SR S16 Class

[LNWR18901910]

In the late 1920s, an increase of freight traffic was in high-demand on the Southern Railway. The idea of a 2-8-0 freight locomotive was considered as it would top the GWR Churchward 28xx and the S&DJR Fowler 7F 2-8-0 locomotives. This resulted in the form of the S16 2-8-0 locomotives which was a 2-8-0 variant of the S15 Class of the LSWR by Robert Urie. Richard Maunsell's variation of the S15 4-6-0s would take over all the heavy freight duties of the aging locomotives of the Pre-Grouping Era mainly used for freight purposes.

 

The S16s earned the name 'Black Beetles' after the world's strongest insect affectionately by railwaymen and enthusiasts. What made the locomotives stand out was the use of different cylinders and Walschaerts vavle gear used commonly on LMS engines but still retaining the N15 cab and smoke deflectors as well as the raised tender on Maunsell's Lord Nelson Class. Known for their strength, capability and endurance, the S16s lived up to their nickname even when banking heavy goods trains uphills, the most notable account at Bincombe Tunnel by a young Southern Railway fireman.

 

Only 20 of the locomotives were built in 1929 with the last built in 1932. No. 2000 and 2019, the first and last of the class were built together at Ashford Works with the rest No. 2001-2018 built inbetween 1930 and 1932 at Eastleigh Works. They were assigned to Southampton, Weymouth, Dorchester and Bournemouth; some spent most of their working lives along the old LSWR routes. During the Second World War, these engines served mainly as supply trains to dockyards and long after 1945 acted as auxhilary engines on express duties.

 

After nationalisation in 1948, all 20 locomotives were re-numbered as BR 32000 - 32019 on the BR Southern Region. Withdrawals took place in 1959 to 1962 and the class were replaced by the British Rail Class 33 on the former Southern Railway routes. Scrapping took place in 1960 with the first being No. 32002 and the last being No. 32009. Fortunately, one locomotive, No. 32019, the last to be withdrawn hand spend 33 years and four months in service during Southern and BR ownership. The locomotive was saved for preservation most likely due to the international rise of the popular beat music group The Beatles which sparked an interest in the class and its popularity was boosted perhaps thanks to 'Beatle-mania'.

 

No. 32019 was purchased from Dai Woodham at Barry Scrapyard and moved to the Swanage Railway where its overhaul took 16 years before the locomotive (now 2019) finally steamed back into service in 1978 and ran for ten years before being moved briefly to the Severn Valley Railway, Great Central Railway and East Lancashire Railway on loan. Its second overhaul took place in 1988 and steamed again in 1994 for another ten years on the Bodmin and Wenford Railway but unfortunately was too heavy for the line so instead went to the Bluebell Railway. No. 2019 was seen on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway alongside S15 No. 825 in 2004 before being moved to Watercress Line in 2010 where she returned to steam in 2012 and back to the Bluebell Railway where she currently resides.

 

This is another locomotive project I have been planning to do after my GWR 7100 Class 2-6-4T or the 'Platypus Tank' as it is affectionately known. Once the engine is done, it will be started as soon as we gathered all the parts.

 

This is what the model will soon look like.

 

Edited August 3, 2018 by LNWR18901910

[paftrain]

In the late 1920s, an increase of freight traffic was in high-demand on the Southern Railway. The idea of a 2-8-0 freight locomotive was considered as it would top the GWR Churchward 28xx and the S&DJR Fowler 7F 2-8-0 locomotives. This resulted in the form of the S16 2-8-0 locomotives which was a 2-8-0 variant of the S15 Class of the LSWR by Robert Urie. Richard Maunsell's variation of the S15 4-6-0s would take over all the heavy freight duties of the aging locomotives of the Pre-Grouping Era mainly used for freight purposes.

 

The S16s earned the name 'Black Beetles' after the world's strongest insect affectionately by railwaymen and enthusiasts. What made the locomotives stand out was the use of different cylinders and Walschaerts vavle gear used commonly on LMS engines but still retaining the N15 cab and smoke deflectors as well as the raised tender on Maunsell's Lord Nelson Class. Known for their strength, capability and endurance, the S16s lived up to their nickname even when banking heavy goods trains uphills, the most notable account at Bincombe Tunnel by a young Southern Railway fireman.

