GWR 4000 Class

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". The Great Western Railway 4000 or Star were a class of 4-cylinder 4-6-0 passenger steam locomotives designed by George Jackson Churchward for the Great Western Railway (GWR) in 1906 and introduced from early 1907. The prototype was built as a 4-4-2 Atlantic (but converted to 4-6-0 during 1909). They proved to be a successful design which handled the heaviest long-distance express trains, reaching top speeds of 90 mph (145 km/h), and established the design principles for GWR 4-cylinder classes over the next twenty-five years.[1][2][3][4]

Background

After finally converting the last broad gauge lines in 1892, the GWR began a period of modernisation as new cut-off lines shortened its routes to west of England, South Wales and Birmingham. During the first decade of the twentieth century, the new Chief Mechanical Engineer, George Jackson Churchward designed or acquired a number of experimental locomotives with different wheel arrangements and boiler designs to help him plan for the future motive power needs of the railway.[5] Following the success of the prototypes of his two-cylinder Saint class 4-6-0 locomotives, introduced in 1902, Churchward became interested in developing a more powerful 4-cylinder type for the longer non-stop express services. He therefore persuaded the GWR to acquire three French 4-cylinder 4-4-2 compound locomotives, 102 La France (1904) and 103 President and 104 Alliance (both 1905) for comparison purposes.

Prototype

File:GWR 4000 Class No 40 4-4-2.jpg
Star class prototype No. 40 as built as a 4-4-2

In addition to acquiring the French compound locomotives Churchward built and tested his own prototype 4-cylinder locomotive simple-expansion locomotive, No. 40 North Star in 1906. As with some early members of the Saint class it was built as a 4-4-2 but designed so that it could easily be converted to a 4-6-0. It was completed at the Swindon Works of the GWR (Lot 161) in April 1906.[6] It was numbered 40 and later that year was named 'North Star'. In November 1909 it was converted to 4-6-0.

The new design incorporated many ideas from the French locomotives, in particular the four-cylinder layout, with the inside cylinders placed forward under the smokebox and the outside cylinders placed far back, in line with the rear wheels of the bogie; from this followed the divided drive with the outside cylinders connected to the second set of driving wheels whilst the inside cylinders were connected to the front set of driving wheels.[7] The valve gear was an unusual design, called scissors gear, which eschewed the use of eccentrics, but was basically a variation on Walschaerts gear. The prototype locomotive was rebuilt as a member of the Castle Class in November 1929.

Production series

During initial trials the prototype proved to be largely successful although Charles Rous-Marten commented that 'there were indications that with heavier loads, and less favourable weather, greater adhesion would be needed.'[8] The production series were therefore all built with a 4-6-0 wheel arrangement. They also had inside Walschaerts valve gear rather than the scissors gear.[9] Seven series of what would later be known as 'Star Class' locomotives built between 1907 and 1923 each of which contained detailed differences from the others

Table of orders and numbersTemplate:Sfnb
Year Quantity Lot No. Works Nos. Locomotive numbers Notes
1906 1 161 2168 40 Built as 4-4-2; rebuilt to 4-6-0 in 1909; renumbered 4000 in 1912
1907 10 168 2229–2238 4001–4010 Star series
1908 10 173 2300–2309 4011–4020 Knight series
1909 10 178 2365–2374 4021–4030 King series (Monarch series from 1927)
1910–11 10 180 2380–2389 4031–4040 Queen series
1913 5 195 2536–2540 4041–4045 Prince series
1914 15 199 2572–2586 4046–4060 Princess series
1922–23 12 217 2919–2926 4061–4072 Abbey series

Star series

File:Lode Star GWR 4-6-0.JPG
First series No. 4003 Lode Star, at Tyseley Locomotive Works

The first series of ten locomotives were built at Swindon in 1907 (Lot 168) numbered 4001–4010 and named after well-known Stars, perpetuating the names of the earlier broad gauge GWR Star Class of 1838.[9] All except for No. 4010 Western Star were built without superheaters. No. 4010 received a 'Swindon No. 1' superheater and the remainder received superheated boilers between August 1909 and October 1912. No. 4009 Shooting Star was rebuilt as a member of the Castle Class in April 1925. The surviving members of the series were withdrawn 1932–1951, although No. 4003 Lode Star was preserved.

