LSWR L12 class

In 1904, the LSWR Locomotive Superintendent, Dugald Drummond, was tasked by his superiors to analyse the possibility of an updated version of his successful T9 class 4-4-0. With open competition against the Great Western Railway in earning revenue from ocean-going traffic in the south-west of England at Plymouth, there was a need for a new design of powerful locomotive capable of hauling heavy loads at high speeds. This furthermore provided Drummond with the chance to take advantage of various advances in locomotive technology that had accumulated in the five years since the release of the T9.

The last in an unbroken lineage of Drummond 4-4-0s stretching back to his unsuccessful C8 Class of 1898, the L12 continued the tradition of solid construction and robust operation.

Drummond took the decision to construct a further new class of 20 4-4-0s as part of the competition between the LSWR and GWR regarding boat trains to Plymouth harbour.{{page needed|date=October 2016}} Once again, the L12 followed the example of the Class S11 in incorporating the same frames as the T9.{{page needed|date=October 2016}} The major design difference between this and the Class S11 was the fact that the {{convert|6|ft|7|in|m|3|adj=on}} driving wheels seen on the T9 were reinstated for fast running on the LSWR main line.Morrison & Whitely (1989).{{page needed|date=October 2016}}

The boiler was also similar to that of the T9s, capped off with a dome and stovepipe chimney, though the smokebox was of a smaller design in comparison due to the initial lack of superheating.{{page needed|date=October 2016}} The locomotive was fitted with cross-water tubes fitted into the firebox, as featured on the T9 Class.Herring (2000). Section "T9 Class". This was an attempt to increase the heat surface area of the water, which was achieved, though at a cost in boiler complexity. The new locomotive had a higher centre of gravity than the earlier T9 class, which would cause the locomotive to become unbalanced on curves at speed, and this would have fatal consequences later on.{{page needed|date=October 2016}}

One major modification was made by Robert Urie, who exchanged the saturated steam boilers for the superheated variety, resulting in an enlarged smokebox when compared to that fitted on the S11 Class.{{page needed|date=October 2016}} At the same time, the addition of the superheater header and associated tubes meant that the overall weight was increased by {{convert|1|LT|t ST|sigfig=3|spell=in}} from {{convert|86|to|87|LT|t ST|sigfig=3}}.{{page needed|date=October 2016}}

Production of the class began at Nine Elms in 1904, with all members of the class were fitted with the Drummond "watercart" eight-wheel tender for longer running on the LSWR network.Burtt (1949).{{page needed|date=October 2016}}

The class gained the nickname "Bulldogs" from their crews due to their 'butch' appearance.{{page needed|date=October 2016}} The L12s were initially rostered to Nine Elms, Bournemouth and Salisbury, where they worked the LSWR system on express passenger trains.{{page needed|date=October 2016}}.

The class was later also shedded at Exmouth Junction where they shared the Ocean Liner special expresses to and from Plymouth with the S11 class. Although the class was relatively well-received by locomotive crews, there was no discernible improvement over the T9s it was supposed to develop from, and as such, led uneventful careers after the accident of 1906.{{page needed|date=October 2016}} They began to be withdrawn soon after Nationalisation in 1948, by which time the class were used for local freight working on rural lines. The last of the class was withdrawn from Guildford shed in 1955, ending its life on pick-up/set down goods trains on the Meon Valley Railway. None survived for preservation.

:{{main|1906 Salisbury rail crash}}

It was at {{rws|Salisbury}} that the class gained an infamous reputation, as number 421 was involved in the Salisbury high speed derailment of 1 July 1906, which resulted in twenty-eight fatalities and eleven injuries.{{page needed|date=October 2016}}Gerard & Hamilton (1981) 421 was one of two locomotives hauling a boat train to London Waterloo from Plymouth, which failed to round a curve at the eastern end of Salisbury station and subsequently derailed. The resultant inquiry into the incident ended the ruthless competition between the LSWR and GWR for Plymouth boat traffic.{{page needed|date=October 2016}}

file:30415_at_Eastleigh_1950.jpg

Under the LSWR, the locomotives were outshopped in the LSWR Passenger Sage Green livery with purple-brown edging, creating panels of green.{{page needed|date=October 2016}} This was further lined in white and black with 'LSWR' in gilt on the tender tank sides.

When transferred to Southern Railway ownership after 1923, the locomotives were outshopped in Richard Maunsell's darker version of the LSWR livery.Swift (2006).{{page needed|date=October 2016}} The LSWR standard gilt lettering was changed to yellow with 'Southern' on the water tank sides. The locomotives also featured black and white lining.Haresnape & Rowledge (1982).{{page needed|date=October 2016}}

However, despite Bulleid's experimentation with Malachite Green livery on express passenger locomotives, the Maunsell livery was continued with the S11s, though the 'Southern' lettering on the tender was changed to the 'Sunshine Yellow' style. During the Second World War, members of the class outshopped from overhaul were turned out in wartime black, and some of the class retained this livery to Nationalisation.{{page needed|date=October 2016}}

File:30416 at Eastleigh 1949.jpg in 1949.]]

Livery after Nationalisation was initially Southern Wartime Black livery with 'British Railways' on the tender, and an 'S' prefix on the number, until superseded by the Standard BR 30xxx series. Latterly, the class was outshopped in BR Mixed Traffic Black livery, with red and white lining. The BR crest was placed on the tender tank sides.

{{reflist|2}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book |last=Bradley |first=D. L. |year=1986 |title=LSWR Locomotives: The Drummond Classes |location=Didcot |publisher=Wild Swan Publications |isbn=0-906867-42-8}}
• {{cite book |last=Burtt |first=F. |year=1949 |title=L. & S.W.R. Locomotives: 1872–1923 |location=London |publisher=Ian Allan}}
• {{cite book |first1=Malcolm |last1=Gerard |first2=J. A. B. |last2=Hamilton |title=Trains to Nowhere |publisher=Georg Allen & Unwin |location=London |year=1981 |orig-year=1967 |pages=9–11 |isbn=0-04-385084-7}}
• {{cite book |last1=Haresnape |first1=B. |last2=Rowledge |first2=P. |name-list-style=amp |year=1982 |title=Drummond Locomotives: A Pictorial History |location=Hinckley |publisher=Ian Allan Publishing |isbn=0-7110-1206-7}}
• {{cite book |last=Herring |first=Peter |year=2000 |title=Classic British Steam Locomotives |location=London |publisher=Abbeydale Press |isbn=1-86147-057-6}}
• {{cite book |last1=Morrison |first1=G. W. |last2=Whitely |first2=J. S. |name-list-style=amp |year= 1989 |title=The Big Four Remembered |location=Sparkford |publisher=Haynes Publishing Group |isbn=1-85648-179-4}}
• {{cite book |last=Swift |first=Peter |year=2006 |title=Maunsell 4-6-0 King Arthur Class |series=Locomotives in Detail, volume 4 |location=Hinckley |publisher=Ian Allan Publishing |isbn=0-7110-3086-3}}

{{refend}}

• [http://www.semgonline.com/steam/l12class_01.html SEMG gallery]

{{LSWR Locomotives}}

{{SR Locomotives}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lswr L12 Class}}

L12

Category:4-4-0 locomotives

Category:2′B n2 locomotives

Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1904

Category:Scrapped locomotives

Category:Standard-gauge steam locomotives of Great Britain

Category:Passenger locomotives in the United Kingdom