The LCDR Echo class was a class of five steam locomotives, initially of the 4-2-0 wheel arrangement. They were designed by Thomas Russell Crampton for the London, Chatham and Dover Railway (LCDR) as "1st class fast passenger" locomotives.
During 1859–60 the LCDR board considered the need for new locomotives to operate lines then under construction. After consultation with various engineers, including Charles Patrick Stewart (of Sharp, Stewart and Company), Robert Sinclair (of the Eastern Counties Railway) and Crampton, they decided upon forty new locomotives: eight 1st class fast locomotives, seventeen general purpose passenger locomotives, and fifteen goods locomotives. After discussion with William Martley, the quantities needed for the two passenger types were revised to five and 24 respectively. Tenders were sought, and these were considered in July 1860, when orders were placed with several firms for what were to become the Echo, Tiger and Acis classes.[1]
The Echo class were ordered from the firm of Robert Stephenson & Co. at a price of £3,400 each.[2] As with the Tiger and Acis classes, the locomotives were equipped with the Cudworth coal-burning firebox.[3] They were delivered to the LCDR between March and May 1862.[4] During 1863–64, the locomotives were rebuilt to the 4-4-0 wheel arrangement.[5]
Like other LCDR locomotives delivered prior to 1874, the locomotives had no numbers at first, being distinguished by name.[6] In November 1875, William Kirtley (who had replaced Martley following the latter's death in 1874) allotted the class letter K.[7] The locomotives were then given the numbers 27–31. One was withdrawn in 1896, but four lasted long enough to enter South Eastern and Chatham Railway (SECR) stock when the SECR was formed at the start of 1899. Their numbers were to be increased by 459 to avoid duplication with former South Eastern Railway locomotives, but before this was done, one more had been withdrawn. Accordingly, three became SECR nos. 487, 488 and 490, but soon after, the numbers of the first two were needed for new construction, so they were transferred to the duplicate list and had their SECR numbers suffixed with the letter A. The last one was withdrawn in August 1906.[4]
| Name | Works no. | Built | Rebuilt | LCDR Number | SECR Number | Withdrawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coquette | 1381 | April 1862 | October 1863 | 28 | 487; 487A from August 1902 | August 1906 |
| Echo | 1382 | March 1862 | May 1863 | 27 | (486) | July 1901 |
| Flora | 1383 | April 1862 | December 1863 | 29 | 488; 488A from September 1902 | July 1903 |
| Flirt | 1384 | May 1862 | January 1864 | 30 | – | November 1896 |
| Sylph | 1385 | May 1862 | February 1864 | 31 | 490 | October 1902 |
Notes
edit- ^ Bradley 1979, p. 33.
- ^ Bradley 1979, pp. 33, 38.
- ^ Bradley 1979, pp. 34, 38, 42.
- ^ a b Bradley 1979, p. 40.
- ^ Bradley 1979, p. 39.
- ^ Dendy Marshall & Kidner 1963, p. 349.
- ^ Bradley 1979, pp. 8, 14.
References
edit- Bradley, D.L. (March 1979) [1960]. The Locomotive History of the London, Chatham & Dover Railway (2nd ed.). London: RCTS. ISBN 0-901115-47-9. OCLC 59838998.
- Dendy Marshall, C.F.; Kidner, R.W. (1963) [1937]. History of the Southern Railway (2nd ed.). Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0059-X.
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