Knight series

A second series of ten similar locomotives appeared in 1908 (Swindon Lot 173), with improved bogies, numbered 4011–4020 and named after historical knights. Nos. 4011 was built with a Swindon No. 1 superheater, the remainder were fitted with the standard No.3 superheater between 1909 and 1911.[9] They were withdrawn between 1932 and 1951.

King series

File:Swindon with GW 'Star' 4-6-0 geograph-2896614-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg
No. 4025 - after the name Italian Monarch was removed in 1940

A third series of ten further locomotives appeared during 1909 (Swindon Lot 178), numbered 4021–4030 and named after British Kings. The framing for these had curved ends under the cab and over the cylinders. In June 1909, No. 4021 King Edward was built with a Swindon No. 3 superheater but the remainder had saturated steam boilers until 1910–13.[10] King Edward notably hauled the funeral train for the funeral of King Edward VII on 20 May 1910; the mourners included nine kings and emperors, the largest number of crowned monarchs ever to travel in the same train.[11] The class were all renamed during 1927 to allow for their names to be used on the new King Class. Instead, they were given names of a country followed by the word 'Monarch' (e.g. The Norwegian Monarch). However, several of the names relating to enemy countries were removed during the Second World War (1940-1). They were all withdrawn between 1934 and 1952.

Queen series

File:Goring Troughs 2 geograph-2459081-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg
No. 4034 Queen Adelaide

A fourth series of ten further locomotives appeared during 1910 and 1911 (Swindon Lot 180). They were numbered 4031–4040 and named after British Queens. This series (and subsequent members of the class) were all built with a Swindon No. 3 superheater.[10] This series was fitted with new style Template:Convert tenders. Two examples (No. 4032 Queen Alexandra and No. 4037 Queen Philippa) were rebuilt as Castle class locomotives in 1926. The remainder were withdrawn by British Railways between 1950 and 1952.

Prince series

Five further locomotives appeared in 1913 (Swindon Lot 195). These were numbered 4041–4045 and named after the sons of King George V. No. 4041 was built with enlarged Template:Convert diameter cylinders giving a tractive effort of Template:Convert. Once this was proved to be beneficial, this size gradually became the standard for the class, as they visited the works for their periodic overhaul.[10] The boilers were given top-feed apparatus which also later became standard for the whole class.[12] The locomotives were all withdrawn by British Railways between 1950 and 1953.

Princess series

File:Reading (General) geograph-2428561-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg
No. 4049 Princess Maud

The GWR experienced a substantial growth in long-distance passenger traffic immediately before the First World War requiring a further series of fifteen locomotives during the first six months of 1914 (Swindon Lot 199).[13] These were numbered 4046–4060 and named after British princesses. They were all built with Template:Convert diameter cylinders and had improved boilers compared to the previous batch.[10] They also introduced an improved four-cone vacuum ejector made necessary to improve braking on the increasingly long passenger trains.[13] The locomotives were all withdrawn by British Railways between 1950 and 1957.

Abbey series

File:Basingstoke, with GW 'Star' 4-6-0 geograph-2896730-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg
4061 Glastonbury Abbey

A final batch of twelve further locomotives appeared in 1922-1923 (Swindon Lot 217). These were numbered 4061–4072 and were named after famous Abbeys in the GWR territory. They were built with improved crank axles.[10] In 1937 Nos. 4063–4072 were all rebuilt as Castle Class locomotives, being renumbered 5083–5092 but retaining their original names. The remaining two locomotives were withdrawn by British Railways in 1956 and 1957.

Trials

The class was criticised in letters to The Engineer for being expensive to build and maintain and Churchward was asked by his Directors to explain why 'the London and North Western Railway could build three 4-6-0 locomotives for the cost of two of his.' His response was 'Because one of mine could pull two of their bloody things backwards'.[14] As a result, there were exchange trials proposed by Churchward with a LNWR Whale Experiment Class during August 1910 which vindicated the Star Class in terms of performance and coal consumption.

