LBSCR A1 / A1x class 0-6-0T
| When Stroudley came to office for the LBSCR in the
beginning of 1870, he found a situation where there was very little in the way
of standardisation among the loco stock of the LBSCR. He perceived the need for
a small range of standard locos and in the following 15 years produced such a
range, some 8 or so standard loco classes. The class A, 'Terriers',
were the smallest in the range, and were intended to be used for lightweight,
block trains, particularly in the London area, where the trackwork was of light
construction, with poor foundation. The first batch of Terriers was started in
1872, and the building programme lasted until 1880.
The 'Terrier' was so successful that more were built than were actually needed for the London area so their migration to the country parts of the LBSCR started. As time passed the trackwork in the London area became much improved, and the suburban traffic became much easier. Soon more powerful locos were needed for these trains and the dispersal of the 'Terriers' was made to most outlying sheds in the LBSCR, as most of them had locals services of the kind that suited the diminutive 'Terrier' well. |
| This is most certainly the oldest photo of a Terrier that
we have on our web site: A1 class Nº59 Cheam at Shoreditch in 1900.
This is also a very interesting location as the LBSCR ran a service through the
Thames Tunnel on the East London line from New Cross to Liverpool Street until
1914 for which Stroudley designed his A1 class. You can just make out one of
the condensing pipes that ran from the smokebox to the side tanks. Cheam
was renumbered 659 in June 1901 and rebuilt as class A1x in December 1921.
photograph reproduced by arrangement with Honeywood Heritage Centre, Carshalton, courtesy of Tony Price |
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The previous number was allocated to Wandle, seen here as number
658 on an unknown date between June 1901 and March 1902. Unlike so many of this
class Wandle had a relatively short life, being withdrawn in March 1902,
just nine months after she was renumbered.
photograph reproduced by arrangement with Honeywood Heritage Centre, Carshalton, courtesy of Tony Price |
| On 6 August 1956, the Brighton Works shunter (DS377) made its
way as a light engine working from Brighton to Purley at which point it was
attached to a 3 coach "birdcage" set and adorned with a somewhat
defacing headboard all of which heralded the short existence of the train run
to mark the centenary of The Caterham Railway Company.
What would today's "Nanny State" make of this? photograph by Mike Morant |
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And here she is again, outside Brighton Works. Originally LBSCR
Nº35 Morden she was renumbered 377S in 1946 and repainted in
Stroudley livery during 1947. BR(S) continued the Stroudley livery and added
the words "Brighton Works". Subsequently returned to capital stock
and renumbered as 32635 in 1959, she still carried the Stroudley livery.
photograph: Mike Morant collection |
| See also the article on Two Unusual South Eastern Tank Engines in the Railway Magazine Archives. |
All photographs are copyright
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This page was last updated 22 March 2004
