31/08/1921 |
Chester G.W.R. sheds in 1921 |
The recent demise of Chester (West) shed as a loco. depot adds a touch of nostalgic interest to an August, 1921, allocation list of the depot in its Great Western heyday. This list was carefully compiled for two interested schoolboy visitors, by one of the clerks, with the help of the fitter's labourer who had been furnished as the boys' guide. It was probably quite reasonably accurate at its date. Supplementary notes added at the time were : 4309 was the 'pick' of the passenger engines, 3510 a poor steamer so restricted to station pilot duty (Chester General), 2883 just received from the Factory-we were shown the uncompleted receipt for it; no.1 had also just been through the Factory, and was 'all green', with blacked-over chimney-cap. Engines at Chester : (Passenger and Mixed Traffic) 4-4-0 'City': 3709 Quebec, 3711 City of Birmingham, 3719 City of Exeter; 'Flower': 4146 Sydney; 2-6-0 43xx : 4309, 4337, 4341, 4365, 4374, 4381, 4395, 4398, 5315, 5318, 5322, 5336, 5368, 5369, 5370, 5371, 5385, 5386; 2-4-0 'Stella': 3202; ditto (r/b. from 2-4-0T): 3507, 3508, 3510, 3511, 3518, 3519; 0-6-0 'Dean goods': 2419, 2423, 2431, 2438, 2452, 2477; 2-4-2T: 3609; 2-6-2T: 4517, 4528; 2-4-0T: 1; 0-6-0T '2721 class': 2733(s/t), 2778(p/t); 0-4-2T '517' : 1475. (Freight): 2-8-0: 2810, 2818, 2842, 2862, 2864, 2867, 2883; 2-6-0 'Aberdare': 2628, 2653, 2654, 2678; 0-6-0 D/F. 'Beyer': 357; 'Standard Goods': 512, 601, 701. 4' 7½' 'Coal' : 934, 942; 0-6-0T '655 class': 655, 1741, 1745; '850 Class': 857, 987(s/t); '1501 class': 654, 1501(s/t), 1548(s/t). '1854 class': 1863. Total engines: 68 (16 tank.) Two additional engines were also noted during the visit both bearing CHR shed mark : 2-4-0 3505 and 0-6-0 D/F. 'Standard Goods' 403. At that time, 'Dean Goods' 2452 was a war veteran; in the 1939 war Nos. 2419/23/38/77 were requisitioned; the first three were lost, and 2477 was one of the engines sent to China as an U.N.R.R.A. contribution, after return from war service. F.H. |
SLS/196009 |
31/03/1947 |
Swindon Works |
Locos. entering works during March included: 1701, 2401, 2474, 2534, 2612, 2702, 2787, 2843, 2908, 2924, 2938, 2981, 3018, 3024, 3029, 3447, 4000, 4075, 4098, 4318, 5001, 5014, 5057, 5065, 5066, 5077, 5093, 5348, 5367, 6320, 6340, 6394, 7316, L.M.S. 8454, W.D. 77288, 78671 and 79234. (Last of the present batch of W.D. 2-8-00 to undergo repair here). Further locos. to receive T.F. boilers are: 4634, 5423, 5750, 6414 and 7428. Works' pilots during March included: 200, 201, 242, 1731, 1795, 2733, 2773 and 3561. 5705 has appeared with the G.W.R. monogram painted on the pannier tanks. New engines reported are: 1027 WES, 1028 BRD, 9402/3 PDN. Straight-sided 4,000 gallon tenders: The design as modified to suit the 'Castles' differs from the original tenders built for the '1000' Class as follows: It is 6in. narrower across the sides to match the cab width of the engine, and the running-plate is lowered to the same height as that under the engine cab. (It may not be generally realised that the '1000' Class have wider cabs and slightly higher running-plates under the cabs than what has always been standard). The coal space between the tanks is narrower so as to maintain the width of tank unchanged, and the shovel hole is also narrower. There are one or two other very minor differences, but otherwise the two types are the same. It appears that while the modified design can be used with all engine classes for which 4,000 gallon tenders are authorised, the original type will be restricted to the '1000' Class. |
SLS/194705 |
30/09/1947 |
Swindon Works |
Locos. entering Works during September included: Nos. 1005, 1925, 1935, 2112, 2148, 2195, 2444, 2551, 2612, 3005, 3017, 3022, 3023, 5318, 5319, 5335, 5398, W.D. 77368, 78543 an 79274. Works' pilots recently have been: Nos. 200, 2723, 2731, 2733 an 2768. No. 5049 CDF (ex Works 23/9) has been fitted with an experimental Swindon design mechanical lubricator (similar to that fitted to No. 4905) and also a 4-row superheater. The present batch of new 'Hall' Class locos. which are of the modified or '6959' Class are being fitted with straight sided tenders; No. 6974 and onwards are being lined out. |
SLS/194711 |