Locomotives of the Southern Railway (UK)

The Southern Railway took a key role in expanding the 660 V DC third rail electrified network begun by the London & South Western Railway. As a result of this, and its smaller operating area, its steam locomotive stock was the smallest of the 'Big Four' companies.

For an explanation of numbering and classification, see British Rail locomotive and multiple unit numbering and classification.

Background Post-nationalisation British Railways completed construction of the 'West Country' and 'Merchant Navy' locomotive designs but did not build any further orders. It abandoned the 'Leader' class experiments, and Bulleid left the UK to carry forward his unusual locomotive designs in Ireland.

Withdrawal Withdrawal of ex-SR locomotives happened mainly towards the end of steam on the Southern Region (in 1967), the pre-Grouping designs having gone before then as electrification spread across the region.

Locomotives of SR design

With the heavy emphasis on electrification for the London suburban area and the Brighton mainline, there was little need for new steam locomotive designs. The main steam tasks were boat trains (Dover, Folkestone and Newhaven), West of England, Kent services and freight. When designing steam locomotives, the designers had some interesting constraints that dictated where the locomotive could be used. Due to the hangover from SE&CR days, most of the lines in Kent were of fairly light construction and would not take the weight of a modern express locomotive until well into the 1930s. Hence the extensive rebuilding (and new construction) of 4-4-0 designs at a time when other lines were busily building Pacifics or heavy 4-6-0s.

The ex-SER lines also had the problem of the narrow Mountfield and Wadhurst tunnels on the Hastings line, requiring locomotive and rolling stock rather narrower than permitted elsewhere. This problem persisted into British Railways days until eventually the tunnels were single tracked, giving clearance for normal stock.

Services for west of Southampton and Salisbury had a different set of problems as neither the Southern Railway nor its constituents installed water troughs, thus leading to large tenders with greater water capacity than those fitted to similar locomotives on other railways.

New designs were:

Richard E. L. Maunsell (1923–1937)

Class Wheelarrangement Date Builder No. built CommentsK1 2-6-4T 1925 Ashford 1 Later converted to class "U1" tender engine (below).L1 4-4-0 1926 North British 15 Lord Nelson 4-6-0 1926-9 Eastleigh 16 U 2-6-0 1928 Eastleigh 7 Rebuilds of "K" tanks 1928 Brighton 6 1928 Ashford 7 1928 Brighton 10 1931 Ashford 20U1 2-6-0 1928 Ashford 1 Rebuild of "K1" tank 1931 Eastleigh 20 Z 0-8-0T 1929 Brighton 8 V "Schools" 4-4-0 1930-5 Eastleigh 40 W 2-6-4T 1932 Eastleigh 5 1935-6 Ashford 10 Q 0-6-0 1938-9 Eastleigh 20

Maunsell also rebuilt, modified or continued the new construction of earlier classes

LSWR H15 class – Further production LSWR N15 class – Further production LSWR S15 class – Further production LSWR M7 class – One superheated – not repeated LSWR T9 class – Superheated LSWR 700 class – Superheated SECR B1 class SECR D class as D1 class SECR O class – rebuilt as O1 class SECR N class – Further production SECR N1 class – Three-cylinder derivative of N class LB&SCR C2 class LB&SCR L class 4-6-4T – rebuilt as 4–6–0 SR N15X class LB&SCR E1 class 0-6-0T – rebuilt as 0-6-2T SR E1/R class LB&SCR I1 class – rebuilt as I1X class

O.V.S. Bulleid (1937–1949)

Class Wheelarrangement Date Builder No. built CommentsQ1 0-6-01942 Ashford 20 Brighton 20 USA 0-6-0T 1942-3 Vulcan 13 H. K. Porter 2 Merchant Navy 4-6-2 1941-9 Eastleigh 20 10 more built by BRWest Country/Battle of Britain 4-6-2 1945-51 Brighton 70 40 more built by BRLeader 0-6-0+0-6-0T 1946-9 Brighton 5 Only one completed; appeared after nationalisation

Bulleid was also responsible for the mechanical part of the three electric locomotives (CC1–CC3, later British Railways Class 70), built at Ashford Works in 1941 (CC1) and 1948 (CC2, CC3). The electrical part was the responsibility of the Southern Railway's Chief Electrical Engineer, Alfred Raworth. Bulleid also designed a 500 hp 0-6-0 diesel mechanical shunter powered by a Davey Paxman power unit. This was built at Ashford Works, though was not introduced until 1950, when it emerged as BR No. 11001.