 

 

 

 

Only 20 of the locomotives were built in 1929 with the last built in 1932. No. 2000 and 2019, the first and last of the class were built together at Ashford Works with the rest No. 2001-2018 built inbetween 1930 and 1932 at Eastleigh Works. They were assigned to Southampton, Weymouth, Dorchester and Bournemouth; some spent most of their working lives along the old LSWR routes. During the Second World War, these engines served mainly as supply trains to dockyards and long after 1945 acted as auxhilary engines on express duties.

 

After nationalisation in 1948, all 20 locomotives were re-numbered as BR 32000 - 32019 on the BR Southern Region. Withdrawals took place in 1959 to 1962 and the class were replaced by the British Rail Class 33 on the former Southern Railway routes. Scrapping took place in 1960 with the first being No. 32002 and the last being No. 32009. Fortunately, one locomotive, No. 32019, the last to be withdrawn hand spend 33 years and four months in service during Southern and BR ownership. The locomotive was saved for preservation most likely due to the international rise of the popular beat music group The Beatles which sparked an interest in the class and its popularity was boosted perhaps thanks to 'Beatle-mania'.

 

No. 32019 was purchased from Dai Woodham at Barry Scrapyard and moved to the Swanage Railway where its overhaul took 16 years before the locomotive (now 2019) finally steamed back into service in 1978 and ran for ten years before being moved briefly to the Severn Valley Railway, Great Central Railway and East Lancashire Railway on loan. Its second overhaul took place in 1988 and steamed again in 1994 for another ten years on the Bodmin and Wenford Railway but unfortunately was too heavy for the line so instead went to the Bluebell Railway. No. 2019 was seen on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway alongside S15 No. 825 in 2004 before being moved to Watercress Line in 2010 where she returned to steam in 2012 and back to the Bluebell Railway where she currently resides.

 

This is another locomotive project I have been planning to do after my GWR 7100 Class 2-6-4T or the 'Platypus Tank' as it is affectionately known. Once the engine is done, it will be started as soon as we gathered all the parts. I shall be posting an illustration of it soon as to show what it will look like.

Never heard about that before - is this supposed to be a "neverwaser" post?

[cctransuk]

Never heard about that before - is this supposed to be a "neverwaser" post?

 

Oh - I think so; don't you?

 

Regards,

John Isherwood.

[LNWR18901910]

Yes, it is a fictional locomotive. I have been developing it for some time, now. Originally, it was going to be a Bulleid 2-8-2 heavy freight engine, but I decided to go for a Maunsell 2-8-0 freight engine inspired by the Fowler 7F 2-8-0.

[chris45lsw]

Yes, it is a fictional locomotive. I have been developing it for some time, now. Originally, it was going to be a Bulleid 2-8-2 heavy freight engine, but I decided to go for a Maunsell 2-8-0 freight engine inspired by the Fowler 7F 2-8-0.

I know it's fictional but it wouldn't have had a Brighton Section, 2xxx, number but something in the South Western range, 1-999.  There are spare numbers between the Nelson's and Schools (866-899) or after the Zs (958-999).

 

Incidentally Maunsell did actually plan an eight coupled goods loco but it would have been a 4-8-0 with 4 cylinders and a boiler based on the Nelson.  S15s 838-847 were built instead.

 

Another bit of pedantry - if it was built in the late 20s it wouldn't have been class S16 either!

 

Chris KT  

[bike2steam]

Seeing as Maunsell's design team was headed by chief draughtsman James Clayton, a former Derby man, it might've been feasible. But as Chris sez, it wouldn't be numbered in the Brighton range unless built there. 

[petethemole]

Incidentally Maunsell did actually plan an eight coupled goods loco but it would have been a 4-8-0 with 4 cylinders and a boiler based on the Nelson.  S15s 838-847 were built instead.

 

 

 

Chris KT  

 

Visualised here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/gallery/image/46226-maunsell-proposed480/

[LNWR18901910]

Visualised here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/gallery/image/46226-maunsell-proposed480/

 

 

Seeing as Maunsell's design team was headed by chief draughtsman James Clayton, a former Derby man, it might've been feasible. But as Chris sez, it wouldn't be numbered in the Brighton range unless built there. 

 

Well, yes, that is true, but this locomotive is a what-if next to my GWR 71xx 2-6-4T and my LNWR Experimental Mogul and its Mk II variant, the G2X.