Performance

Members of the class performed well as passenger locomotives over all the long-distance routes of the GWR on the fastest express trains and those requiring the longest distance between stops. They gradually became displaced to secondary services by members of the Castle and King classes in the late 1920s and 1930s. Survivors continued to perform well until the mid-1950s. The 4000 class became a template for two later famous GWR 4-cylinder 4-6-0 classes - the Castle and King Class.[15] According to le Fleming "their performance was consistently of the highest standard and they were remarkable free-running engines which rarely suffered breakdown in service. ... No engines were more aptly named than the 'Stars.'"[16]

Modifications

As already noted, between 1925 and 1940 Churchward's successor Charles Collett ordered fifteen examples to be dismantled and their parts used in the construction of new Castle class locomotives. Throughout their careers the remainder of the class was subject to detailed modifications and improvements to their boilers, smokeboxes, and steam pipes so that "the only period when the appearance of the class was approximately uniform was from 1925 to 1927".[17] Template:Convert tenders were also fitted from 1938 onwards.

Preservation

One example No. 4003 Lode Star has been preserved, after it was finally withdrawn in 1951, having covered 2,005,898 miles. The locomotive was preserved at Swindon railway works until 1962, then in the Museum of the Great Western Railway until transferred to the National Railway Museum in York in 1992, where it was a static non-working exhibit. In 2010 Lode Star was moved to Steam Museum in Swindon, as a static non-working exhibit. In November 2015, 4003 was moved back to the National Railway Museum.

In August 2022 the Great Western Society's 4709 group bought the GWR 4073 Class 7027 Thornbury Castle, with the intention of using the boiler to recreate a GWR 4700 Class. A few days after the purchase the 4709 group stated that Thornbury Castle's chassis and other components, and the boiler from GWR 2800 Class No. 2861, were to be used to recreate a GWR Star class locomotive, and eventually rebuilding it back into Thornbury Castle.[18] However, in September 2022, those plans were cancelled.[19] Decades earlier, there were plans to utilise the boiler from GWR 2800 Class No. 2873 into a replica Star Class at Tyseley Locomotive Works, but those plans never came into fruition.[20]