Locomotives of constituent companies London and South Western Railway

John Viret Gooch (1841–1851)

Class Wheelarrangement Fleetnumber(s) Manufacturer Year made Quantitymade Quantitypreserved Year(s)withdrawn Comments John Viret Gooch (1841–1851)Southampton 2-2-2 16–26 William Fairbairn & Sons 1841–42 11 0 1852–1872 Renewals of earlier locomotives Eagle 2-2-2 27–30 Nine Elms Works 1843–44 4 0 1862–1863 Alecto 2-2-2 46–47 William Fairbairn & Sons 1846–47 10 0 1863–1872 Bison 0-6-0 49–52, 101–106 Nine Elms Works 1845–48 10 0 1863–1887 Fireball 2-2-2 73–100 Rothwell and Company 1846–48 28 0 1862–1872 Mazeppa 2-2-2 53–62 Nine Elms Works 1847 10 0 1862–1870 Gem 2-2-2 107–108 Nine Elms Works 1847 2 0 1862–1868 Rocklia 2-2-2 109–114 Christie, Adams and Hill 1848–49 6 0 1868–1870 Vesuvius 2-2-2 115–123 Nine Elms Works 1849–1853 9 0 1870–1880

Joseph Hamilton Beattie (1850–1871)

Class Wheelarrangement Fleetnumber(s) Manufacturer Year made Quantitymade Quantitypreserved Year(s)withdrawn Comments Joseph Hamilton Beattie (1850–1871)Hercules 2-4-0 5, 21, 26, 31–32, 35, 37, 40–44, 46–48 Nine Elms Works 1851–1854 15 0 1875–1884 driversTartar 2-2-2WT 2, 12–13, 17–18, 33 Sharp Brothers 1852 6 0 1871–1874 Sussex 2-2-2WT 1, 4, 6, 14–15, 19–20, 36 Nine Elms Works 1852 8 0 1871–1876 Canute 2-2-2 130–135, 142, 149–153 Nine Elms Works 1856–1859 12 0 1875–1885 Titan 2-4-0 45 Nine Elms Works 1856 1 0 1880 driversSaxon 2-4-0 124–129, 136–141 Nine Elms Works 1855–1857 12 0 1877–1885 driversChaplin 2-2-2WT 9–10, 34 Nine Elms Works 1856 3 0 1876–1877 Minerva 2-4-0WT 11, 16, 39 Nine Elms Works 1856 3 0 1874–1883 Nelson 2-4-0WT 143–145 Nine Elms Works 1858 3 0 1882–1885 Nile 2-4-0WT 154–156 Nine Elms Works 1859 3 0 1882 Tweed 2-4-0 146–148, 160–162 Nine Elms Works 1858–1859 6 0 1877–1879 driversUndine 2-4-0 163–168, 170–175 Nine Elms Works 1859–60 12 0 1884–1886 driversClyde 2-4-0 157–159, 169, 73–75, 95–100 Nine Elms Works 1859–1868 13 0 1883–1899 driversGem 2-4-0 107, 55–57, 67, 78 Nine Elms Works 1862–1863 6 0 1884–1885 driversEagle 2-4-0 27–30 Nine Elms Works 1862 3 0 1885–1886 driversFalcon 2-4-0 29, 68–72, 77, 79–88 Nine Elms Works 1863–1867 17 0 1882–1898 drivers177 2-4-0WT 177–220, 243–270, 33, 36, 76, 34, 44, 298–299, 314, 325–329 Beyer, Peacock & Co. (82)Nine Elms Works (3) 1863–1875 85 2 1886–1899, 1962 31 rebuilt as tender engines (1883–1892). Nº 298 & 314 preservedLion 0-6-0 3, 7–9, 10, 12–13, 16, 22–24, 38, 52–54, 58–60, 65, 92–94, 101–103, 108–113, 120, 176, 271–272, 291–293 Nine Elms Works 1863–1873 38 0 1886–1900 Volcano 2-4-0 5, 11, 25–26, 31, 61–64, 66, 89–91, 114–118 Nine Elms Works 1866–1873 18 0 1886–1897 drivers221 0-6-0 221–226, 237–242, 273–278, 285–290 Beyer, Peacock & Co. 1866–1873 24 0 1891–1924 Double framed Goods 231 2-4-0 231–236 Beyer, Peacock & Co. 1866 6 0 1892–1899 driversVesuvius 2-4-0 1–2, 4, 6, 14–15, 17–21, 32, 35, 37, 39–43, 119, 121–122, 279–281, 294–297, 315–317 Nine Elms Works 1869–1875 32 0 1893–1899 drivers

