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GWR 2884 Class

{{Short description|Class of 2-8-0 steam locomotive}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}

{{Use British English|date=January 2018}}

{{More citations needed|date=August 2024}}

{{Infobox locomotive

| powertype = Steam

| name = GWR 2884 Class

| image = Swindon 7 Locomotive Works geograph-2537433-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

| caption = 3800 at Swindon Works in 1962

| designer = Charles Collett

| builder = GWR Swindon Works

| ordernumber = Lots 321, 328, 334, 341, 346

| builddate = 1938–1942

| totalproduction = 83

| whytetype = 2-8-0

| uicclass = 1'D h2

| gauge = {{track gauge|4ft8.5in|allk=on}}

| leadingdiameter = {{convert|3|ft|2|in|m|3|abbr=on}}

| driverdiameter = {{convert|4|ft|7+1/2|in|m|3|abbr=on}}

| minimumcurve = {{convert|7|chain}} normal,
{{convert|6|chain}} slow

| length = {{convert|63|ft|2+1/4|in|m|2|abbr=on}}

| width = {{convert|8|ft|11|in|m|3|abbr=on}}

| height = {{convert|13|ft|0|in|m|3|abbr=on}}

| axleload = {{long ton|17|0}}
({{convert|17|LT|0|Lcwt|ST|1|abbr=on|disp=output only}}) full

| weightondrivers = {{long ton|67|0}}
({{convert|67|LT|0|Lcwt|ST|1|abbr=on|disp=output only}}) full

| locoweight = {{long ton|76|5}}
({{convert|76|LT|5|Lcwt|ST|1|abbr=on|disp=output only}}) full

| tenderweight = {{long ton|40|0}}
({{convert|40|LT|0|Lcwt|ST|1|abbr=on|disp=output only}}) full

| fueltype = Coal

| fuelcap =

| watercap = {{convert|3500|impgal}}

| firearea = {{convert|27.07|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}

| tubearea = {{convert|1686.60|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}

| fireboxarea = {{convert|154.78|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}

| superheatertype = 4 or 6 element

| superheaterarea = 4-element: {{convert|191.8|sqft|m2|abbr=on}},
6-element: {{convert|253.38|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}

| boilerpressure = {{convert|225|psi|MPa|2|abbr=on}}

| cylindercount = Two, outside

| cylindersize = {{convert|18+1/2|x|30|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| valvegear = Stephenson

| valvetype = piston valves

| tractiveeffort = {{convert|35380|lbf|kN|abbr=on}}

| operator = GWR » BR

| fleetnumbers = 2884–2899,3800-3866 : GWR/BR

| operatorclass = 2884

| powerclass = GWR: E
BR: 8F

| axleloadclass = GWR: Blue

| withdrawndate = 1962–1965

| disposition = Nine preserved, remainder scrapped

}}

The Great Western Railway (GWR) 2884 Class is a class of 2-8-0 steam locomotive. They were Collett's development of Churchward's earlier 2800 Class and are sometimes regarded as belonging to that class.{{cite book |title = The ABC of British Railway Locomotives: Part 1 - Nos. 1-9999 Steam Locomotives: Western Region |publisher= Ian Allan |edition= Combined |date= c. 1952 |pages= 6,27, 53 }}

History

The 2884s were designed for heavy freight work and differed from the original Class 2800 engines (Nos. 2800-2883) in a number of respects, the most obvious being that a more modern Collett side window cab was provided and that they were built with outside steam pipes.{{cite magazine|title=The GWR '28XX'|first=Evan|last=Green-Hughes|magazine=Hornby Magazine|pages=70–73|issue=40|date=October 2010|location=Hersham|publisher=Ian Allan Publishing|issn=1753-2469|oclc=226087101}}

= Production =

83 of the 2884 class were built between 1938 and 1941. Those built during the Second World War did not have the side window to the cab, and the side window on the others was plated over. This was to reduce glare, as a precaution against enemy air attacks.{{cite web |url=https://didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/article.php/66/3822-2884-class| title=3822 - 2884 Class| access-date=22 April 2014}} The windows were reinstated after the war.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Table of orders and numbers{{sfnb|Allcock|Davies|le Fleming|Maskelyne|1968|pp=38–39}}

