imported>JJMC89 bot III: Moving :Category:Standard gauge steam locomotives of Great Britain to :Category:Standard-gauge steam locomotives of Great Britain per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Speedy

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Moving Category:Standard gauge steam locomotives of Great Britain to Category:Standard-gauge steam locomotives of Great Britain per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Speedy

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{{Short description|Development of the GWR Hall Class}}{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox Locomotive
| name = Great Western Railway 6959 Class
| powertype = Steam
| image = Ruscombe Siding geograph-2482312-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg
| caption = 6960 ''Raveningham Hall'' (now preserved) with a Didcot slow train, April 1957.
| designer = [[Frederick Hawksworth]]
| builder = [[Great Western Railway|GWR]]/[[British Railways|BR]] [[Swindon Works]]
| builddate = 1944–1950
| ordernumber = Lots 350, 366, 368, 376
| totalproduction = 71
| whytetype = {{whyte|4-6-0}}
| uicclass = 2′C h2
| gauge = {{track gauge|uksg|allk=on}}
| leadingdiameter = {{convert|3|ft|0|in|m|3|abbr=on}}
| driverdiameter = {{convert|6|ft|0|in|m|3|abbr=on}}
| minimumcurve = {{convert|8|chain}} normal,<br/>{{convert|7|chain}} slow
| length = {{convert|63|ft|0+1/4|in|m|2|abbr=on}} over buffers
| width = {{convert|8|ft|11+1/2|in|m|3|abbr=on}}
| height = {{convert|13|ft|2+1/16|in|m|3|abbr=on}}
| axleload = {{long ton|19|5}} ({{convert|19|LT|5|Lcwt|ST|1|abbr=on|disp=output only}})
| weightondrivers = {{long ton|57|10}} ({{convert|57|LT|10|Lcwt|ST|1|abbr=on|disp=output only}})
| locoweight = {{long ton|75|16}} ({{convert|75|LT|16|Lcwt|ST|1|abbr=on|disp=output only}}) full
| tenderweight = {{long ton|47|6}} ({{convert|47|LT|6|Lcwt|ST|1|abbr=on|disp=output only}}) full
| fueltype = [[Coal]]
| fuelcap = {{long ton|6|0}} ({{convert|5|LT|0|Lcwt|ST|1|abbr=on|disp=output only}})
| watercap = {{convert|4000|impgal|abbr=on}}
| firearea = {{convert|27.07|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}
| boiler = GWR Standard No. 1
| fireboxarea = {{convert|154.90|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}
| tubesandflues = {{convert|1582.60|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}
| superheaterarea = {{convert|295|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}
| boilerpressure = {{convert|225|psi|MPa|2|abbr=on|lk=on}}
| cylindercount = Two, outside
| cylindersize = {{convert|18.5|x|30|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
| valvegear = [[Stephenson valve gear|Stephenson]], inside
| valvetype = [[Piston valve (steam locomotive)|Piston valves]]
| tractiveeffort = {{convert|27275|lbf|kN|2|abbr=on|lk=on}}
| operator = [[Great Western Railway]]<br/>→ [[British Railways]]
| fleetnumbers = 6959–6999, 7900-7929
| powerclass = GWR: D,<br/>BR: 5MT
| axleloadclass = GWR: Red
| withdrawndate = January 1963 – December 1965
| disposition = Six preserved, one donor, remainder [[scrap]]ped
}}
The [[Great Western Railway]] (GWR) '''6959''' or '''Modified Hall Class''' is a class of {{whyte|4-6-0}} [[steam locomotive]]. They were a development by [[Frederick Hawksworth]] of [[Charles Collett]]'s earlier [[GWR Hall Class|Hall Class]] named after English and Welsh [[English country house|country houses]].

==Background==
Although the GWR had been at the forefront of British locomotive development between 1900 and 1930, the 1930s saw a degree of complacency at Swindon reflected in the fact that many designs and production methods had not kept pace with developments elsewhere. This was especially true with the useful [[GWR 4900 Class]], the design of which largely originated in the 1900s and had not fundamentally changed since the mid-1920s.{{sfnb|Herring|2004|p=158}} [[Charles Collett]] was replaced as the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Railway by [[Frederick Hawksworth|F.W. Hawksworth]] in 1941 who immediately created a modified version of the design, known as the 'Modified Hall Class'.