William George Beattie (1871–1878)

Class Wheelarrangement Fleetnumber(s) Manufacturer Year made Quantitymade Quantitypreserved Year(s)withdrawn Comments William George Beattie (1871–1878)273 0-6-0 273-278, 285-290 Beyer, Peacock & Co. 1872-1873 12 0 1906-1924 Double framed Goods282 0-6-0 282–284, 300–301, 324, 393–394 Beyer, Peacock & Co. 1873–1880 8 0 1905–1913 "Ilfracombe Goods"302 0-6-0 302–313, 336–347, 368–373, 151, 152, 160, 162, 229 Beyer, Peacock & Co. 1874–1878 35 0 1889–1925 Single framed Goods318 4-4-0T 318–323 Beyer, Peacock & Co. 1875 6 0 1906–1913 "Plymouth Tank"330 0-6-0ST 330–335, 227–228, 127–128, 131, 149–150, 161, 409–414 Beyer, Peacock & Co. 1876–1882 20 0 1924–1933 "Saddleback"348 4-4-0 348–367 Beyer, Peacock & Co. 1877 20 0 1889–1905 "Jumbo"

William Adams (1878–1895)

Class Wheelarrangement Fleetnumber(s) Manufacturer Year made Quantitymade Quantitypreserved Year(s)withdrawn Comments William Adams (1878–1895)46 4-4-0T 46, 123–124, 130, 132–133, 374–379 Beyer, Peacock & Co. 1879 12 0 1914–1925 Rebuilt to 4-4-2T in 1883–1886380 4-4-0 380–391 Beyer, Peacock & Co. 1879 12 0 1913–1925 135 4-4-0 135–146 Beyer, Peacock & Co. 1880–1881 12 0 1913–1924 395 0-6-0 27–30, 83–84, 101, 105, 134, 148, 153–159,163–168, 172, 174–175, 395–406, 433–444, 496–515 Neilson & Co. 1881–1886 70 0 1916–1959 415 4-4-2T 45, 47–57, 68, 77–78, 82, 104, 106–107, 125–126, 129,169–171, 173, 415–432, 479–495, 516–525 Beyer, Peacock & Co.Dübs & Co.Neilson & Co.Robert Stephenson & Co. 1882–1885 74 1 1916–1961 "Radial tank"; 68, 77–78 renumbered 58–60 in 1889–1890. Several were sent to other railways, particularly the East Kent Railway and the Highland Railway, during World War I.445 4-4-0 445–456 Robert Stephenson & Co. 1883 12 0 1923–1925 460 4-4-0 147, 460–478, 526 Neilson & Co.Robert Stephenson & Co. 1884–1887 21 0 1924–1929 A12 0-4-2 527–556, 597–656 Nine Elms WorksNeilson & Co. 1887–1895 90 0 1928–1948 "Jubilee"T1 0-4-4T 1–20, 60–80, 358–367 Nine Elms Works 1888–1896 50 0 1931–1951 O2 0-4-4T 177–236 Nine Elms Works 1889–1895 60 1 1933–1967 23 transferred to the Isle of Wight (1923–1949)X2 4-4-0 577–596 Nine Elms Works 1890–1892 20 0 1930–1942 T3 4-4-0 557–576 Nine Elms Works 1892–1893 20 1 1930–1945 B4 0-4-0T 81, 85–100, 102–103, 176 Nine Elms Works 1891–1893 20 2 1948–1963 G6 0-6-0T 160, 162, 237–240, 257–279, 348–349, 351, 353–354 Nine Elms Works 1894–1900 34 0 1948–1962 T6 4-4-0 677–686 Nine Elms Works 1895–1896 10 0 1933–1943 X6 4-4-0 657–666 Nine Elms Works 1895–1896 10 0 1933–1946

