LSWR CLASS H15

The 'LSWR/SR H15s' were a class of 2-cylinder 4-6-0 steam locomotives designed by Robert Urie for heavy freight duties on the LSWR. Further batches were constructed by Richard Maunsell for the SR .

Contents

Construction history

Operational details

Livery and numbering

LSWR and Southern

Post-1948 (nationalisation)

Footnotes

References

External links

Construction history

The H15 Class represented Robert Urie's first design for the LSWR. It was created in response to a destperate lack of adequate locomotives in service on the LSWR that could be utilised for heavy freight duties. Reliabiliy was also an issue, with ageing locomotive designs taking their toll on the LSWR's resources. Haresnape, Brian: ''Maunsell Locomotives - a pictorial history'' (Ian Allan Ltd, 1977), ISBN 0-7110-0743-8
The resultant design was an outside 2-cylinder locomotive powered by Walschaerts valve gear. Furthermore, a need for ease of maintenance was also addressed in the design, with all the working parts realtively accessible when compared to previous designs operating on the LSWR system. Bradley, D. L.: ''LSWR Locomotives - the Urie classes'' (Wild Swan Publications, 1987), ISBN 090686755X
The first locomotive was a rebuild of the 1905-vintage E14 Class locomotive, number 335, undertaken in 1914. This class had been earmarked by Urie's predecessor, Dugald Drummond, for major modifications in the light of poor operational performance. Bradley, D. L.: ''LSWR Locomotives - the Urie classes'' (Wild Swan Publications, 1987), ISBN 0-906867-55-X Urie took this design and used it as the basis of the new locomotive class, and it therefore became H15 number 335, built as a one-off project. Haresnape, Brian: ''Maunsell Locomotives - a pictorial history'' (Ian Allan Ltd, 1977), ISBN 0-7110-0743-8
Nine more (Nos 482 to 490) were built as new by Urie with 180 lb/sq in boilers. They appeared in 1914. A further example (no 491) was constructed by Urie in 1914 and was identical to Nos 482-490 apart from having a lower weight. Bradley, D. L.: ''LSWR Locomotives - the Urie classes'' (Wild Swan Publications, 1987), ISBN 0-906867-55-X
However, improvements were made to the overall design whilst the locomotive was under production at Eastleigh. The earlier class members mounted a lower running plate that was raised above the cylinders for clearance. Bradley, D. L.: ''LSWR Locomotives - the Urie classes'' (Wild Swan Publications, 1987), ISBN 0-906867-55-X These locomotives also sported a single, straight splasher above the driving wheels, an embellishment that wold feature on Urie's later N15 Class. The later production locomotives did not feature this design, with a higher-mounted straight running plate above the driving wheels, a feature that was perpetuated on the later S15 design by Urie. Bradley, D. L.: ''LSWR Locomotives - the Urie classes'' (Wild Swan Publications, 1987), ISBN 0-906867-55-X
The H15 Class came about at a time when boiler technology was still being developed in terms of efficiency. As a result, Urie equipped some locomotives with saturated boilers for comparison with superheated types. These were issued with boilers pressed to 175 lb/sq in. However, Urie favoured superheating, and all class members were equipped with the technology. Bradley, D. L.: ''LSWR Locomotives - the Urie classes'' (Wild Swan Publications, 1987), ISBN 0-906867-55-X
A total of 26 locomoives were completed in seven batches, including number 335, over a period of twelve years. The first two batches of five in each were constructed in 1914. A further fifteen locomotives were constructed in three consecutive batches during 1924, the final one appearing in January 1925, and these were constructed under the auspices of Richard Maunsell, Urie's successor. Amongst the final batches of the class was another rebuild project concerning five members of the Drummond F13 Class. Maunsell's own batch of ten locomotives were a continuation of the design set out by Urie with number 491.
The class was provided with a 5000 gallon Drummond 'watercart' eight-wheeled tender design that enabled them to travel on the long distances of the LSWR network. Further modifications to the class were made by Maunsell during the mid-1930s with the provision of smoke deflectors.

