LCDR R class

{{Infobox locomotive

| name = LCDR R class

| powertype = Steam

| image = Tonbridge Locomotive Depot geograph-2652585-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

| alt =

| caption = No. 1675 at Tonbridge Locomotive Depot, 18 May 1946

| designer = William Kirtley

| builder = Sharp, Stewart & Co

| ordernumber =

| serialnumber = 3722–3739

| buildmodel =

| builddate = September–December 1891

| totalproduction = 18

| rebuilder =

| rebuilddate =

| numberrebuilt =

| whytetype = 0-4-4T

| uicclass = B2′ n2t

| gauge = {{track gauge|ussg}}

| driverdiameter = {{convert|5|ft|6|in|m|3|abbr=on}}

| trailingdiameter =

| minimumcurve =

| wheelbase = {{convert|21|ft|6|in|abbr=on}}

| length =

| width =

| height =

| axleload =

| weightondrivers =

| locoweight = {{convert|49.75|LT|abbr=on}}

| fueltype =

| fuelcap = {{convert|2|LT|abbr=on}}

| watercap = {{convert|1100|impgal|abbr=on}}

| boiler =

| boilerpressure = {{convert|150|psi|MPa|2|abbr=on}}

| firearea = {{convert|16.25|sqft|abbr=on}}

| tubearea =

| fireboxarea =

| totalsurface = {{convert|1071|sqft|abbr=on}}

| cylindercount = Two, inside

| cylindersize = {{convert|17|x|24|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| valvegear =

| valvetype =

| tractiveeffort =

| factorofadhesion =

| trainheating =

| locobrakes =

| trainbrakes = Westinghouse

| safety =

| operator = {{ubl|London, Chatham and Dover Railway|→ South Eastern and Chatham Railway|→ Southern Railway|→ British Railways}}

| operatorclass = R

| fleetnumbers = {{ubl|LCDR: 199–216|SECR: 658–675|SR: A658–A675 → 1658–1675|BR: 31658–31675}}

| officialname =

| nicknames = Bobtails

| locale =

| deliverydate =

| firstrundate =

| lastrundate =

| retiredate =

| withdrawndate = May 1940 – December 1955

| scrapdate =

| disposition = All scrapped

}}

The LCDR R class was a class of 0-4-4T locomotives on the London, Chatham and Dover Railway (LCDR). No. 207 (eventually no. 31666) is notable as being the last former LCDR locomotive to be withdrawn from service.{{sfn|Bradley|1979|p=87}} The whole class was fitted with condensing apparatus for working on the Widened Lines.{{sfn|Smith|1994|p=25}}

History

For many years the London, Chatham and Dover Railway (LCDR) had favoured the 0-4-4T wheel arrangement for suburban and stopping passenger trains, and when more were required in 1890, consideration was given to ordering a further batch of the existing A2 class 0-4-4T (introduced 1883); it was then decided that a modified design was required.{{sfn|Bradley|1979|pp=82–83}} The R class locomotives were designed by William Kirtley as a development of his earlier A2 class,{{sfn|Bradley|1979|pp=82–83}} and 18 were built by Sharp, Stewart and Company in 1891.{{sfn|Bradley|1979|p=83}}{{sfn|Bradley|1979|pp=87–88}}

Numbering

Their LCDR numbers were 199–216, which under the South Eastern and Chatham Railway became 658–675 from 1899.{{sfn|Bradley|1979|p=83}} They were renumbered three more times: to A658–A675 by the Southern Railway (SR) from 1923; to 1658–1675 by the SR from 1931; and to 31658–31675 by British Railways from 1948.

Withdrawal

Three (Nos. 1664, 1668 and 1669) were withdrawn in 1940 to provides spares for the others,{{sfn|Bradley|1979|p=87}} and withdrawal of the rest occurred between 1949 and 1955.{{sfn|Bradley|1979|pp=87-88}}

class=wikitable style=text-align:center \|+ Table of withdrawals{{sfn\|Bradley\|1960\|p=33}} ! Year !! Quantity in service at start of year !! Quantity withdrawn !! Numbers
1940	18	3	align=left \| 1664, 1668, 1669
1949	15	1	align=left \| 31672
1951	14	3	align=left \| 31659, 31667, 31670
1952	11	5	align=left \| 31658, 31665, 31673–31675
1953	6	3	align=left \| 31660, 31662, 31663
1954	3	1	align=left \| 31671
1955	2	2	align=left \| 31661, 31666

Notes

References

{{cite book |last=Bradley |first=D.L. |title=The Locomotive History of the London, Chatham & Dover Railway |edition=2nd |date=March 1979 |orig-year=1960 |publisher=RCTS |location=London |isbn=0-901115-47-9 }}
{{cite book |last=Bradley |first=D.L. |title=The Locomotives of the London, Chatham & Dover Railway |edition=1st |year=1960 |publisher=RCTS |location=London }}
{{cite book |last=Smith |first=Martin |title=Steam on the Underground |publisher=Ian Allan Publishing |year=1994 |isbn=0-7110-2282-8 }}

R

Category:0-4-4T locomotives

Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1891

Category:Sharp Stewart locomotives

Category:Condensing steam locomotives

Category:Standard-gauge steam locomotives of Great Britain