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 No. 207 (eventually no. 31666) is notable as being the last former LCDR locomotive to be withdrawn from service.^[1] The whole class was fitted with condensing apparatus for working on the Widened Lines.^[2]

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Railways Class R Numbers LCDR: 199–216 SECR: 658–675 SR: A658–A675 → 1658–1675 BR: 31658–31675 Nicknames Bobtails Withdrawn May 1940 – December 1955 Disposition All scrapped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.^[3] The R class locomotives were designed by William Kirtley as a development of his earlier A2 class,^[3] and 18 were built by Sharp, Stewart and Company in 1891.^[4][5]

Numbering

Their LCDR numbers were 199–216, which under the South Eastern and Chatham Railway became 658–675 from 1899.^[4] 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Three (Nos. 1664, 1668 and 1669) were withdrawn in 1940 to provides spares for the others,^[1] and withdrawal of the rest occurred between 1949 and 1955.^[5]

Table of withdrawals^[6]

Year	Quantity in service at start of year	Quantity withdrawn	Numbers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