RMweb Premium 7013 Posted March 12, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 12, 2012 I have been trying to find out which 'Britannia' class locos were allocated to the Western Region. I know most found their way to Cardiff Canton and to be honest I am not too concerned with shed allocations although it would be useful if anyone knows them. I would be grateful if anyone has a definitive list they could furnish me with, I have searched the archive with limited success. Thank you in advance Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonesome_whistle Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 According to the information I have to hand (The Xpress Locomotive Register volume 4) 70015-70029 were all WR locomotives. Initiallly they were variously allocated to Laira, OOC, Canton and one (70022) to Newton Abbot. All were transferred to Canton by the beginning of 1957. Three early transfers away to the LMR were70015, 70017 & 70021 in July of 1958. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 7013 Posted March 12, 2012 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted March 12, 2012 Thank you Lonesome_whistle for your help, much appreciated Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cary hill Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 Try http://www.brdatabase.info/ it's not infallible, but the info on there appears to agree with that from other sources for those class members originally allocated to the West Country which were the ones I was interested in. A quick trawl will probably be helpful. Edit for spelling Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pennine MC Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 Undoubtedly they were 70015 -29 as Lonesome has posted - the names all have a GWR theme, being AFAIK all taken from older locos, possibly broad gauge. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted March 12, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 12, 2012 Undoubtedly they were 70015 -29 as Lonesome has posted - the names all have a GWR theme, being AFAIK all taken from older locos, possibly broad gauge. All except one had been names carried by broad gauge locos. The odd one out was 'Flying Dutchman' which was the name given, at various times, to a Paddington/Exeter/Plymouth train - the name was discontinued when the line to the west was narrowed in 1892. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
70021 Morning Star Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 You want the davidhayescollection website (that's the David Hayes Collection, all one word). There's a large section, around page 90, detailing the Britannica class, all of the modifications, and a detailed history of each individual Britannia locomotive on the following page. Rick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclebobkt Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 I never ever saw 'Britannias.' on the WR. lines. However, I gathered that, apart from Cardiff Canton shed, the ex- GWR. crews, particularly at Laira and at OOC., did not like them: >. - The drivers were accustomed to driving on the RIGHT, or OFF-side, & >. - The Firemen finding that the firing required was so different from traditional & GWR. practices. Quite by chance, as one writes, I read an extract of a letter written by a. Mr. M. Johnson in 'Back Track.; volume #26., (2012.). entitled 'Western standards.' in which he wrote ... '... . The Britannia class suffered from snatching, which could be experienced through the passenger coaches through a fore-and-aft motion. Also from stopping 'Dead centre.' which required the assistance of another locomotive, and long delays.'. The writer also criticised the lack of a prototype. However, I believe that it was not unknown, even for GWR. & 2-cyl. locomotives, for them to develop a fore-and-aft motion. But this stopping 'Dead centre.' is a new one for me - was this point true? If 'YES.' then were the 2-cyl. 'Britannias.' the only class prone to this defect, which surely was not true of 2-cyl. locomotives in general, was it? Or is it the repetition of some canard? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted April 17, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 17, 2015 I never ever saw 'Britannias.' on the WR. lines. However, I gathered that, apart from Cardiff Canton shed, the ex- GWR. crews, particularly at Laira and at OOC., did not like them: >. - The drivers were accustomed to driving on the RIGHT, or OFF-side, & >. - The Firemen finding that the firing required was so different from traditional & GWR. practices. Quite by chance, as one writes, I read an extract of a letter written by a. Mr. M. Johnson in 'Back Track.; volume #26., (2012.). entitled 'Western standards.' in which he wrote ... '... . The Britannia class suffered from snatching, which could be experienced through the passenger coaches through a fore-and-aft motion. Also from stopping 'Dead centre.' which required the assistance of another locomotive, and long delays.'. The writer also criticised the lack of a prototype. However, I believe that it was not unknown, even for GWR. & 2-cyl. locomotives, for them to develop a fore-and-aft motion. But this stopping 'Dead centre.' is a new one for me - was this point true? If 'YES.' then were the 2-cyl. 'Britannias.' the only class prone to this defect, which surely was not true of 2-cyl. locomotives in general, was it? Or is it the repetition of some canard? Rather different in reality in some respects. The Brits were disliked by many men at their original sheds and a Laira Driver in particular created a major hoohah about them - the reality of course was down to the left hand drive, the left-handed firing that resulted, and the draughty cabs plus the other minor things on the Standards which caused irritation to various footplatemen. They went to South Wales because the District Motive Power Supt saw an opportunity and grabbed it with both hands by saying at a meeting that he would take them off the other Districts' hands - he then told Canton to get on with them or else. They were no more popular with some Canton men than they had been elsewhere but I believe theh majority who worked on them took to them quite well. The reputedly worst engine for fore & aft motion was the Hawksworth 'Counties' - terrible until the drawbar springing was adjusted thence not quite so bad. But all GW 2 cylinder engines did it especially when wound well down. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
br2975 Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 I never ever saw 'Britannias.' on the WR. lines. However, I gathered that, apart from Cardiff Canton shed, the ex- GWR. crews, particularly at Laira and at OOC., did not like them: >. - The drivers were accustomed to driving on the RIGHT, or OFF-side, & >. - The Firemen finding that the firing required was so different from traditional & GWR. practices. Quite by chance, as one writes, I read an extract of a letter written by a. Mr. M. Johnson in 'Back Track.; volume #26., (2012.). entitled 'Western standards.' in which he wrote ... '... . The Britannia class suffered from snatching, which could be experienced through the passenger coaches through a fore-and-aft motion. However, I believe that it was not unknown, even for GWR. & 2-cyl. locomotives, for them to develop a fore-and-aft motion. Obviously Mr. Johnson hadn't sat in the first coach behind a lively 56XX Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bike2steam Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 But this stopping 'Dead centre.' is a new one for me - was this point true? If 'YES.' then were the 2-cyl. 'Britannias.' the only class prone to this defect, which surely was not true of 2-cyl. locomotives in general, was it? Or is it the repetition of some canard? New to me as well, that's why I thought that was the reason for drive being off-set at 90 degrees for most, if not all, 2 cylinder classes. Unless failed due to valve settings having gone that far out for some unexplained reason - shattered piston valve ?? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leander Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 the reality of course was down to the right hand drive, the left-handed firing that resulted, The Brits were 'left-hand drive'. GWR locos were driven on the right. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted April 18, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 18, 2015 The Brits were 'left-hand drive'. GWR locos were driven on the right. Oops - thinking more about firing - of course they're LH drive, duly corrected thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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