Operational details

With their 21" x 28" cylinders allied with 6' 0" driving wheels and a free-steaming boiler they proved to be excellent workhorses. General overhauls revealed that they were very well built. When 30487 was stripped down for general repairs in 1954, it was found that the frames showed little sign of forty years of hard graft. During their careers, they were used on fast, heavy freights, and were particularly familiar around Okehampton hauling stone trains. Haresnape, Brian: ''Maunsell Locomotives - a pictorial history'' (Ian Allan Ltd, 1977), ISBN 0-7110-0743-8
The Drummond F13 rebuilds were notable for having very tall cabs, requiring footplate staff shorter than 6 foot to stand on improvised stools to reach some controls. This resulted in those class members with this feature being nicknamed 'Cathedrals'. This nickname does not seem to have been applied to the rest of the class, although crews from Guildford depot referred to the others as the 'City Breed.' Haresnape, Brian: ''Maunsell Locomotives - a pictorial history'' (Ian Allan Ltd, 1977), ISBN 0-7110-0743-8 All members of the class had been withdrawn by 1961 due to the BR Modernisation Plan, and no locomotives survived into preservation.

Livery and numbering

LSWR and Southern

Livery was initially LSWR Drummond Lined Passenger Green livery, this being complemented by purple-brown edging and double yellow lining. The initials 'LSWR' were located on the tender, and the number was placed on the cabside.
The first Southern livery, as displayed by the 1924 batch, continued that of the LSWR, though with the number displayed on the tender. However, from 1925, a darker Olive-type green was substituted, and the entire class was so outshopped. Swift, Peter: ''Maunsell 4-6-0 King Arthur Class'' (Locomotives in Detail series volume 4) (Hinckley: Ian Allan Publishing, 2006), ISBN 0711030863
Wheels were green with black tyres. Primrose Yellow 'Southern' and locomotive number transfers were placed on the tender tank. Swift, Peter: ''Maunsell 4-6-0 King Arthur Class'' (Ian Allan Publishing: Hinckley, 2006) (Locomotives in Detail series volume 4) (Hinckley: Ian Allan Publishing, 2006), ISBN 0-7110-3086-3
By 1939, after Oliver Bulleid's appointment as CME, the locomotives had been outshopped in an unlined black livery to denote their freight status subject to livery experimentation. 'Southern' remained on the tender, though the number transfer was moved to the cabside, both in 'Sunshine Yellow' lettering. Swift, Peter: ''Maunsell 4-6-0 King Arthur Class'' (Ian Allan Publishing: Hinckley, 2006) (Locomotives in Detail series volume 4) (Hinckley: Ian Allan Publishing, 2006), ISBN 0-7110-3086-3 During wartime service, a further modification to the livery was made with a green shading on the 'Sunshine' lettering. The final Southern livery reverted to 'Sunshine Yellow' lettering and numbering.
The first two batches of five were numbered 482 - 491. The later batches received the numbers 521 - 524, 330 - 334 (F13 rebuilds) and 473 - 478 respectively, and the final member was number E14 rebuild 335, which prvided the basis for the entire class.

Post-1948 (nationalisation)

The class was given the BR Power Classification of 4-P 5-F.
Livery immediately after Nationalisation was transitional, with 'British Railways' on the tender in Southern Yellow. Numbers were initially given an 'S' prefix. From the early 1950s, the class was given the new BR Freight Black with no lining. Longworth, Hugh: ''British Railway Steam Locomotives: 1948-1968'' (Oxford Publishing Company: Oxford, 2005) ISBN 0860935930
The class was numbered according to the BR Standard Numbering System, given the series 30482 - 30491; 30521 - 30524; 30330 - 30334 (F13 rebuilds) and finally 30473 - 30478 respectively. Longworth, Hugh: ''British Railway Steam Locomotives: 1948-1968'' (Oxford Publishing Company: Oxford, 2005) ISBN 0860935930

Footnotes

References

★ Bradley, D. L.: LSWR Locomotives - the Urie classes (Wild Swan Publications, 1987), ISBN 090686755X

★ Haresnape, Brian: Maunsell Locomotives - a pictorial history (Ian Allan Ltd, 1977), ISBN 0711007438

★ Longworth, Hugh: British Railway Steam Locomotives: 1948-1968 (Oxford Publishing Company: Oxford, 2005) ISBN 0860935930

★ Swift, Peter: Maunsell 4-6-0 King Arthur Class (Locomotives in Detail series volume 4) (Hinckley: Ian Allan Publishing, 2006), ISBN 0711030863

External links

★ SEMG gallery