View source for SECR C class

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox locomotive 
|powertype       = Steam 
|name            = SECR C class
|image           = Cclass592.JPG
|caption         = C class 592 after its latest overhaul, August 2007.
|designer        = [[Harry Wainwright]] 
|builder         = {{unbulleted list|SECR [[Ashford railway works|Ashford Works]] (70)|SECR [[Longhedge Railway Works (Battersea)|Longhedge Works]] (9)|[[Neilson, Reid and Company|Neilson, Reid & Co.]] (15)|[[Sharp, Stewart and Company|Sharp, Stewart & Co.]] (15)}}
|serialnumber={{ubl|Neilson, Reid: 5687–5701|Sharp, Stewart: 4683–97}}
|builddate       = 1900–1908
|totalproduction = 109
|whytetype       = [[0-6-0]]
|uicclass        = C n2
|gauge           = {{Track gauge|ussg|allk=on}}
|driverdiameter  = {{convert|5|ft|2|in|m|3|abbr=on}}
|length          =  
|locoweight      = {{long ton|43|16}}<br />{{convert|43|LT|16|lcwt|t ST}}
|fueltype        = [[Coal]]
|fuelcap         = 
|watercap        =
|firearea        = 
|boilerpressure  = {{convert|160|lbf/in2|MPa|2|abbr=on|lk=on}}
|superheatertype = None
|cylindercount   = Two, inside
|cylindersize    = {{convert|18+1/2|x|26|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
|valvegear       = [[Stephenson valve gear|Stephenson]]
|tractiveeffort  = {{convert|19520|lbf|kN|2|abbr=on}}
|operator        = {{unbulleted list|[[South Eastern and Chatham Railway]]|[[Southern Railway (Great Britain)|Southern Railway]]|[[British Railways]]}}
|operatorclass   = SECR / SR: C
|powerclass      = BR: 2F
|locale          = [[Southern Region of British Railways|Southern Region]]
|withdrawndate   = 1917, 1947–1962
|disposition     = One preserved, remainder [[scrap]]ped
}}
The [[South Eastern and Chatham Railway]] (SECR) '''C Class''' is a class of [[0-6-0]] [[steam locomotive]], designed by [[Harry Wainwright]] and built between 1900 and 1908. They were designed for freight duties, although occasionally used for passenger trains. They operated over the lines of the railway in London and south-east England until the early 1960s. One example was rebuilt as an '''S Class''' [[tank engine|saddle tank]].

== History ==
The SECR held trials in November 1898 to decide on a standard freight locomotive design. Two existing [[0-6-0]] locomotives were tested: former [[London, Chatham and Dover Railway]] [[LCDR B2 class|B2 class]] No. 194 designed by [[William Kirtley (railway engineer)|William Kirtley]]; and former [[South Eastern Railway (UK)|South Eastern Railway]] [[SECR O class|O class]] No. 436 designed by [[James Stirling (1835-1917)|James Stirling]]. The Kirtley design proved superior and a new order for 40 locomotives based on it was placed. These  new locomotives were designed by [[Harry Wainwright]], the new [[Chief Mechanical Engineer]] of the railway, and formed the first of the '''C class'''.<ref name=LI>{{cite journal |journal=Locomotives Illustrated |volume=169 |date=February–March 2008 |last=Aves |first=W.A.T. |title=The Locomotives Built at the Southern Railway Works - Ashford: Part 2 1900-1952}}</ref>

The first fifteen locomotives were constructed by [[Neilson, Reid and Company]] and delivered in June 1900, followed by a further fifteen from [[Sharp, Stewart and Company]]. The remainder were built by the SECR workshops at [[Ashford railway works|Ashford]] (70 examples 1900–1908) and [[Longhedge Railway Works (Battersea)|Longhedge Works]] (9 examples 1903–4).{{sfn|Bradley|1980|p=8}}

==Operational use==
The locomotives were used on freight services and occasional passenger excursion trains (such as [[hopper hut|hop-picking]] specials), throughout the SER between [[Reading railway station]] and the [[Kent]] Coast. The last twelve locomotives were fitted with [[Steam generator (railroad)|steam carriage heating]] equipment to enable them to be used to haul and prepare empty stock for express trains. The remainder of the class were also so equipped by the [[southern Railway (UK)|Southern Railway]] after 1923.{{sfn|Bradley|1980|p=9}}