! Year !! Quantity !! Lot No. !! Locomotive numbers !! Notes

1938–39203212884–2899, 3800–3803align=left |
1939–40203283804–3823align=left |
1940–41103343824–3833align-left |
1941–42103413834–3843align=left |
1942233463844–3866align=left |

The locomotives were so popular with the ex-Great Western crews that the British Railways Western Region operating authorities wanted more of the class built after nationalisation in 1948; however, this request was turned down in favour of BR Standard Class 9Fs.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

= Oil firing =

{{Main|GWR oil burning steam locomotives}}

Between 1945 and 1947, coal shortages caused GWR to experiment with oil fired 2800 locomotives. Eight of the 2884 class were converted and renumbered from 4850. The experiment, encouraged by the government{{Which|date=August 2024}} was abandoned in 1948 once the extra maintenance costs were calculated and the bill had arrived for the imported oil.

= 1948 Locomotive Exchange Trials =

The year 1948 also saw one of the 2884 class, No.3803 (now preserved), emerge remarkably successfully from the 1948 Locomotive Exchange Trials against more modern engines including the LMS Stanier Class 8F and the WD Austerity 2-8-0 and WD Austerity 2-10-0. It took the appearance in 1954 of the British Railways BR Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 to displace the 2800s from their main role of mineral haulage. Nevertheless, there was still work for them right up to the end of steam on the Western region in 1965. Six decades of service testify to the fundamental excellence of Churchward's original conception.

{{clear left}}

File:Patchway down freight geograph-2927190-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

{{clear left}}

Withdrawal

{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2024}}

class="wikitable" style=text-align:center

|+ Table of withdrawals

! Year !! Quantity in
service at
start of year !! Quantity
withdrawn !! Cumulative
quantity
withdrawn !! Locomotive numbers

19628311align=left | 3827.
1963821617align=left | 2888–89/92/94/97–98,
3803/06/11/31/33/39/43/46/53/58.
1964653249align=left | 2884–87/91/93/96,
3800–01/04–05/09–10/14–15/19/21–22/24–25/28–29/32/34/38/41/45/47/52/56–57/60.
1965323483align=left | 2890/95/99,
3802/07–08/12–13/16–18/20/23/26/30/35–37/40/42/44/48–51/54–55/59/61–66.

Preservation

Nine examples of the 2884, were saved from Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales and four of these engines have operated in preservation.

class="wikitable"

!|Number

!|Year Built

!|Withdrawn

!|Location

!|Status

!|Image

!|Notes

align=center|2885

|align=center|Mar 1938

|align=center|Jan 1964

|align=center|Tyseley Locomotive Works

|align=center|Undergoing restoration{{As of?|date=August 2024}}

|align=center|150px

|align=left|Formerly on display at Birmingham Moor Street.{{Until when|date=August 2024}}

align=center|3802

|align=center|Dec 1938

|align=center|Aug 1965

|align=center|Llangollen Railway

|align=center|Operational, boiler ticket expires: 2027.

|align=center|150px

|align=left|Currently{{When|date=August 2024}} paired with a 4,000 gallon Collett tender instead of the usual 3,500 gallon Churchward tender. Returned to service following an overhaul in January 2018 and now{{When|date=August 2024}} operational at Llangollen.

align=center|3803

|align=center|Jan 1939

|align=center|Jul 1963

|align=center|Dartmouth Steam Railway

|align=center|Undergoing Overhaul{{Cite web |title=Devon heritage railway issues update on steam locomotive 3803 |url=https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2024/11/devon-heritage-railway-issues-update-on-steam-locomotive-3803.html |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=RailAdvent |language=en-GB}}

|align=center|150px

|align=left|Previously based at the South Devon Railway,{{Until when|date=August 2024}} but now{{When|date=August 2024}} sold to the Dartmouth Steam Railway.{{cite web |title=South Devon Railway sells GWR Steam Locomotive No. 3803 |url=https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2022/02/south-devon-railway-sells-gwr-steam-locomotive-no-3803.html |website=RailAdvent |date=4 February 2022}}