==Design==
The Modified Halls marked the most radical change to [[Swindon Works]]' practice since [[George Jackson Churchward|Churchward's]] time as [[chief mechanical engineer]] and was very far from a simple modification of the Hall design. 'Although in outward appearance it looked almost the same, nearly everything about it was new.'<ref>{{cite book| last=Nock| first=Oswald Stevens| title=British Locomotives of the Twentieth Century| publisher=Book Club Associates| volume=2: 1930-1960| date=1984| location=London| page=94}}</ref> Hawksworth's use of [[Locomotive frame|plate frame]]s throughout the design was a break with Churchward's practice for 2 cylinder locomotives. The cylinders were cast separately from the [[smokebox]] saddle and bolted to the frames on each side. A stiffening brace was inserted between the frames and extended to form the smokebox saddle. The exhaust pipes leading from the cylinders to the [[blastpipe]] were incorporated into this assembly.

Additionally, Churchward's bar framed [[bogie]] which had been adapted for the original Hall prototype in 1924 was replaced by a plate frame structure with individual springing. There were changes, too, above the running board. Hawksworth decided that the declining quality of coal reaching Great Western depots necessitated a higher degree of superheating. A larger three-row [[superheater]] and header regulator were fitted into Swindon No.1 boiler. Improvements were subsequently made to the draughting on some engines, while others were fitted with hopper ashpans.

==Production==
The first batch of twelve Modified Halls was delivered from Swindon works between March and September 1944. They carried plain black livery, were unnamed and numbered 6959-6970 (immediately following the [[GWR 4900 Class|Hall Class]] sequence). They were all subsequently named between 1946 and 1948.{{cn|date=January 2017}}

A further batch of ten locomotives appeared during October and November 1947 and others were on order when the [[Transport Act 1947|nationalisation of Britain's railways]] took place in 1948. [[British Rail]]ways continued construction of this class until November 1950, by which time there were seventy-one examples.<ref>{{RCTS-LocosGWR-8 |edition=2nd |pages=H33-4 }}</ref>

Some modified Halls were equipped with a flat, high-sided Hawksworth [[Tender (railroad car)|tenders]]. Once he became Chief Mechanical Engineer, many earlier locomotives also received these tenders so a Hawksworth tender does not necessarily mean a Hawksworth locomotive.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Table of order and numbers{{sfnb|Allcock|Davies|le Fleming|Maskelyne|1968|pp=39–40}}
! Year !! Quantity !! Lot No. !! Locomotive numbers !! Notes
|-
| 1944 || 12 || 350 || 6959–6970 || align=left |
|-
| 1947–48 || 20 || 366 || 6971–6990 || align=left |
|-
| 1948–50 || 29 || 368 || 6991–6999, 7900–7919 || align=left |
|-
| 1950 || 10 || 376 || 7920–7929 || align=left |
|}

==Assessment==
The Modified Hall class 'ran freely, steamed well and were popular with both footplate and maintenance staff. After the unambitious designs of Collett's final years, they restored Swindon's reputation.'{{sfnb|Herring|2004|p=159}} Fourteen survived until the end of steam on the former GWR in 1965.

==List of locomotives==
* See [[List of GWR 6959 Class locomotives]]

==Preservation==
Six Modified Halls have been [[Historic preservation|preserved]] on various [[heritage railway]]s. A seventh survivor no 7927 ''Willington Hall'' is being used as a donor for the [[GWR 6800 Class#Preservation|Grange]] and [[GWR 1000 Class#Preservation|County]] re-creation projects.

Out of the six engines to be preserved, five engines have run in preservation. The only engine yet to run is 6984 ''Owsden Hall''. Half of the class have also seen main line operation: Nos. 6960 ''Raveningham Hall'', 6990 ''Witherslack Hall'' and 6998 ''Burton Agnes Hall''. 6960 and 6998 saw main use in the 1980s, especially in 1985 when the locos were regularly used during the GW150 Celebrations.{{cn|date=January 2017}} 6998 was a popular mainline performer in the late 1980s, and also in the 1990s, until 1996 when she was withdrawn from operation awaiting an overhaul. Three of the class are currently{{when?|date=October 2021}} operational but since 6998 was withdrawn no Modified Halls have been seen running on the main line.