List of locomotives

No. First name Second name Third name Date built Date withdrawn Notes
40
4000
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 North Star — — Template:Dts Template:Dts Renumbered December 1912, rebuilt as Castle Class 4000
4001
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Dog Star — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4002
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Evening Star — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4003
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Lode Star — — Template:Dts Template:Dts Preserved at Museum of the Great Western Railway, Swindon
4004
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Morning Star — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4005
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Polar Star — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4006
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Red Star — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4007
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Rising Star Swallowfield Park — Template:Dts Template:Dts Renamed May 1937
4008
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Royal Star — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4009
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Shooting Star — — Template:Dts Template:Dts Rebuilt as Castle Class 4009
4010
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Western Star — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4011
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Knight of the Garter — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4012
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Knight of the Thistle — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4013
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Knight of St. Patrick — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4014
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Knight of the Bath — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4015
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Knight of St. John — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4016
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Knight of the Golden Fleece — — Template:Dts Template:Dts Rebuilt as Castle Class 4016
4017
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Knight of the Black Eagle Knight of Liège Knight of Liége Template:Dts Template:Dts Renamed August 1914; name adjusted Template:Circa from French to Belgian spelling
4018
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Knight of the Grand Cross — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4019
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Knight Templar — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4020
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Knight Commander — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4021
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 King Edward The British Monarch British Monarch Template:Dts Template:Dts Renamed June 1927 and October 1927
4022
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 King William The Belgian Monarch Belgian Monarch Template:Dts Template:Dts Renamed June 1927 and October 1927, name removed May 1940
4023
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 King George The Danish Monarch Danish Monarch Template:Dts Template:Dts Renamed July 1927 and October 1927, name removed November 1940
4024
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 King James The Dutch Monarch Dutch Monarch Template:Dts Template:Dts Renamed September 1927 and November 1927
4025
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 King Charles Italian Monarch — Template:Dts Template:Dts Renamed October 1927, name removed June 1940
4026
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 King Richard The Japanese Monarch Japanese Monarch Template:Dts Template:Dts Renamed July 1927 and November 1927, name removed January 1941
4027
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 King Henry The Norwegian Monarch Norwegian Monarch Template:Dts Template:Dts Renamed July 1927 and November 1927
4028
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 King John The Romanian Monarch Romanian Monarch Template:Dts Template:Dts Renamed July 1927 and November 1927, name removed November 1940
4029
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 King Stephen The Spanish Monarch Spanish Monarch Template:Dts Template:Dts Renamed July 1927 and November 1927
4030
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 King Harold The Swedish Monarch Swedish Monarch Template:Dts Template:Dts Renamed July 1927 and November 1927, name removed November 1940
4031
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Queen Mary — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4032
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Queen Alexandra — — Template:Dts Template:Dts Rebuilt as Castle Class 4032
4033
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Queen Victoria — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4034
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Queen Adelaide — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4035
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Queen Charlotte — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4036
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Queen Elizabeth — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4037
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Queen Philippa — — Template:Dts Template:Dts Rebuilt as Castle Class 4037, renamed 'The South Wales Borderers'
4038
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Queen Berengaria — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4039
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Queen Matilda — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4040
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Queen Boadicea — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4041
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Prince of Wales — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4042
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Prince Albert — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4043
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Prince Henry — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4044
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Prince George — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4045
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Prince John — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4046
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Princess Mary — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4047
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Princess Louise — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4048
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Princess Victoria — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4049
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Princess Maud — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4050
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Princess Alice — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4051
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Princess Helena — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4052
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Princess Beatrice — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4053
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Princess Alexandra — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4054
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Princess Charlotte — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4055
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Princess Sophia — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4056
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Princess Margaret — — Template:Dts Template:Dts Briefly seen at 'Mallingford' station in the 1953 Ealing Comedy film "The Titfield Thunderbolt"
4057
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Princess Elizabeth — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4058
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Princess Augusta — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4059
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Princess Patricia — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4060
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Princess Eugenie — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4061
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Glastonbury Abbey — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4062
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Malmesbury Abbey — — Template:Dts Template:Dts
4063
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Bath Abbey — — Template:Dts Template:Dts Rebuilt as Castle Class 5083
4064
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Reading Abbey — — Template:Dts Template:Dts Rebuilt as Castle Class 5084
4065
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Evesham Abbey — — Template:Dts Template:Dts Rebuilt as Castle Class 5085
4066
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Malvern Abbey Sir Robert Horne Viscount Horne Template:Dts Template:Dts Rebuilt as Castle Class 5086
4067
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Tintern Abbey — — Template:Dts Template:Dts Rebuilt as Castle Class 5087
4068
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Llanthony Abbey — — Template:Dts Template:Dts Rebuilt as Castle Class 5088
4069
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Margam Abbey Westminster Abbey — Template:Dts Template:Dts Renamed 1923. Rebuilt as Castle Class 5089
4070
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Neath Abbey — — Template:Dts Template:Dts Rebuilt as Castle Class 5090
4071
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Cleeve Abbey — — Template:Dts Template:Dts Rebuilt as Castle Class 5091
4072
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 Tresco Abbey — — Template:Dts Template:Dts Rebuilt as Castle Class 5092

Accidents and incidents

  • On 15 April 1923, locomotive No. 4048 Princess Victoria was hauling a freight train that was in a head-on collision with a passenger train, hauled by GWR 517 Class 0-4-2T No. 215, at Curry Rivel, Somerset due to a signalman's error. Nine people were injured.Template:Sfn

References

Template:Reflist Template:Refbegin

Template:Refend

Models

Hornby produce an OO scale model of 4003 Lode Star.

External links

Template:Sister project

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  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "Footnotes".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "Footnotes".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "Footnotes".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "Footnotes".
  9. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "Footnotes".
  10. ↑ a b c d e Script error: No such module "Footnotes".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "Footnotes".
  13. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Footnotes".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "Footnotes".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "Footnotes".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "Footnotes".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "Footnotes".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
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