LSWR C14 class

LSWR C14 & S14 Classes

C14 0-4-0T No. 3744 at Eastleigh Locomotive Depot 1946

Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Dugald Drummond Builder LSWR Nine Elms Build date 1906-10 Total produced C14 10; S14 2

Specifications Configuration C14 2-2-0 later rebuilt to 0-4-0 S14 0-4-0 Gauge 4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Leading dia 3 ft 0 in (0.914 m) (C14 only) Driver diameter 3 ft 0 in (0.914 m) Loco weight C14 24 long tons (24 t) S14 28 long tons (28 t) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 1 long ton (1,000 kg) Water cap 500 imp gal (2,300 l) Boiler pressure C14 150 psi (1.03 MPa) S14 175 psi (1.21 MPa) Cylinders Two (outside) Cylinder size C14 10×14 in S14 12×18 in

Career Operators London and South Western Railway Southern Railway British Railways Class C14 LSWR, SR, BR S14 LSWR Retired 1917–1959

The London and South Western Railway C14 class was a class of ten 2-2-0 tank locomotives intended to work Push–pull trains on lightly used lines in 1907. The ‘’’S14 class’’’ was an 0-4-0 version of the same basic design. Both classes proved to be underpowered in this role and many examples were sold as light shunters during the First World War. Three C14 remained with the LSWR and were rebuilt as 0-4-0Ts. They lasted until the late 1950s..

History

C14 class

During the first few years of the twentieth century the London and South Western Railway became concerned about losses incurred on several branch and short-distance passenger services, and began to experiment with the use of steam-powered railmotors.^[1] The resulting units proved to be under-powered during the summer months when traffic was higher, and also inflexible, as the power unit was permanently connected to the coach. As an alternative Dugald Drummond designed a class of small 2-2-0 tank locomotives, based on the railmotor power units, which could be coupled to one or more carriages to cater for different levels of load . These were specifically equipped for push-pull working. As built, the outside cylinders were situated between the leading and driving wheels.

The C14 class were tried out on a number of services during 1907. They were found to be more flexible than the railmotors but suffered from the same lack of power, as a result no further examples were built and the existing examples were gradually transferred to light shunting tasks or else were put into store.^[2]

S14 class

Drummond persevered with a 0-4-0 S14 version of the design, with the cylinders moved forward in front of the coupled wheels, but only two of these were ever built in 1910 before the order was cancelled.^[3] In 1913 Robert Urie ordered that four examples of the C14 class should be rebuilt as 0-4-0 tanks and the remainder withdrawn as they became in need of heavy repairs. Two examples were rebuilt in 1913, but the onset of the First World War brought an end to this programme.

World War I

In 1916 the War Office bought seven members of the C14 class (including one of the rebuilds) for use in various munitions facilities and dockyards. The two members of the S14 class were likewise sold to the Ministry of Munitions in 1917. After the war these were, sold for scrap, as stationary boilers or else exported.^[4]

Post-war

The last two 2-2-0 examples of the three locomotives remaining with LSWR were rebuilt in 1922 and 1923. The three survivors worked as dock shunters, or on departmental (non-revenue earning) duties under the Southern Railway and British Railways and were withdrawn between 1957 and 1959.^[5]

Summary table

Class	Year	LSWR numbers	Rebuilt	Notes
C14	1906	736	-	Sold to Ministry of Munitions 3/1917
C14	1906	737	-	Sold to Admiralty 12/1917
C14	1906	738	-	Sold to Ministry of Munitions 3/1917
C14	1906	739	-	Sold to Bute Works Supply Company 2/1917
C14	1906	740	-	Sold to War Department 12/1916
C14	1906	741	3/1922	BR 30588, withdrawn 12/1957
C14	1906	742	-	Sold to Ministry of Munitions 3/1917
C14	1906	743	6/1913	Sold to Admiralty 11/1917
C14	1907	744	10/1923	BR 30589, withdrawn 6/1957
C14	1907	745	4/1913	BR Engineer’s Dept 77S, withdrawn 4/1959
S14	1910	101	-	Sold Ministry of Munitions 5/1917
S14	1910	147	-	Sold Ministry of Munitions 5/1917

References

1. Bradley, D. L. (1967). Locomotives of the L.S.W.R. part 2. Railway Correspondence and Travel Society. pp. 118–23.
2. Bradley (1967), p.124.
3. Bradley (1967), p.126.
4. Bradley (1967), p.125.
5. Casserley, H.C.; Asher, L.L. (1961) [1955]. Locomotives of British Railways. Spring Books. pp. 46, 224.