{| class="wikitable"
!Number
!Name
!Image
!Built
!Withdrawn
!Tender fitted
!Status
!Livery
!Current Location
!Notes
|-
|align=center|[[GWR 6959 Class 6960 Raveningham Hall|6960]]
|''Raveningham Hall''
|[[File:GWR Class 6959 No 6990 Raveningham Hall Minehead.jpg|150px]]
|align=center|March 1944
|align=center|June 1964
|align=center|Collett
|align=left|Awaiting overhaul
|align=left|GWR Lined Green, GW Lettering
|align=center|[[One:One Collection]]
|
|-
|align=center|[[GWR 6959 Class 6984 Owsden Hall|6984]]
|''Owsden Hall''
|[[File:A81A1050 Owsden Hall (21867645105).jpg|150px]]
|align=center|February 1948
|align=center|December 1965
|align=center|Collett
|align=left|Undergoing Restoration
|align=left|BR Lined Green, Early Emblem (On Completion)<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2018/02/recent-overhaul-progress-on-steam-loco-modified-hall-no-6984-owsden-hall.html| title=Recent Overhaul Progress on Steam Loco Modified Hall No. 6984 "Owsden Hall"| first=Jamie| last=Duggan| date=4 February 2018| website=Rail Advent}}</ref>
|align=center|[[Buckinghamshire Railway Centre]]
|Undergoing restoration from ex Barry scrapyard condition. Transferred from the [[Swindon and Cricklade Railway]] in 2019. Its tender is currently in use behind 6989 until the completion of its own.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Devereux |first1=Nigel |title=Twin 4-6-0s for Quainton Road as 'Owsden' moves from Swindon |url=https://www.railwaymagazine.co.uk/13394/twin-4-6-0s-for-quainton-road-as-owsden-moves-from-swindon/ |website=[[The Railway Magazine]] |publisher=[[Mortons Media Group]] |access-date=26 January 2020 |date=3 January 2020}}</ref>
|-
|align=center|[[GWR 6959 Class 6989 Wightwick Hall|6989]]
|''Wightwick Hall''
|[[File:GWR 6959 Class 6989 Wightwick Hall.jpg|150px]]
|align=center|March 1948
|align=center|June 1964
|align=center|Collett
|align=left|Operational, boiler certificate (2019-2029)
|align=left|BR Lined Green, Early Emblem
|align=center|[[Buckinghamshire Railway Centre]]
|Entered service in March 2019 following restoration from ex Barry scrapyard condition, borrowing 6984's tender.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.brc-stockbook.co.uk/wightwick.htm| website=BRC Virtual stockbook| title=BR(WR) Modified Hall Class 4-6-0 No. 6989 Wightwick Hall| publisher=Quainton Railway Society| date=10 May 2019}}</ref>
|-
|align=center|[[GWR 6959 Class 6990 Witherslack Hall|6990]]
|''Witherslack Hall''
|[[File:6990 Witherslack Hall departs Quorn.jpg|150px]]
|align=center|April 1948
|align=center|December 1965
|align=center|Hawksworth
|align=left|Operational, boiler certificate (2016-2026)
|align=left|BR Lined Green, Early Emblem
|align=center|[[Great Central Railway (preserved)|Great Central Railway]]
|Recently returned to traffic from a major overhaul which included the pairing with an authentic Hawksworth tender which was formerly paired with [[GWR 4900 Class 4930 Hagley Hall|4930 Hagley Hall]].
|-
|align=center|6998
|''Burton Agnes Hall''
|[[File:6998 Burton Agnes Hall at Wimbledon.jpg|150px]]
|align=center|January 1949
|align=center|December 1965
|align=center|Hawksworth
|align=left|Static Display
|align=left|GWR Lined Green, GW Lettering
|align=center|[[Didcot Railway Centre]]
|Awaiting Overhaul. Famed for working the GWS Vintage trains which used vintage GWR carriages.
|-
|align=center|[[GWR 6959 Class 7903 Foremarke Hall|7903]]
|''Foremarke Hall''
|[[File:7903 Foremarke Hall at Toddington, GWSR.jpg|150px]]
|align=center|March 1949
|align=center|June 1964
|align=center|Hawksworth
|align=left|Operational, boiler certificate (2016-2026)
|align=left|BR Lined Green, Late Crest
|align=center|[[Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway]]
|Recently returned to traffic following completion of its recent overhaul.
|-
|}

== See also ==
* [[List of GWR standard classes with two outside cylinders]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
*{{RCTS-LocosGWR-1|year=1968}}
*{{cite book |last = Herring |first = Peter |title = Classic British Steam Locomotives |publisher = Abbeydale Press |location = Wigston |year = 2004 |isbn = 1-86147-138-6}}
*{{Whitehurst GW Engines from 1940|pages=63–64, 69, 103, 131}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|GWR 6959 Class}}
*[http://www.greatwestern.org.uk/m_in_hal_hall69b.htm Great Western Archives - Modified Hall Class.]

{{GWR Locomotives}}

[[Category:GWR 6959 Class| ]]
[[Category:Great Western Railway locomotives|6959]]
[[Category:4-6-0 locomotives]]
[[Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1944]]
[[Category:Standard-gauge steam locomotives of Great Britain]]
[[Category:2′C h2 locomotives]]

GWR 6959 Class - Revision history

imported>JJMC89 bot III: Moving :Category:Standard gauge steam locomotives of Great Britain to :Category:Standard-gauge steam locomotives of Great Britain per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Speedy