-7110-0743-8.
- Haresnape, B. & Rowledge, P. (1982). Drummond Locomotives: A Pictorial History. Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allan Limited. ISBN 0-7110-1206-7.
- Swift, Peter (2006). Maunsell 4-6-0 King Arthur Class. Locomotives in Detail, volume 4. Hinckley: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-7110-3086-3.
- Swift, Peter W. "The Drummond 4-6-0s of the London & South Western Railway". Railway Archive. 6: 3–24.