Contents

Barry Railway Class C

Barry Railway Class C
Barry Railway Class C 2-4-0T
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer J. H. Hosgood Builder Sharp Stewart Build date 1889–1890 Total produced 4
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-4-0T altered to 2-4-2T  • UIC 1B n2t altered to 1B1 n2t Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Driver dia. 5 ft 3 in (1.600 m) Trailing dia. 3 ft 6 in (1.067 m) Wheelbase 15 ft 3 in (4.648 m) Loco weight 41 long tons 2 cwt (92,100 lb or 41.8 t) (46.0 short tons) Fuel type Coal Boiler pressure 150 psi (1.03 MPa) Cylinders Two inside Cylinder size 17 in × 24 in (432 mm × 610 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 14,040 lbf (62.45 kN)
Career Operators BR → GWR Delivered 1889–1890 Withdrawn 1898–1928 Disposition All scrapped

Barry Railway Class C were originally 2-4-0T steam locomotives of the Barry RailwayinSouth Wales. They were designed by J. H. Hosgood and built by Sharp Stewart.

The locomotive was the first purpose built passenger locomotive built for the company. They pulled passenger trains between Barry and Cogan on the Cardiff branch. However, on 14 August 1893, the Barry Railway began running trains from Barry to Cardiff Riverside station (GWR) having obtained running powers over the Taff Vale from Cogan Junction to Penarth Junction and over the GWR into Cardiff Riverside, a station adjacent to the GWR's main station of Cardiff General. ^[1]

On the first day of service, Class C no. 21 was given the honour of pulling the first train of the new Barry to Cardiff service. It unfortunately disgraced itself by derailing on the sharp curve of Cogan Junction where the Barry joined the Taff Vale Railway. Subsequently, traffic was held up for several hours on both railways. ^[1]

The Class C operated the Barry–Cardiff service, along with the Class G, until the arrival of the Class J in 1897. Its limited fuel and water capacity rendered the Class C inadequate for the longer commuter journey. Therefore, in June 1898, Nos 21 and 22 were taken to Barry Locomotive Works and their wheel arrangement changed from 2-4-0Tto2-4-2T. ^[2]

They made a limited return to the Cardiff service but ended up being assigned to other duties. For example, No. 21 was given the task of hauling the Directors' saloon, Engineer's saloon and the Manager's Truck. In contrast, No. 22 usually worked colliers' trains on the main line and light passenger trains on the Vale of Glamorgan line. In 1904, the Manager's Truck was converted into the Pay Clerk's Van. Early experiments as a self-propelled petrol engine van failed miserably with numerous breakdowns causing disruption to the scheduled traffic. As a result, No. 21 was reassigned the task of hauling the Van in its new guise.^[3] In 1914, the Barry Railway's two steam railmotors were converted into semi-corridor coaches and became known as the "vestibule set". They were hauled by either Nos. 21 and 22 and the train was used on the Barry to Bridgend service. ^[4]

Unusually for the Barry, two of the Class C were disposed of during Barry days. These were Nos. 37 and 52 which were both withdrawn and disposed of in 1898. 37 remained as a 2-4-0T and 52 was converted to a 2-4-2T just before its sale.

The two remaining locomotives passed to the Great Western Railway in 1922. No. 21 was withdrawn in 1926 and No. 22 in 1928. None has been preserved.

• Ahrons, E. L. (1953). Locomotive and Train Working in the Latter Part of the Nineteenth Century. W. Heffer & Sons Ltd. pp. 114–115.
• Barrie, D. S. M. (1983). The Barry Railway (reprint with addenda and amendments). Oakwood Press. pp. 200–201. ISBN 0853612366.
• Chapman, Colin (1998). The Vale of Glamorgan Railway. The Oakwood Press. p. 103. ISBN 0-85361-523-3.
• Davies, F. K.; Firth, J. M.; Lucking, J. H.; Thomas, R. E.; Allcock, N. J.; Sterndale, A. C.; Barrie, D. S. M.; Reed, P. J. T.; Mountford, E. R. (April 1966). White, D. E. (ed.). The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, part ten: Absorbed Engines, 1922–1947. RCTS. pp. K34–K34. ISBN 0-901115-20-7.
• Miller, Brian J. (1984). Rails to Prosperity – The Barry & After 1884–1984. Regional Publications (Bristol) Ltd. p. 11. ISBN 0906570174.
• Mountford, Eric R. (1987). The Barry Railway – Diagrams and Photographs of Locomotives, Coaches and Wagons. Headington: Oakwood Press. p. 11. ISBN 0853613559.
• Russell, J. H. (1978). Great Western Absorbed Engines. Oxford Publishing Company. pp. 42–43. ISBN 0902888749.