Steam locomotive performance testing
| Various testing work to investigate ways of improving the
performance of steam locomotives was carried out for a number of years by
the Big Four railway companies and later by the BR Regions. Here is a selection of pictures and diagrams of testing in the
very early days of BR under the auspices of the British Transport Commission.
There were two static locomotive test plants (at Rugby and Swindon) where locos could be put through their paces on a 'rolling road' rig. A memory from the 12 year old Rob Blair who visited the plant in 1953:- "It was whilst staying with a mate in
Rugby I got the chance to see round the test centre. His friend Ken was
sent to work there for a time from Swindon. Diesel loco's were on the horizon
and known by Ken as "Stink Wagons".
The performance assessment and test work involved monitoring steam engine performance on the rigs and out on the road using the Mobile Test Plant. Various routes were utilised including the Settle - Carlisle line and the Western Region main line. The reports, known as 'Bulletins' were very comprehensive even detailing the type of coal and the colour of the burnt ash The following is a taste of the work undertaken on steam locos old and new as well as work on some of the early diesel locomotives. Some pages include a great deal of detail of the tests undertaken, others not so much. |
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Click the link for information and pictures
| Bulletin No | Date | Loco type | Wheel arrangement | Comments |
| 1 | May 1951 | WR Hall | 4-6-0 | |
| 2 | August 1951 | ER B1 | 4-6-0 | |
| 3 | October 1951 | LM Class 4 | 2-6-0 | |
| 4 | January 1952 | BR Standard Class 4 | 2-6-0 | |
| 5 | April 1952 | BR Standard Class 7 | 4-6-2 | Britannia class |
| 6 | May 1953 | BR Standard Class 5 | 4-6-0 | |
| 7 | August 1953 | WD Austerity Freight locos | 2-8-0 and 2-10-0 | |
| 8 | March 1953 | ER V2 | 2-6-2 | |
| 9 | November 1952 | SR (Type 3) 1750 HP | 1 Co-Co 1 | 10202 |
| 11 | April 1959 | EE Type 1 1000HP diesel | Bo-Bo | Class 20 |
| 12 | March 1960 | BTH Paxman Type 1 800HP diesel | Bo-Bo | Class 15 |
| 13 | July 1959 | BR Standard Class 9F | 2-10-0 | |
| 14 | 1960? | Brush Type 2 1250 HP diesel | A1A-A1A | Class 31 |
| 20 | 1958 | SR Merchant Navy |
4-6-2 |
Re-built |
Undocumented tests
Here are a couple of similar early steam performance testing for which I have no record
|
1949 |
LMS Black 5 |
4-6-0 |
|
1955 |
BR Standard 9F fitted with Crosti Boiler |
2-10-0 |
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More information about steam testing on BR in the 1940's and 50's can be found in Alan Rimmer's excellent book entitled 'Testing Times at Derby'. (Oakwood Press ISBN 0-85361-628-0). |