Dugald Drummond (1895–1912)

Class Wheelarrangement Fleetnumber(s) Manufacturer Year made Quantitymade Quantitypreserved Year(s)withdrawn Comments Dugald Drummond (1895–1912) 700 0-6-0 687–715 Dübs & Co. 1897 30 0 1957–1962 "Black Motor"; 702–716 renumbered 306…368 T7 4-2-2-0 720 Nine Elms Works 1897 1 0 1927 M7 0-4-4T 21–60, 104–112, 123–133, 241–256, 318–324,328, 356–357, 374–379, 479–481, 667–676 Nine Elms WorksEastleigh Works 1897–1911 105 2 1937–1965 "Motor tank" C8 4-4-0 290–299 Nine Elms Works 1898 10 0 1933–1938 F9 4-2-4T 733 Nine Elms Works 1899 1 0 1940 "The Bug"; renumbered 58S in 1924 T9 4-4-0 113–122, 280–289, 300–305, 307, 310–314, 336–338,702–719, 721–732, 773 Nine Elms WorksDübs & Co. 1899–1901 66 1 1951–1963 "Greyhound"; 773 renumbered 733 in 1924. E10 4-2-2-0 369–373 Nine Elms Works 1901 5 0 1926–1927 K10 4-4-0 135–146, 149–153, 329, 340–345, 347, 380–394 Nine Elms Works 1901–1902 40 0 1947–1951 "Small Hopper" L11 4-4-0 134, 148, 154–159, 161, 163–175, 405–414, 435–442 Nine Elms Works 1903–1907 40 0 1949–1952 "Large Hopper" S11 4-4-0 395–404 Nine Elms Works 1903 10 0 1951–1954 L12 4-4-0 415–424 Nine Elms Works 1904–1905 20 0 1951–1955 "Bulldog" F13 4-6-0 330–334 Nine Elms Works 1905 5 0 1921–1924 C14 2-2-0T 736–745 Nine Elms Works 1906–1907 10 0 1916–1918 "Potato Can"; four rebuilt 0-4-0T, others sold E14 4-6-0 335 Nine Elms Works 1907 1 0 1914 "The Turkey"; rebuilt to H15 class G14 4-6-0 453–457 Nine Elms Works 1908 5 0 1925 Rebuilt to N15 class K14 0-4-0T 746–747, 82–84 Nine Elms Works 1908 5 0 1948–1957 746 & 747 renumbered 101 & 147 in 1922 P14 4-6-0 448–452 Eastleigh Works 1910–1911 5 0 1925–1927 Rebuilt to N15 class T14 4-6-0 443–447, 458–462 Eastleigh Works 1911–1912 10 0 1940–1951 "Paddlebox" or "Paddleboat" D15 4-4-0 463–472 Eastleigh Works 1912–1913 10 0 1951–1956

Robert W. Urie (1912–1922)