GWR 14XX

Vital Statistics

The **GWR 1400 Class** is a class of steam locomotive designed by the Great Western Railway for branch line passenger work. It was originally classified as the **4800 Class** when introduced in 1932, and renumbered in 1946.

Although credited to Collett, the design dated back to 1868 with the introduction of the George Armstrong 517 class.

## **Precursors**

Like the 48xx/14xx, the 517 Class was a lightweight loco for branchline work; it was built at Wolverhampton Works between 1868 and 1885.

In this period evolutionary changes included:

* 517-570 – with 13 ft 7 in (4.14 m) wheelbase, inside bearings to trailing wheels, and saddle tanks built 1868-1869.
* 571-576 – with 13 ft 7 in (4.14 m) wheelbase, outside bearings and side tanks built 1869-1870
* 826-836, 838-849, 1154–1165, 202-05, 215-222, 1421–1432, 1433–1444, 1465-1482 – all with 15 ft 0 in (4.57 m) wheelbase with side tanks built 1873-1883
* 1483-1488 – with 15 ft 6 in (4.72 m) wheelbase and side tanks built 1884-1885

Later gradual changes included: Belpaire fireboxes, boilers rated at 165 psi (1.14 MPa) as opposed to 150 psi (1.0 MPa), full cabs, extended bunkers and the progressive conversion of short wheelbase locos to 15 ft 0 in (4.57 m) or 15 ft 6 in (4.72 m). From 1924 onwards, several were converted to run with an autocoach, and in this configuration were the direct ancestors of the 48xx class.

In this form, the updated 517's were but a small step away from the 48xx. The wheelbase was still 15 ft 6 in (4.72 m), the boiler still rated at only 165 psi (1.14 MPa), and the wheels 5 ft 2 in (1,575 mm) and 3 ft 8 in (1,118 mm). New was the Collett-style cab and bunker and the boiler nominally to a new design. A three bar crosshead was added to the motion. This was a 1924 innovation introduced with the GWR 5600 Class and also seen in the 1930s-built 5400, 6400 and 7400 classes of pannier tanks.

## **Into Service**

The 4800 Class was designed as a more modern version of the 517 Class, which were by then beginning to show their relative age. The first locomotive, No 4800, was built by Swindon Works and entered service in 1932, with a further seventy-four engines of this type following up to 1936. During this period, Swindon also built twenty 5800 Class engines, which were broadly similar but which were not fitted with autotrain equipment or the Swindon top feed as later fitted to a number of 4800 class engines.

The 4800 Class locomotives retained their original numbers until the GWR decided to experimentally convert twelve 2800 Class 2-8-0s for oil-firing. It was decided that the converted engines would be reclassified as the 4800 Class and so the 75 tank locomotives already carrying this designation were reclassified as the 1400 Class with running numbers 1400-1474. The engines did not revert to their original classification after the experiment ended in 1948.

The 1400 Class was designed to work with the GWR design of autocoach, a specialist coach designed for push-pull working and which could also be used with engines of other classes such as the 517's, the GWR 5400 Class, the GWR 6400 Class and the older GWR 2021 Class. This lack of auto gear was the cause of earlier scrapping of the 5800 Class as there was no work for them. The last, no. 5815, was withdrawn from Swindon shed in April 1961.[1]

The auto-fitted locos fared little better; scrapping commenced in 1956 and all were withdrawn by early 1965. Nos. 1442 and 1450 were withdrawn from Exmouth Junction shed in May 1965.[2] By the early 1960s several had been 'in store' (parked in an out-of-the-way siding with a tarpaulin over the chimney) for some time, being occasionally steamed to replace failed diesels.

## Preservation

Four examples have been preserved, all late withdrawals from service in the 1963-1965 period. All went direct to preservation from British Railways in relatively good condition. The current location of the preserved examples is as follows:

* 1420 – South Devon Railway *(under overhaul)*
* 1442 – Tiverton Museum, Tiverton, Devon *(static exhibit)*
* 1450 - Severn Valley Railway (*operational*)
* 1466 – Didcot Railway Centre *(under overhaul)*

Known affectionately as *The Tivvy Bumper*, 1442 hauled the last train to Tiverton in October 1965.[3]

All preserved examples apart from 1442 are fitted with auto train equipment and 1450 has also operated on the mainline in preservation, but due to her size was restricted in the amount of work she could do and was also restricted on mileage as the 1400s only have a max water capacity of 800 imp gal (3,600 l; 960 US gal). During the 1990s she worked a number of Dawlish Donkey trips from Exeter St David's to Newton Abbot.

## ***Oliver The Western Engine***

In The Railway Series, Oliver has the number 1436. He was saved from scrap by Douglas the Scottish twin. When he was tasked with pulling some trucks, he was pushed into a turntable well by the trucks, and was sent away to be mended. He later got back at the trucks by pulling their leader, S. C. Ruffy apart. After that the trucks never dared mess with Oliver.

## **The Titfield Thunderbolt**

Two of these engines (GWR 1401 and GWR 1450,) played prominent roles in the film *The Titfield Thunderbolt*. Locomotive 1401 starred as the main locomotive of the Titfield–Mallingford branch until being deliberately derailed & damaged beyond repair; locomotive 1450 (with false numberplates fitted) doubled as 1401 for some scenes, to allow double the rate of filming; and a fake 14xx which carried the number 1462 had a brief role as a stolen locomotive which was later crashed into a tree.