==Accidents==
*In March 1904, a passenger train hauled by No. 294 derailed at {{rws|Gomshall}}, [[Surrey]].<ref name=Trevenna>{{cite book |last=Trevena |first=Arthur |title=Trains in Trouble |volume= 1 |year=1980 |publisher=Atlantic Books |location=Redruth |isbn=0-906899-01-X |page=18 }}</ref>
*At 03:40 hrs on 5 May 1919, a goods train from [[Bricklayers Arms railway station#Motive power depot and repair shop|Bricklayers Arms]] to [[Margate Sands railway station|Margate Sands]], [[Kent]] [[Signal passed at danger|overran signals]] and ran into the back of another goods train just to the west of {{rws|Paddock Wood}} station, Kent. The Margate train was hauled by C class No. 721. It consisted of 50 goods vehicles including three [[brake van]]s. The other train was hauled by C class No. 61. The fireman of this train was killed in the accident. Although the main cause of the accident was the driver of the Margate train failing to obey signals, the signalman at {{rws|Tonbridge}} East [[signal box]] was also censured for failure to give the driver adequate warning that although the train had been accepted by the signalman at Paddock Wood, the line was not clear. The signalman at Paddock Wood had accepted the train under Regulation No 5 - "Section clear but station or junction blocked".<ref name=Trouble>{{cite book | first = Alan| last = Earnshaw| year = 1993| title = Trains in Trouble, Volume Eight| pages = 8–9| publisher = Atlantic | location = Penryn|isbn=0-906899-52-4 }}</ref>
*On 18 February 1948, locomotive 1225 was wrongly routed into the north sidings at [[Goudhurst railway station|Goudhurst]], Kent and derailed.<ref name=Branch>{{cite book | first = John| last = Scott-Morgan| year = 2008| title = Branches & Byways - Kent| pages = 46| publisher = Oxford Publishing Co| location = Hersham| isbn = 978-0-86093-616-9}}</ref>
*On 4 July 1958, an [[electric multiple unit]] overran signals and collided with an empty stock train hauled by locomotive No. 31461 at {{rws|Maze Hill}}, [[London]]. Forty-five people were injured.<ref name=Earnshaw6>{{cite book |last=Earnshaw |first=Alan |title=Trains in Trouble: Vol. 6 |year=1990 |publisher=Atlantic Books |location=Penryn |isbn=0-906899-37-0 |page=37 }}</ref>

==S class conversion==
In 1917 one example, no. 685 was converted into an '''S class''' [[0-6-0]][[Saddle tank (locomotive)|ST]] for use as a heavy-duty shunter at [[Richborough|Richborough port]] which was then being used to ship locomotives and armoured equipment to the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]]. After the War it was used as a shunter at [[Bricklayers Arms railway station|Bricklayers Arms]] until 1951.{{sfn|Bradley|1980|pp=102–103}}

==Withdrawal==
In common with other freight locomotives in Southern England, the class was very heavily used during the [[Second World War]] and repairs and maintenance deferred. As a result, one locomotive had to be withdrawn in December 1947, but the remaining 107 examples entered service with [[British Railways]] in 1948. Withdrawals of the remainder of the class began in 1953, but accelerated after the [[Southern Railway (UK)#Electrification|Kent Coast electrification]] in 1959–1960. However, three examples (31271, 31280, 31592) remained in [[SR departmental locomotives|Departmental]] stock as shunters at Ashford Works until 1966.
{| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Table of withdrawals
! Year !! Quantity in<br />service at<br />start of year !! Quantity<br />withdrawn !! Locomotive numbers !! Notes
|-
| 1917 || 109 || 1 || align=left | 685 || align=left | Rebuilt as 0-6-0ST, S class. Withdrawn 1951
|-
| 1918–46 || 108 || 0 || align=left | – || align=left | 
|-
| 1947 || 108 || 2 || align=left | 1262, 1499 || align=left | 
|-
| 1948 || 106 || 0 || align=left | – || align=left | 
|-
| 1949 || 106 || 2 || align=left | 31257, 31460 || align=left | 
|-
| 1950–51 || 104 || 0 || align=left | – || align=left | 
|-
| 1952 || 104 || 1 || align=left | 31038 || align=left | 
|-
| 1953 || 103 || 6 || align=left | 31090, 31234/60/91, 31486, 31580 || align=left | 
|-
| 1954 || 97 || 1 || align=left | 31572 || align=left | 
|-
| 1955 || 96 || 7 || align=left | 31225/77/94, 31513, 31687, 31713/18 || align=left | 
|-
| 1956 || 89 || 1 || align=left | 31063 || align=left | 
|-
| 1957 || 88 || 3 || align=left | 31508, 31711–12 || align=left | 
|-
| 1958 || 85 || 5 || align=left | 31018/59, 31461, 31582/93 || align=left | 
|-
| 1959 || 80 || 16 || align=left | 31071, 31191, 31219/21/27/43/45/52–53/70/72/97, 31576/85, 31681/83 || align=left | 31272 to stationary boiler at Ashford Works as DS240.{{sfn|Kidner|1993|p=61}}
|-
| 1960 || 64 || 11 || align=left | 31033/54/86, 31102, 31223/87/98, 31581, 31688/92, 31725 || align=left | 
|-
| 1961 || 53 || 0 || align=left | – || align=left | 
|-
| 1962 || 53 || 53 || align=left | 31004/37/61/68, 31112–13/50, 31218/29/42/55–56/67–68/71/80/93, 31317, 31480–81/95/98, 31510/73/75/78–79/83–84/88–90/92, 31682/84/86/89–91/93–95, 31714–17/19–24 || align=left | 31592 to Ashford Works as DS239; withdrawn 1966.{{sfn|Kidner|1993|p=61}}
|}