[RFS]

10 of the ex-LBSCR I1/I1x 4-4-2T locos were numbered 2001-2010 so your chosen number series would clash. 

Edited August 5, 2018 by RFS

[LNWR18901910]

10 of the ex-LBSCR I1/I1x 4-4-2T locos were numbered 2001-2010 so your chosen number series would clash. 

It would? Oh, dear...

[Wickham Green]

It would? Oh, dear...

Numbering would probably have followed on from the Z class .... or vice-versa if these were built first !

[LNWR18901910]

Numbering would probably have followed on from the Z class .... or vice-versa if these were built first !

You, Sir, are a genuis! Thanks very much! How about 960 - 979 and BR 30960-979 and the S16 Class introduced in 1928?

[asmay2002]

Why S16?  Eastleigh would have been well beyond order number S16 by 1928.

[LNWR18901910]

Why S16?  Eastleigh would have been well beyond order number S16 by 1928.

Well, why not? This locomotive would've been built at Ashford in the late 1920s before the Great Depression.

[chris45lsw]

Well, why not? This locomotive would've been built at Ashford in the late 1920s before the Great Depression.

I would suggest that given it has no direct LSWR antecedents the SR/Maunsell would have given it a SECR style classification as in U (2-6-0), V (4-4-0), W (2-6-4T), Z (0-8-0T).  Y had been intended for an 0-6-0T planned in 1927 but not proceeded with so, as it is available, I'd suggest class Y. 

 

Chris KT

[LNWR18901910]

I would suggest that given it has no direct LSWR antecedents the SR/Maunsell would have given it a SECR style classification as in U (2-6-0), V (4-4-0), W (2-6-4T), Z (0-8-0T).  Y had been intended for an 0-6-0T planned in 1927 but not proceeded with so, as it is available, I'd suggest class Y. 

 

Chris KT

Y Class. That's a good idea.

[Mallard60022]

Great idea and nay sayers need a to improve their SOH.

Had, far, far earlier than 1963 or even 1948, the SR become the powerful South and West Region 'region' rather than the WR (the midlands, Wales and north west part of which would later have become The BR W & WM Region), then loco development may well have taken this sort of track. In reality the regional set up after 1948 led to the 'Standards' and however controversial this comment might seem, those locomotives were in the main a waste of resource due to the poor management of the dieselisation programme. In the Standards programme there were, as we know, plans for a 2.8.0 and a 2.8.2. IIRC. Had the dieselisation fiasco been well managed as it was elsewhere in Europe in line with electrification then steam would have survived here until the late 70s at least. That was the planned life-span  for the Modified Bulleid Pacifics and presumably for engines such as the 9Fs.

Politics, wars and the roads lobby have a lot to answer for regarding railway development in this country; two of those influences perhaps still do?

The 'back story' to this idea of a S16 (and many other mighthavebeeners) is 'fun' and the hobby is fun isn't it?

Phil

Edited August 8, 2018 by Mallard60022

[Wickham Green]

I would suggest that given it has no direct LSWR antecedents the SR/Maunsell would have given it a SECR style classification as in U (2-6-0), V (4-4-0), W (2-6-4T), Z (0-8-0T).  Y had been intended for an 0-6-0T planned in 1927 but not proceeded with so, as it is available, I'd suggest class Y. 

 

Chris KT

Clearly it's a total secret that these locos were built at all  -  so Project "X" perhaps ?

[LNWR18901910]

Clearly it's a total secret that these locos were built at all  -  so Project "X" perhaps ?

Project X? Thanks, that sounds good. I might use that for an LSWR Mogul with that classification. Maybe an LSWR X1 Class 2-6-0 using a Drummond 700 Class as a basis?

[bike2steam]

Project X? Thanks, that sounds good. I might use that for an LSWR Mogul with that classification. Maybe an LSWR X1 Class 2-6-0 using a Drummond 700 Class as a basis?

 

It'd look good, for comparison, next to an Adams X2 4-4-0.   

[LNWR18901910]

It'd look good, for comparison, next to an Adams X2 4-4-0.   

Thanks! The LSWR Drummond X1 Class 2-6-0 it is, then. Like the LMS Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0 before it, its main purpose is mixed-traffic work along branchlines as an auxhilary engine to Drummond's 700 Class 0-6-0 tender engines.