align=center|3814

|align=center|Mar 1940

|align=center|Dec 1964

|align=center|Northern Steam Engineering Limited, Stockton-on-Tees

|align=center|Undergoing restoration

|align=center|150px

|align=left|Currently under restoration to running condition.{{As of?|date=August 2024}} Moved to Llangollen Railway{{When|date=August 2024}} for restoration to continue, but subsequently moved to Northern Steam Engineering Limited at Stockton-on-Tees.{{cite web |title=3rd time lucky? Steam locomotive 3814 moves from Llangollen to Stockton-on-Tees |url=https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2021/02/3rd-time-lucky-steam-locomotive-3814-moves-from-llangollen-to-stockton-on-tees.html/amp |website=RailAdvent |access-date=23 February 2021 |date=22 February 2021}}{{When|date=August 2024}}

align=center|3822

|align=center|Apr 1940

|align=center|Jan 1964

|align=center|Didcot Railway Centre

|align=center|Static display{{As of?|date=August 2024}}

|align=center|150px

|align=left|Awaiting overhaul after being withdrawn from traffic in 2010. In 1989, 3822 was used in the Music video of the song Breakthru by the band Queen.{{cite web |author=BWW News Desk |title=ONE NIGHT OF QUEEN to Rock Didcot Railway Centre |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/uk-regional/article/ONE-NIGHT-OF-QUEEN-to-Rock-Didcot-Railway-Centre-20160825 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |access-date=31 October 2021 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Film and TV Credits {{!}} Didcot Railway Centre |url=https://didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/article.php/437/film-and-tv-credits |website=didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk |access-date=31 October 2021}}

align=center|3845

|align=center|Apr 1942

|align=center|Jun 1964

|align=center|TBC

|align=center|Stored

|align=center|

|align=left|At a private site in the West Midlands awaiting restoration.

align=center|3850

|align=center|Jun 1942

|align=center|Aug 1965

|align=center|Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway

|align=center|Operational, boiler ticket expires: 2034

|align=center|150px

|align=left|Originally restored at and operated at the West Somerset Railway, now moved to Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. Returned to service following an overhaul in August 2024{{Cite web |title=3850 |url=https://www.gwsr.com/our-trains/3850 |access-date=22 September 2024 |website=www.gwsr.com}}

align=center|3855

|align=center|Oct 1942

|align=center|Aug 1965

|align=center|East Lancashire Railway

|align=center|Undergoing restoration{{As of?|date=August 2024}}

|align=center|

|align=left|Being restored from ex Barry Scrapyard condition.

align=center|3862

|align=center|Nov 1942

|align=center|Feb 1965

|align=center|Northampton & Lamport Railway

|align=center|Undergoing restoration{{As of?|date=August 2024}}

|align=center|

|align=left|Being restored from ex Barry Scrapyard condition to full running condition.

Models

Hornby Railways manufacture a model of the 2884 Class in OO gauge.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

In 2013, Dapol introduced a British N gauge model of locomotive 2892 in GWR green livery.{{cite magazine|title=Dapol GWR '2884' 2-8-0|first=Richard|last=Foster|magazine=Model Rail|pages=12–14|issue=179|date=March 2013|location=Peterborough|publisher=Bauer|issn=1369-5118|oclc=173324502}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

  • {{RCTS-LocosGWR-1|year=1968}}
  • {{Whitehurst GW Engines from 1940|pages=28, 35, 98, 103, 140}}

External links

{{commons category|GWR 2884 Class}}

  • [http://www.gwr2807.fsnet.co.uk/a199806.htm The Story of the GWR 28XX 2-8-0s] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050422013731/http://www.gwr2807.fsnet.co.uk/a199806.htm |date=22 April 2005 }}
  • [https://www.nlr.org.uk/about-nlr/stock-list/locomotives/gwr-2884-class-2-8-0-%e2%84%96-3862/ No. 3862] under restoration at Northampton and Lamport Railway
  • [http://www.dinmoremanor.co.uk Dinmore Manor Locomotive Ltd]

{{GWR Locomotives}}

Category:2-8-0 locomotives

Category:1′D h2 locomotives

2884 Class

Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1938

Category:Freight locomotives

Category:Standard-gauge steam locomotives of Great Britain