== Preservation ==
[[File:SECR C 592.JPG|thumb|right|C class 592 at [[Kingscote railway station|Kingscote Station]] in April 2009.]]
One, No. 592 ([[Southern Railway (UK)|Southern Railway]] 1592, BR 31592), has been preserved on the [[Bluebell Railway]]. It was featured in the train scene of [[The Wind in the Willows (1996 film)|The Wind in the Willows]] (1996) and [[The Railway Children (2000 film)|The Railway Children]]. 
In 2016, the locomotive was featured in the film, [[Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film)|Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them]].<ref>{{cite web |title=N 'C' ROSS'? |url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/steam-railway-uk/20160226/281595239613779 |website=PressReader |access-date=26 February 2016}}</ref>

==Models==
[[Bachmann Branchline]] produces several versions of the C class in [[OO gauge]], following the initial release in 2013.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Bachmann SECR 'C' Class 0-6-0|first=Chris|last=Leigh|magazine=[[Model Rail]]|pages=28–30|issue=178|date=February 2013|location=Peterborough|publisher=Bauer|issn=1369-5118|oclc=173324502}}</ref> The Bachmann models include the preserved example, as well as liveries from the Southern Railway and British Railways.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hornbymagazine.com/2013/02/15/bachmann-launch-wainwright-c-0-6-0/ |title=Bachmann launch Wainwright 'C' 0-6-0 {{!}} Hornby Magazine |website=www.hornbymagazine.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220142316/http://www.hornbymagazine.com/2013/02/15/bachmann-launch-wainwright-c-0-6-0/ |archive-date=2016-12-20}} </ref>

Bachmann announced on 8 January 2017 that a [[British N gauge]] C Class would form part of their 2017 [[Graham Farish]] catalogue range. This is to be produced as SE&CR No. 271 in SE&CR plain green, as well as No. 1294 in Southern Railway Black and No. 31227 in British Railways Black with early British Railways emblem.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hattons.co.uk/stocklist/1000398/Graham_Farish/advance.aspx|title=Hattons.co.uk from Hattons Model Railways}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book |last=Bradley |first=D. L. |date=1980 |title=The Locomotive History of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway |location=London |publisher=[[Railway Correspondence and Travel Society]] |isbn=0-901115-49-5 }}
*{{cite book |last=Kidner |first=R. W. |year=1993 |title=Service Stock of the Southern Railway |location=Headington |publisher=The Oakwood Press |isbn=0-85361-429-6 }}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|SECR C class}}
* [http://www.semgonline.com/steam/cclass_01.html Wainwright C class 0-6-0] ''Southern E-Group''
* [http://www.railuk.info/steam/getsteamclass.php?item=C Class C Details] at ''Rail UK''
* [http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pics/c.html South Eastern & Chatham Railway C-class No.592] ''Bluebell Railway''

{{SECR locomotives}}

[[Category:South Eastern and Chatham Railway locomotives|C]]
[[Category:0-6-0 locomotives]]
[[Category:C n2 locomotives]]
[[Category:Neilson locomotives]]
[[Category:Sharp Stewart locomotives]]
[[Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1900]]
[[Category:Standard-gauge steam locomotives of Great Britain]]
[[Category:Freight locomotives]]