ROD 2-8-0s on the GWR

[kudu]

Does anyone know where I can find basic details of the Robinson 2-8-0s owned by or loaned to the Great Western? I understand 20 were purchased in 1919 and another 80 in 1925. In addition 84 were loaned in 1919-22, some of which may have been among the 80 subsequently bought.

By "basic details" I mean building dates, builders, loan/purchase dates, withdrawal dates of GWR-owned locos. (For dates years would be sufficient.) I am disappointed that such info is not included in the RCTS series, which I would have at least have expected to cover the GWR-owned locos.

Thanks for any help. This would help me complete my data bases of loco stock at the Grouping and at Nationalisation.

Kudu

[65447]

The RCTS series does not cover them in detail because they were built by contractors for the Government for the use of the Railway Operating Department, not by or for the GCR. Part 6B gives block details of their construction and the quantities that subsequently went to different companies including the GWR but not their actual running numbers. It states that those that went to the GWR and LNWR received running numbers in those companies series rather than retaining their ROD numbers, so most likely sources for the non-LNER locomotives are the individual company locomotive histories. Records are further complicated by being hired to 9 different companies, most then purchased at various times up until 1928, a few going abroad and some not sold by the government's agents but broken up as (I) a costing exercise and (2) for spares. And then there was the 1940-43 loan to the GWR...

This is possibly the most challenging data collection exercise you will face.

Have you approached the GWR types?

[Pyewipe Junction]

Hugh Longworth's book lists details of the builders and year of build of 3000-3049.

3020-3049 were the best of the eighty further locos that the GWR had bought in 1919- 1922, including some that had previously been hired. The remainder were used until they were no longer serviceable, then scrapped.

Robinson Locomotives contains similar, but not as extensive, information.

[Kestrel]

Are these any help Kudu?

http://www.railuk.info/steam/getsteamclass.php?item=ROD
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GWR_3000_Class
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ROD_2-8-0
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GCR_Class_8K

[1H was 2E]

Much of this was covered in the recent thread 'Robinson 8K 2-8-0 (R.O.D)', including my suggestion towards the comprehensive Routledge book.

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

Haresnape's book on Robinson Locomotives also lists the numbers and is easy enough to get hold of. It also details those that went to Australia and China.

[kudu]

Thanks for all your responses, guys.

This is embarassing but I think all the info I need is in the RCTS series after all (I was referring to the GWR volumes). I can't understand how I missed it, having ploughed through all the other pages in this volume. I was working on several parts at once, and somehow I overlooked the vital pages. It was only when I took up 1H was 2E's reference to the other thread that I stumbled across my error, so special thanks to you. And my faith in the RCTS is now restored.

What the responses have reminded me is that other companies also used the 8Ks and I still need a few building dates and builders for these, so I need to do some more searching.

Thanks once again.

Kudu

[Kestrel]

Kudu. If you trawl through that 'railuk' link I sent you, it tells you details of each loco, where it was built, where it went etc.

[65447]

If it's of any related interest the RCTS did publish a booklet - Railway Observer Supplement No. 5 - in 1946 which detailed the WW2 history of the four WD/Austerity classes of locomotive, being the Stanier 2-8-0s, the British Austerity 2-8-0s and 2-10-0s, and the second tour of duty of the Robinson 2-8-0s. Clearly with a publication date of 1946 it did not give the subsequent history of each member of these classes but the actual wartime allocations might be of interest to some.

[neilgow]

A piece of useless information if anyone is interested, the regulator stuffing box and regulator handle on GWR 0-6-2T 5637 used to belong to a GWR ROD 2-8-0.

NG.

[Rlangham]

Another potentially useless bit of ROD 2-8-0 information is that in 1919, thirty-three of them were hired by the NER from the Ministry of Transport. Seven came straight from the manufacturers, eight came from storage having had no use at all, and the rest came from storage and had been used in France

[52D]

Another potentially useless bit of ROD 2-8-0 information is that in 1919, thirty-three of them were hired by the NER from the Ministry of Transport. Seven came straight from the manufacturers, eight came from storage having had no use at all, and the rest came from storage and had been used in France

Any idea where they were shedded Rob?

[1H was 2E]

Another potentially useless bit of ROD 2-8-0 information is that in 1919, thirty-three of them were hired by the NER from the Ministry of Transport. Seven came straight from the manufacturers, eight came from storage having had no use at all, and the rest came from storage and had been used in France

Any idea where they were shedded Rob?

It's a bit rude to answer a question addressed to someone else, I know; but Rowledge gives 1729-32 at York, remainder at Dairycoates. Rowledge also makes the point that the NER, along with the CR and GCR, were the only railways that could use these locos on other than unfitted trains.
They were returned to the government in August 1921; Rowledge does not regard the fact that Government control of the railways ended on 15th August 1921 and many railways returned their locos very soon afterwards as a coincidence.
In the book, there's a murky shot of ROD 1748, when on loan, on shed with an old NER loco in the background.

[Rlangham]

Not at all, I was going to reply saying I didn't know, so many thanks for increasing my knowledge!

[52D]

Not at all, I was going to reply saying I didn't know, so many thanks for increasing my knowledge!

Glad we both learnt something Rob & thanks 1H was 2E.