GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Warwick Station: gwrw4031

Great Western Railway 2-6-2T large prairie tank locomotive No 3176 with a class B Lampcode (see lampcodes) passing the Cape Sidings on the down line at Warwick circa 1928. This is a Leamington to Birmingham Suburban Passenger train comprising a four coach ‘Birmingham B set’ with four additional clerestory coaches sandwiching another non-clerestory coach at the rear.

No.3176 was a member of the 3150 class which was an early development of the 31xx (later 51xx) class 2-6-2T large prairie locomotives. The locomotives were virtually identical, but the 3150 class was fitted with the larger standard No4 boiler to produce a more powerful locomotive suitable for banking duties. Forty of these locomotives were built between 1906 and 1908, being initially allocated to the South West, South Wales and the Severn Tunnel. Originally the 3150 class locomotives weighted 78tons, 16cwt, with a maximum axle weight of 18tons, 16cwt, but in the early 1920’s their bunkers were extended to increase the coal carrying capacity from 3tons to 3.5tons. This resulted in an increase in their maximum axle weight to 19tons, 5cwt, which limited the locomotives to main lines and a few branch lines (route colour – Red). The design boiler pressure was 200 lbs producing a tractive effort at 85% of 25,670 lb (Power group - D). For more details of the Great Western Railway locomotive classification scheme see Engine Map.

No.3176 was built in November 1907 at Swindon Works as part of lot 172 and was initially allocated to Newport Shed (NPT). After moving to Birkenhead Shed (BHD) in February 1910, a superheated boiler was fitted in May 1911. The locomotive then transferred to Tyseley (TYS) in May 1912. No.3176 moved between the Midlands and Birkenhead several times and spent a few years in the West Country and South Wales before returning to Tyseley Shed in August 1925, but almost immediately transferred to Leamington Shed (LEAM) in the October and remained there until the end of 1928. Between February 1930 and June 1931 Automatic Train Control (ATC) was fitted and about the same time sliding cab shutters were provided. The bunker fender was also recessed to accommodate the upper lamp iron. In March 1932 No.3176 was allocated to Canton Shed (CDF) at Cardiff, but by August had moved to Severn Tunnel Junction (STJ). In November 1940 outside steam pipes were fitted. With a service mileage of 934,547, No.3176 was withdrawn in November 1957 from Severn Tunnel Junction Shed (86E) and cut up in December.

The four coach B set comprises a pair of 58 foot long bow-ended non-corridor composite coaches (diagram E131) between a pair of 58 foot long bow-ended non-corridor brake third coaches (diagram D98). Forty coaches of each type had been constructed at Swindon Works during 1927, on lots 1377 and 1376 respectively. Fifteen of the four coach B sets were allocated for suburban passenger services in the Birmingham Division. The following table lists each set with the individual coach’s running number and completion date:

Each brake third coach had six compartments and a van area for the guard and luggage. On each side of the van area was a single door for the guard and double doors for loading the luggage. The van also had two end windows. Each composite coach had five third class compartments and four first class compartments. These coaches were orientated so that the first class compartments of the two composites were next to each other in the centre of the set. The total capacity of each of these sets were 64 first class and 220 third class passengers. The coaches lasted in to the British Railways period, being eventually withdrawn in the late 1950s.

In the siding adjacent to the main line is a rake of empty machinary flat wagons (telegraphic code – Loriot). The two nearest the camera are Loriot D’s (rated to carry 15tons). The first is No.42143 (Diagram G18, lot L584, built circa 1908) and the second No.42041 (Diagram G1, lot L562, built 1890) These appear to be the same wagons as those in photograph 'gwrw942'.

Robert Ferris

back