LNWR Dock Tank

The LNWR 317 class, (also known as Saddle Tank Shunter, Dock Tank or Bissel Tank) consisted of a class of 20 square saddle-tanked steam locomotives built by the London and North Western Railway at their Crewe Works between 1896 and 1901. They had a very short coupled wheelbase, with a trailing Bissel truck to carry weight.

LNWR 317 class 4′ 3″ Saddle Tank Shunter
Locomotive 317, Crewe Works No.3464
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Crewe Works Serial number 3741, 3946, 3977–3984, 4175–4184 Build date 1896–1901 Total produced 20
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-4-2ST  • UIC B1′ n2t Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Driver dia. 4 ft 3 in (1.295 m) + 2+1⁄2-inch (64 mm) tyres Trailing dia. 2 ft 6 in (0.762 m) Wheelbase Coupled: 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m) Loco: 15 ft 6 in (4.72 m) Loco weight 34 long tons 17 cwt (78,100 lb or 35.4 t) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 1.5 long tons (1.5 t) Water cap. 620 imp gal (2,800 L; 740 US gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 15 sq ft (1.4 m2) Boiler pressure 150 lbf/in2 (1.03 MPa) Heating surface 967 sq ft (89.8 m2) Cylinders Two, inside Cylinder size 17 in × 24 in (432 mm × 610 mm)
Career Operators London and North Western Railway London, Midland and Scottish Railway British Railways Power class LMS: 1P, later 0F Number in class 1 January 1923: 20 1 January 1948: 2 Nicknames Bissel tanks Locale London Midland Region Withdrawn 1927–1938, 1953, 1956 Disposition All scrapped

History

They were built in three batches of 1, 9 and 10; their first running number was chosen at random from the numbers left vacant by locomotives that had been transferred to the duplicate list. This fate was almost immediately suffered by the 317 class – after only one or two months in service.

All passed to the London, Midland and Scottish Railway in 1923, who initially allocated them the numbers 6400–6419 in the passenger tank sequence. Only five (6402/03/07/14/18) had been renumbered before the numbers were changed to 7850–7869 in 1927, thus moving them into the goods and shunting tanks. The LMS changed their power classification from 1P to 0F at the same time.

Two, 7862 and 7865, survived to enter British Railways service in 1948; 7865 was withdrawn in November 1953, and 7862 three years later. None were preserved.

Bissel tank 7862 at Crewe Works in May 1948. It didn't receive its BR number until March 1949, and lasted until November 1956, by which time it was the last of its class.

Fleet

Table of locomotives

First LNWR No.	Crewe Works no.	Build date	Duplicate LNWR No.	Date duplicated	1st LMS No.	2nd LMS No.	Date withdrawn	Notes
317	3741	Nov 1896	3464	Oct 1899	6400	7850	Nov 1930
19	3976	Nov 1899	3465	Dec 1899	6401	7851	Nov 1932
22	3977	Nov 1899	3466	Dec 1899	6402	7852	Nov 1927
25	3978	Nov 1899	3467	Dec 1899	6403	7853	Aug 1932
26	3979	Nov 1899	3468	Dec 1899	6404	7854	Dec 1930
38	3980	Nov 1899	3469	Dec 1899	6405	7855	Jul 1936
39	3981	Nov 1899	3470	Dec 1899	6406	7856	Dec 1929
47	3982	Nov 1899	3471	Dec 1899	6407	7857	Nov 1929
49	3983	Nov 1899	3472	Dec 1899	6408	7858	Dec 1936
51	3984	Nov 1899	3473	Dec 1899	6409	7859	Jun 1938
813	4175	Oct 1901	3524	Dec 1901	6410	7860	Dec 1929
815	4176	Oct 1901	3525	Dec 1901	6411	7861	Dec 1932
823	4177	Nov 1901	3526	Dec 1901	6412	7862	Nov 1956
826	4178	Nov 1901	3527	Dec 1901	6413	7863	Nov 1931
843	4179	Nov 1901	3528	Dec 1901	6414	7864	Nov 1929
859	4180	Nov 1901	3529	Jan 1902	6415	7865	Nov 1953
898	4181	Nov 1901	3530	Jan 1902	6416	7866	Oct 1931
899	4182	Nov 1901	3531	Jan 1902	6417	7867	Jun 1932
904	4183	Nov 1901	3532	Jan 1902	6418	7868	Nov 1929
905	4184	Nov 1901	3533	Jan 1902	6419	7869	Nov 1932

References

• Baxter, Bertram (1979). Baxter, David (ed.). British Locomotive Catalogue 1825–1923, Volume 2B: London and North Western Railway and its constituent companies. Ashbourne, Derbyshire: Moorland Publishing Company. p. 214. ISBN 0-903485-84-2.
• Casserley, H. C. & Johnston, Stuart W. (1974) [1966]. Locomotives at the Grouping 3: London, Midland and Scottish Railway. Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allan. p. 71. ISBN 0-7110-0554-0.

External links

• http://www.lnwrs.org.uk/GoodsLocos/Loco08.php Archived 28 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine