LCDR R class

Not to be confused with SER R class.

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 No. 207 (eventually no. 31666) is notable as being the last former LCDR locomotive to be withdrawn from service. The whole class was fitted with condensing apparatus for working on the Widened Lines.

LCDR R class
No. 1675 at Tonbridge Locomotive Depot, 18 May 1946
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer William Kirtley Builder Sharp, Stewart & Co Serial number 3722–3739 Build date September–December 1891 Total produced 18
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-4-4T  • UIC B2′ n2t Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Driver dia. 5 ft 6 in (1.676 m) Wheelbase 21 ft 6 in (6.55 m) Loco weight 49.75 long tons (50.55 t) Fuel capacity 2 long tons (2.0 t) Water cap. 1,100 imp gal (5,000 L; 1,300 US gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 16.25 sq ft (1.510 m2) Boiler pressure 150 psi (1.03 MPa) Heating surface 1,071 sq ft (99.5 m2) Cylinders Two, inside Cylinder size 17 in × 24 in (432 mm × 610 mm) Train brakes Westinghouse
Career Operators London, Chatham and Dover Railway → South Eastern and Chatham Railway → Southern Railway → British Railways Class R Numbers LCDR: 199–216 SECR: 658–675 SR: A658–A675 → 1658–1675 BR: 31658–31675 Nicknames Bobtails Withdrawn May 1940 – December 1955 Disposition All scrapped

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. The R class locomotives were designed by William Kirtley as a development of his earlier A2 class, and 18 were built by Sharp, Stewart and Company in 1891.

Numbering

Their LCDR numbers were 199–216, which under the South Eastern and Chatham Railway became 658–675 from 1899. 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Three (Nos. 1664, 1668 and 1669) were withdrawn in 1940 to provides spares for the others, and withdrawal of the rest occurred between 1949 and 1955.

Table of withdrawals

Year	Quantity in service at start of year	Quantity withdrawn	Numbers
1940	18	3	1664, 1668, 1669
1949	15	1	31672
1951	14	3	31659, 31667, 31670
1952	11	5	31658, 31665, 31673–31675
1953	6	3	31660, 31662, 31663
1954	3	1	31671
1955	2	2	31661, 31666

See also

• LCDR R1 class

References

• Bradley, D.L. (March 1979) [1960]. The Locomotive History of the London, Chatham & Dover Railway (2nd ed.). London: RCTS. ISBN 0-901115-47-9.
• Bradley, D.L. (1960). The Locomotives of the London, Chatham & Dover Railway (1st ed.). London: RCTS.
• Smith, Martin (1994). Steam on the Underground. Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-7110-2282-8.