Bulletin No:1

The Bulletin concerned the 'performance and efficiency testing' of a Western Region 'Hall' Class 2-cylinder 4-6-0 Mixed Traffic Locomotive number 7916 'Mobberley Hall'.  This loco had been built by BR in 1950 and had run only 22,000 miles.

The tests were undertaken to establish the following:

bulletThe price in terms of coal and water of hauling different train loads and different speeds over given routes
bulletAn indication of the level of efficiency of the locomotive
bulletMeans of comparing one locomotive with another on a common basis

Testing was undertaken on the static test plant at Swindon and on the line between Wantage Road and Stoke Gifford, a distance of approx 50 miles. The amount of coal and water used was carefully monitored, the tender being divided in two such that weighed bags of coal for the test were carried on one side and ordinary loose coal for transit and shunting moves on the other.

Here are a few pictures of the tests and a summary graph.

Pictures are credited where known

No:7916 is put through its paces on the static test plant at Swindon. Note the original GWR dynamometer car in the background.

BR Official
No:7916 about to leave Wantage Road on its test run with 550 tons behind the loco. Note the original GWR dynamometer car behind the loco and the indicator shelter built on the buffer beam.

BR Official
The BR loco diagram for the Hall class
One of the many test results shows the maximum speed and HP of the loco amongst other things  - note the  maximum power of only approx. 700HP

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