Bristol and Exeter Railway 4-2-4T locomotives

The 14 Bristol and Exeter Railway 4-2-4T locomotives were broad gauge 4-2-4T steam locomotives built to three different designs. The first entered service in 1853 and the last was withdrawn in 1885. The Bristol and Exeter Railway was amalgamated into the Great Western Railway on 1 January 1876 and the last of the 4-2-4Ts was withdrawn in 1885.

The distinctive designs by James Pearson, the railway company's engineer, featured single large flangeless driving wheels and two supporting bogies. The water was carried in both well and back tanks leaving the boilers exposed in the same way as tender locomotives.

The three types are distinguished by the size of driving wheel; the early 9 feet ones being replaced by smaller ones on later designs.

List of locomotives

9 feet

Infobox Locomotive
name=B&ER 9ft 4-2-4T
powertype=Steam
whytetype=4-2-4T
driversize= 9 ft 0 in
leadingsize= 4 ft 0 in
trailingsize= 4 ft 0 in
wheelbase= 24 ft 9 in
cylindersize= 16½in dia × 24 in stroke
gauge=7 ft 0¼ in
designer=James Pearson
builder=Rothwell and Company

* 39 (1853 - 1868)
* 40 (1853 - 1873)
* 41 (1853 - 1873)
* 42 (1854 - 1868)
* 43 (1854 - 1871)
* 44 (1854 - 1870)
* 45 (1854 - 1870)
* 46 (1854 - 1870)

The first of Pearson's 4-2-4Ts were eight locomotives built by Rothwell and Company in 1853 and 1854 and were all withdrawn by 1873.

The large wheels gave these locomotives a good turn of speed, 81.8 mph being reported on one train descending Wellington Bank in Somerset.

7 feet 6 inch

Infobox Locomotive
name=B&ER 7ft 6in 4-2-4T
powertype=Steam
whytetype=4-2-4T
driversize=7 ft 6 in
leadingsize= 4 ft 0 in
trailingsize= 4 ft 0 in
wheelbase= 25 ft 1 in
or 25 ft 2½ in
cylindersize=16½in dia × 24 in stroke
or 17 in dia × 24 in stroke
gauge=7 ft 0¼ in
designer=James Pearson
builder=Bristol and Exeter Railway

* 12 (1862 - 1885) GWR No. 2005
* 29 (1859 - 1880) GWR No. 2006

These two locomotives were built as replacements for more conventional 2-2-2 express passenger locomotives 7 feet 6 inch driving wheels and were given wheels of this same size, rather than the 9 feet diameter wheels of their 4-2-4T predecessors.

No. 29 was the first locomotive built at the Bristol and Exeter Railway's new Bristol workshops in 1859. It had slightly larger 17 inch diameter cylinders and a 25 feet 2½ inch wheelbase. When withdrawn in 1885 it was the end of Pearson's 4-2-4Ts.

No. 12 followed in 1862 and returned to 16½ inch cylinders and had a slightly shorter 25 feet 1 inch wheelbase.

8 feet 10 inch

Infobox Locomotive
name=| B&ER 8ft 10in 4-2-4T
powertype=Steam
whytetype=4-2-4T
driversize= 8 ft 10 in
leadingsize= 4 ft 0 in
trailingsize= 4 ft 0 in
wheelbase= 25 ft 6 in
cylindersize= 18 in dia × 24 in stroke
gauge=7 ft 0¼ in
designer=James Pearson
builder=Bristol and Exeter Railway

* 39 (1868 - 1876) GWR No. 2001
* 40 (1873 - 1877) GWR No. 2002
* 41 (1868 - 1877) GWR No. 2003
* 42 (1868 - 1877) GWR No. 2004

Four of the 9 feet locomotives were replaced by these "renewals", built in the Bristol and Exeter Railway workshops at Bristol. A pair of their new 8 feet 10 inch diameter driving wheels can be seen at Swindon Steam Railway Museum.

No. 39, recently renumbered as GWR 2001, derailed at Long Ashton near Bristol on 27 July 1876 and was withdrawn from service. While the poor condition of the track was a contributing factor, it was decided to rebuild the remaining three express 4-2-4Ts to more conventional 4-2-2 tender locomotives.

References

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