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1600 tank class introduction
Running numbers: 1600 - 1669.
Built: 1949-50 (1600 - 1629) to lot number 381.
1951 (1630 - 1649) to lot number 389.
1954-55 (1650 - 1669) to lot number 417.
Although the '1600' class locomotives were built in British Railways ownership, the style is pure Great Western. The class were descendants of the '2021' class of 1901 and fitted with 4 feet 1½ inch driving wheels. Spherical joints were fitted to the rear pair of coupling rods to allow a small degree of sideways movement. With the designed height kept to a minimum, the class were useful on low clearance routes and dock workings.
Withdrawal.
As with many other steam locomotives built at this time, the class was introduced at the eleventh hour for this type of motive power and withdrawals began all too early. In this case, the first engine withdrawn was number 1600 in March 1959, whilst number 1628 soldiered on until September 1966. The worst case of waste of the class, was number 1652 based at Swansea East dock: built in December 1954 and withdrawn in January 1960 - barely 5 years old.
Preservation.
Happily one engine managed to avoid the cutters torch, number 1638.
Specifications.
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Cylinders |
(2) 16½ x 24 inches |
Driving wheel diameter |
4 feet 1½ inches |
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Boiler type |
Number 16. |
Tractive Effort |
18,510 pounds |
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Boiler pressure |
165 lbs/square inch. |
Total weight |
41.6 tons |
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Copyright © by John Daniel 2013.
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