GWR 1361 Class

1361 Class

1363 preserved at Didcot
Type and origin
Power type Steam
Designer G. J. Churchward
Builder GWR Swindon Works
Order number Lot 179
Serial number 2375–2379
Build date 1910
Total produced 5
Specifications
Configuration 0-6-0ST
UIC class C nt
Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver dia. 3 ft 8 in (1.118 m)
Minimum curve 2 chains (132 ft; 40 m)
Wheelbase 11 ft 0 in (3.35 m)
Length 25 ft 7 1⁄2 in (7.81 m) over buffers
Width 8 ft 6 in (2.591 m)
Height 11 ft 7 in (3.531 m)
Axle load 12 long tons 0 cwt (26,900 lb or 12.2 t)
(12.2 t; 13.4 short tons)
Loco weight 35 long tons 4 cwt (78,800 lb or 35.8 t)
(35.8 t; 39.4 short tons) full
Fuel type Coal
Fuel capacity 2 long tons 0 cwt (4,500 lb or 2 t)
(2.0 t; 2.2 short tons)
Water cap 800 imp gal (3,600 l; 960 US gal)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		 10.71 sq ft (0.995 m2)
Boiler pressure 150 lbf/in2 (1,030 kPa)
Heating surface 890.25 sq ft (82.707 m2)
 • Tubes 815.5 sq ft (75.76 m2)
 • Firebox 74.75 sq ft (6.945 m2)
Cylinders Two, outside
Cylinder size 16 in × 20 in (406 mm × 508 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort 14,835 lbf (65.99 kN)
Career
Operators Great Western Railway
Power class Unclassed
Numbers 1361–1365
Axle load class Unclassed
Withdrawn 1961–1962
Disposition One preserved, four scrapped

The 1361 Class were small 0-6-0ST steam locomotives built by the Great Western Railway at their Swindon railway works, England, mainly for shunting in docks and other sidings where track curvature was too tight for large locomotives.

History

1364 at Plymouth Dock 1948. Note the dent in the cylinder cover

The 1361 Class were designed by George Jackson Churchward as an update of the 1392 Class, originally built in 1874 for the Cornwall Minerals Railway. As such they combined unusual and outdated elements, such as saddle tanks and Allan valve gear, with current Great Western details such as the cab, bunker and many minor fittings.[1] G.W.R. 0-6-0T were generally being converted to have Belpaire fireboxes and pannier tanks by this date, but the firebox on the 1361 was round topped, so the saddle tank was more appropriate. The 11 ft 0 in (3.35 m) wheelbase allowed them to negotiate 2 chains (132 ft; 40 m) radius curves, a feature necessary for their intended duties in docks and on lightly laid branch lines. Although, as is conventional, the design is credited to the C.M.E., Harold Holcroft was the junior draughtsman who did all the actual work on the class.[1]

The five locomotives were built at Swindon in 1910 and were set to work alongside the ex-Cornwall Minerals Railway locomotives. Their usual home was Plymouth Millbay, Devon, (later Laira shed) from where they worked in Millbay Docks and on the Sutton Harbour branch. Until 1928 some of the locomotives could also be found at St Blazey engine shed, Cornwall, where they worked on ex-Cornwall Minerals Railway branches, and also at Moorswater for working the Looe branch.

In 1920 one locomotive was transferred to Newton Abbot, Devon, for shunting the railway workshops there, a duty that was to continue until 1952. Other allocations were Taunton (1953–1961) for working at Bridgwater, Somerset, (again, mainly in the town's docks), and Swindon (1956–1961). One was tried briefly on the Weymouth Harbour Tramway in 1949, and another went to St Philips Marsh, Bristol in 1962.

The same basic design was used for the six 1366 Class locomotives built in 1934, but this time they were fitted with Belpaire fireboxes, pannier tanks and more modern cabs. When the 1361s were withdrawn their remaining duties were given to D2000 diesel shunters.

Preservation

One member of the 1361 class, No. 1363, was purchased for preservation by a group of members from the Great Western Society in 1964, two years after it was withdrawn from British Railways service at Laira. It was run to Totnes on the South Devon Railway under its own steam, and was restored there. No. 1363 is based at the Didcot Railway Centre, and as of 2014 was dismantled for overhaul to working order.[2]

Locomotives

Number Built Withdrawn Notes
1361 1910 1961
1362 1910 1961
1363 1910 1962 Preserved at Didcot Railway Centre, currently under overhaul.
1364 1910 1961
1365 1910 1962

Models

Kernow Model Rail Centre announced plans in 2014 to manufacture an 00 gauge model of the 1361 class in conjunction with DJ Models. The model is being made in partnership with the Great Western Society at Didcot.[3] Heljan models announced in 2015 plans to also manufacture a model of this class. Both manufacturers are offering the same livery variants (in some cases on the same locomotive modelled), and similar prices. As of 2016, neither have been produced. Heljan are releasing it in conjunction to a GWR 1366 class. Both models will be manufactured in China.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to GWR 1361 Class.

References

  1. 1 2 Holcroft, H. (1957). An Outline of Great Western Locomotive Practice 1837-1947. Ian Allan.
  2. ↑ http://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/locos/1363/1363.html
  3. ↑ http://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/pg/150/GWR-1361-Class-Saddle-Tank
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