LCDR Second Sondes class

The LCDR Second Sondes class was a class of six 2-4-0T steam locomotives. They were designed by William Martley for the London, Chatham and Dover Railway (LCDR), and built at the LCDR's Longhedge works during 1865, using components from the Sondes class 4-4-0ST locomotives, including the boilers.^[1]

Second Sondes class
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer William Martley Rebuilder Longhedge works Rebuild date 1865 Number rebuilt 6
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-4-0T Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Leading dia. 3 ft 6 in (1.07 m) Coupled dia. 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) Wheelbase: ​  • Engine 15 ft 0 in (4.57 m) Frame type Double Loco weight 31.8 long tons (32.3 t) Fuel capacity 1+1⁄4 long tons (1.3 t) Water cap. 715 imp gal (3,250 L; 859 US gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 16+1⁄2 sq ft (1.53 m2) Boiler: ​  • Diameter 4 ft 1 in (1.24 m)  • Tube plates 10 ft 1 in (3.07 m)  • Small tubes 152 x 2 in (51 mm) Boiler pressure 120 psi (830 kPa) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 75 sq ft (7.0 m2)  • Tubes 820 sq ft (76 m2)  • Total surface 895 sq ft (83.1 m2) Cylinders 2, inside Cylinder size 15 in × 24 in (380 mm × 610 mm)
Career Operators London, Chatham and Dover Railway South Eastern and Chatham Railway Class F Numbers LCDR: 59–64 SECR: 518–523 Withdrawn 1909 Disposition All scrapped

In November 1875, William Kirtley (who had replaced Martley following the latter's death in 1874) allotted the class letter F.^[2] During 1876–78, the locomotives were rebuilt with new boilers and cylinders; at the same time they were given numbers, the names being removed.^[3] They passed to the South Eastern and Chatham Railway (SECR) at the start of 1899, and their numbers were increased by 459 to avoid duplication with former South Eastern Railway locomotives.^[3] New boilers were again provided in 1905–07, but all six locomotives were withdrawn in 1909.^[4]

Name	Built	LCDR Number	SECR Number	Reboilered	Withdrawn
Lake	August 1865	62	521	December 1876, July 1905	August 1909
Chatham	September 1865	64	523	August 1877, January 1906	September 1909
Sittingbourne	September 1865	60	519	November 1876, December 1907	July 1909
Sondes	October 1865	59	518	January 1878, January 1907	July 1909
Faversham	November 1865	63	522	September 1877, June 1907	September 1909
Crampton	November 1865	61	520	December 1876, August 1907	August 1909

The names were all retained from the Sondes class.^[5]