BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4T

BR standard class 4 tank
80152 at Nine Elms MPD, 1965.
Power type	Steam
Designer	R.A. Riddles
Builder	Brighton Works (130) Derby Works (15) Doncaster Works (10)
Build date	July 1951 – November 1956
Total produced	155
Configuration	2-6-4 T
UIC classification	1'C2'ht
Gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Leading wheel diameter	3 ft 0 in (0.914 m)
Driver diameter	5 ft 8 in (1.727 m)
Trailing wheel diameter	3 ft 0 in (0.914 m)
Length	44 ft 10 in (13.67 m)
Width	8 ft 9 1⁄4 in (2.67 m)
Height	13 ft 0 in (3.96 m)
Axle load	17.95 long tons (18.24 t)
Weight on drivers	53.05 long tons (53.90 t)
Locomotive weight	86.65 long tons (88.04 t)
Fuel type	Coal
Fuel capacity	3.50 long tons (3.56 t)
Water capacity	2,000 imp gal (9,100 l; 2,400 US gal)
Boiler	ABR5
Boiler pressure	225 psi (1.55 MPa)
Firegrate area	26.7 sq ft (2.48 m2)
Heating surface: Tubes and flues	143 sq ft (13.3 m2)
Heating surface: Firebox	1,223 sq ft (113.6 m2)
Superheater area	240 sq ft (22 m2)
Cylinders	Two, outside
Cylinder size	18 × 28 in (457 × 711 mm)
Tractive effort	25,100 lbf (111.7 kN)
Factor of adhesion	4.65
Career	British Railways
Power class	4MT
Number	80000 – 80154
Axle load class	Route availability 5
Withdrawn	July 1962 – July 1967
Disposition	15 preserved (list), remainder scrapped

The British Railways Standard Class 4 tank was a class of steam locomotive, one of the BR standard classes built during the 1950s. They were used primarily on commuter and outer suburban services.

Background

On the nationalisation of British Railways (BR) in 1948 the London Midland Region had a number of ex-London, Midland and Scottish Railway 2-6-4T and the Western Region a number of GWR Large Prairie 2-6-2T types. These tank engines were particularly suited to commuter and secondary services. However, particularly in Scotland and the Southern Region, the situation was not so good with large numbers of pre-grouping types struggling on.

Design and construction

BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4T engine no. 80118 at Guisborough railway station, 1950s

On the decision to build the BR standard series of locomotives, a series of class four tank engines was ordered, based on the ex-LMS Fairburn 2-6-4T with some modifications. The lineage of the class could therefore be tracked through the LMS/BR Class 4 2-6-4T locomotives back to the Fowler design of 1927.

Design work was done at Brighton, the overall programme being overseen by R.A. Riddles. The principal modifications to the Fairburn design involved the reduction of their envelope to enable them to fit into the L1 loading gauge. To do this the tanks and cab were made more curved than the Fairburn design, the Fairburn having a straight-sided tank. The biggest mechanical change was a reduction in cylinder size, also to reduce cross-section, and a corresponding increase in boiler pressure to compensate. Other visible changes include the reintroduction of plating ahead of the cylinders.

130 of the class of 155 were built at Brighton, 15 (80000–80009, 80054–80058) at Derby Works and 10 (80106–80115) at Doncaster Works between 1951 and 1956. The first to emerge was 80010 from Brighton in 1951. Fifteen that were due to be constructed in 1957 were cancelled due to impending dieselisation, and the last five would have been too had they not been at an advanced stage of construction when the order came to cancel them.

No significant modifications were made to the design. The tank vent was found to restrict the driver's vision and was moved further forward from 80059. Initially built with fluted coupling rods, these caused problems on other classes and from 80079 plain section coupling rods were substituted.

The BR standard class 4 4-6-0 was essentially a tender engine derivative of the Standard Class 4 tank.

Service

The Standard 4 tanks were originally allocated to all regions of British Railways, except the Western. They became particularly associated with the London, Tilbury and Southend Line (LT&S) working commuter services out of London until that route was electrified in 1962. They were also widely used in East Sussex and Kent working from Brighton, Tunbridge Wells and Three Bridges on those lines of the former London Brighton and South Coast Railway that were not electrified. Another group worked from Polmadie depot in the Scottish region on the Glasgow commuter services. Note that from July 1962, a batch displaced by electrification of the LT&S was transferred to the Western Region's Swansea (East Dock) and Shrewsbury districts, as well as other regions.

Withdrawal

In the 1960s there was a mass withdrawal of steam locomotive classes. Older types were withdrawn in preference to the Standard 4s, which class remained intact until 1964. The final nine were withdrawn from the Southern Region on 9 July 1967. One Scottish Region example, 80002, remained in Glasgow past the end of steam haulage until 1969 on carriage heating duties.

No. 80103 was withdrawn in 1962 after being reported for rough riding. It was towed between two other locomotives to Stratford Works, where it was discovered that the mainframe was broken in half. Considered beyond economic repair, 80103 was withdrawn and scrapped. It was the first of the 'Standard' locomotives to be withdrawn and the only one scrapped at Stratford.

Preservation

80136, one of fifteen preserved standard four tanks.

80002 preserved on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway

No fewer than fifteen Standard Four tanks have survived the cutter's torch. This is the highest number for any preserved BR standard class, and is second only to the now 18 strong LMS Black Fives as the most preserved main line type, unless the Bulleid Light Pacifics are counted as one class (there are twenty Light Pacifics in preservation). All but three (80097, 80100 and 80150) have operated in preservation.

Details of preserved engines
Number	Home	Notes	Link to UK preserved loco database
80002	Keighley and Worth Valley Railway	Operational.	database
80064	Bluebell Railway	Currently on static display in shed.	database
80072	Llangollen Railway	On loan to North Yorkhire Moors Railway for summer 2011 season	database
80078	Swanage Railway	Boiler certificate expired 2010. Awaiting overhaul.	database
80079	Severn Valley Railway	Cosmetically restored in The Engine House. Sold to Jeremy Hosking in November 2011, to be restored for use on the SVR	database
80080	Midland Railway - Butterley	Operational at the East Lancashire Railway.	database
80097	East Lancashire Railway	Currently under restoration.	database
80098	Midland Railway - Butterley	Operational.	database
80100	Bluebell Railway	Awaiting restoration.	database
80104	Swanage Railway	Operational.	database
80105	Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway	Boiler certificate expired 2010. Undergoing major 4 year overhaul.	database
80135	North Yorkshire Moors Railway	The only Class 4MT preserved in British Railways green livery. No 4MTs ran in British Rail green in main line service. Recently withdrawn from service, awaiting a full overhaul.	database
80136	Churnet Valley Railway	Boiler ticket expired.	database
80150	Mid Hants Railway	Still as recovered from scrapyard. Awaiting restoration.	database
80151	Bluebell Railway	Operational. Boiler ticket expires in 2011.	database

In fiction

In the children's television series Thomas and Friends, the character Belle is based on a locomotive of this class.

References

• Bradley, Rodger P. (1984). The Standard Steam Locomotives of British Railways. David & Charles Publishers plc. 
• Chancellor, Paul J. (December 1997). Taylor, R. K.. ed. A Detailed History of British Railways Standard Steam Locomotives: vol 3 Tank Engine Classes. Railway Correspondence and Travel Society (RCTS). ISBN 0-901115-77-0. 

External links

• Southern E group page
• BR Standard 4 Tank Engines – Andrew Suckling

Preserved engines

• 80072 – www.80072.co.uk
• 80097 – Bury Standard 4 Group