The LNER Encyclopedia

Slightly unusual one this - so all info gratefully received!?!

A picture exists of WD199 at Springhead coaling stage during WW2 (Picture was taken by then shedmaster a Mr Gregory). The loco is actually a GWR engine fitted with condensing gear. Loco is an 0-6-0T but it has a tender attached. The loco is in steam. Also the Railway Observer for Feb 1943 reports that on 8/1/1943 WD199 fitted with condensing gear passed southbound on GN main line through Welyn Garden City.

Graham

During WW1 a couple of N1s were requisitioned by the war department for hauling armoured trains one in Norfolk and the other for use on the Berwickshire and Fife coast. At the same time a couple of NER 0-6-0Ts were requisitioned as well, they were fitted with condensing gear to enable water to be returned to thier side tanks. They were also fitted with water pumps and drain cocks so if the water got too hot they could drain it off and refill from any convenient water supply. I dont know if the NER locos had a tender fitted but the N1s definitely did.

The GWR loco may have been involved in a similar scheme.

EDIT; i got the class wrong in my original text i put N2 instead of N1.

Thanks for that at least I have an idea why it had a tender fitted but I am still wondering why it would have been at Springhead and what it was doing there, does anyone know where I might find more information on WD locos??

The other possibility i have just thought of, I wonder if the loco was used on lightly laid track such as at Spurn Point.
The LNER used tank locos with empty tanks and fitted with tenders on the Lauder light Railway to reduce the axle loading.

The other possibility i have just thought of, I wonder if the loco was used on lightly laid track such as at Spurn Point.

I would have thought that an N1 would have been too heavy for Spurn, small industrial 0-6-0s & 0-4-0s were the norm (including LNER Y8).

However, it could have been used on the Derwent Valley, there was quite a lot of wartime activity on that line. Even so, why it should have reached Springhead is not clear.

If it was used on the DVLR that would be a reason for it possabily being at Sprighead especially as the DVLR had exchange sidings with the Hull - York line.

YNMR wrote:Slightly unusual one this - so all info gratefully received!?!

A picture exists of WD199 at Springhead coaling stage during WW2 (Picture was taken by then shedmaster a Mr Gregory). The loco is actually a GWR engine fitted with condensing gear. Loco is an 0-6-0T but it has a tender attached. The loco is in steam. Also the Railway Observer for Feb 1943 reports that on 8/1/1943 WD199 fitted with condensing gear passed southbound on GN main line through Welyn Garden City.

I put this question on to the GWR elist and this was the reply:-

According to a list published in Locomotives Illustrated No 55, WD199 was infact an ex GWR Dean Goods 2517. The same journal shows WD179 ex Dean goods 2466, again fitted with Pannier Tanks, shunting at a southern port soon after D Day. Finally the last illustration show is of WD70195 (exWD195) Ex GWR 2531 at Longmoor in September 1949. The caption reads ' It had served in France with the ROD and was fitted with pannier tanks for WD service in World War 2'. I hope this may answer the question.

F Roberts

The RCTS GWR Locomotive books give a bit more on WD199.

As Bill said it was Dean Goods 0-6-0 no 2517, sold to the WD in 1940 (with 107 others), given pannier tanks (only 1o locos got them) and was reported in Lincolnshire in 1940 hauling a rail mounted gun.

By the end of 1943 it was at Canterbury West doing the same thing. After repair at Longmoor in mid-1944, it disappeared until seen at Cairnryan (in Scotland), derelict, in April 1947. It had gone by August 1947, presumed scrapped.

There are official photos of them with pannier tanks and they look a bit wierd, to say the least!

That explains panniers and condensing gear. Very similar to the WW1 conversion idea is there any indication of a water pump and tank drain cocks?. The photograph in Hooles Illustrated History of NER Locomotives clearly shows the items fitted to two NER 0-6-0Ts.