BR standard class 3 tank

Infobox Locomotive
powertype=Steam
name = BR standard class 3 2-6-2T


caption =
designer = R. A. Riddles
builder = British Railways
builddate = 1952
totalproduction = 45
whytetype = 2-6-2T
gauge = 4' 8½"
leadingsize =
driversize = 5' 3"
length =
weight = 73 tons 10 cwt
fueltype = coal
fuelc

waterc

cylindercount = two outside
cylindersize = 17½" x 26"
firearea =
boilerpressure = 200 psi
tractiveeffort = 21,490 lbf
railroadclass= 3MT|

The British Railways Standard Class 3 2-6-2T was a class of steam locomotive. 45 engines were built and numbered 82000-44. It was essentially a hybrid engine, the chassis being closely based on and sharing a significant number of parts with the LMS Ivatt Class 4, and having a boiler derived from a GWR "Nº2" boiler (the barrel was shortened by 5 13/16 inches and a dome added) as fitted to the GWR Large Prairie and 56XX 0-6-2 tank engine. The design work was done at the ex-GWR works at Swindon and it was there that they were built with the 2-6-0 tender engine version of the class.

Although a BR standard they didn't share the same design of wheels with the Doncaster designed 76XXX Class 4 engines which also had 5'3" driving wheels.

ervice

They were based in the Western Region, though some found their way onto the Southern Region. The class had a short life as most of the work that they had been built for soon disappeared with the branch lines and the introduction of DMU services on shorter routes.

The last two Class 3 tanks in service were nos. 82019 and 82029 at Nine Elms but four more survived until after the end of steam. Nos. 82000, 82003, 82031 and 82034 were transferred from North Wales at the end of 1966 to Patricroft shed in Manchester for use on local suburban trains. However, they were not required, and lingered there until the shed's closure in 1968. One of these had run very few miles since its final overhaul, and enquiries were made about saving it, but the price being asked (£1500 - a lot of money in 1968) was too high and they went for scrap at Cashmore's in Newport, South Wales, being broken up as late as October 1968.

Preservation/Reproduction

Despite their potential usefulness none have survived into preservation. There is a group that is in the process of changing that by building No. 82045, the next in line if it had been built. Some parts to construct the next member of the class are now at Bridgnorth. The chimney from BR standard class 3 2-6-0 No.77014 the tender engine version of the class as well as other parts are in store in Cheshire. The frames have also been cut and are presently at the Boro' Foundry, Lye to be drilled. These are expected to return to the Severn Valley Railway at Bridgnorth between late August and mid-September 2008. It is thought the spritely performance delivered through their 17 ½" x 26" cylinders coupled with their modest axle load would be ideal for today's heritage movement. The 16 spoke driving wheels from BR standard class 4 2-6-0 No.76080, which was broken up at Barry scrapyard in the early 80s and now stored at Eardington Halt, were to be used for the new build. The subsequent discovery that the BR standard class 3s were fitted with 17 spoke wheels of the same diameter has led to the decision that these will not be used. There is a link at the bottom of the page to the groups new website where there is more information on the project and the class.

Modelling

Tri-ang produced an 00 Gauge model of the locomotive in BR Green and BR Black.

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References

*
* The 82045 Locomotive Fund website

External links

* [http://www.railuk.co.uk/steam/getsteamclass.php?item=BR3/2 Railuk database]
* [http://www.semgonline.com/steam/std3t_01.html Southern E-group photo gallery]
* [http://www.82045.org.uk/index.html The 82045 Locomotive Fund]