Adams B4 dock tank class 0-4-0T

The B4 Dock Tanks introduced by Adams at the end of his superintendency in 1891 were initially required by the expansion of traffic in the many small yards of the LSWR, particularly around the Plymouth area. Prior to the use of the B4 tanks, some of these yards had even been using horses for their shunting needs, a situation which could not be sustained. The first order was for twenty engines to be built at Nine Elms Works, in two lots of ten, and was completed by December 1892. The twenty locomotives were spread fairly evenly around the system, and although they had a cramped and dirty footplate, with limited coal supplies, the little locos were powerful and became popular with their crews.

The LSWR gained control of the Southampton Docks in 1892 and within a year, 3 of the B4 tanks were transferred to the docks. By 1900 a further 10 had been transferred to the Southampton docks. They were all painted in a dark green livery and given names generally associated with ports on the Continent with which the LSWR had connections.

Adams B4 0-4-0 Nº87 at Southampton Docks.

Note the enclosed cab with small round spectacles that was fitted during the war years to reduce the risk of her fire drawing the attention of an enemy aircraft. The smokebox door is a little unusual and quite different from that fitted to Nº96 below, which also has toolboxes mounted on the top of the water tanks, unlike Nº87 in this view.

photograph: Mike Morant collection

In 1907, further locomotives were required by the Docks Department and Drummond built his own version of the class the following year, numbering five locomotives, with differing cab roofs, the Drummond chimney and lack of toolboxes on the tank tops being the obvious differences. These five were nominally class K14, but were grouped with the B4s. Upon delivery, also from Nine Elms, not all were needed at Southampton and three went to Eastleigh for duties.

One curious feature was the lack of any power braking on the B4s when built. Most, maybe all, were fitted with vacuum brake ejectors though the earlier emgines transferred to Southampton Docks had these ejectors removed and relied purely on the hand brake for stopping! In later years the vacuum control was restored.

Nº30096 Corrall Queen out of steam in Southampton Docks. The engine had been sold by BR to Corralls but still featured its BR number and 71A (Eastleigh) shedplate.

Note that this enclosed cab has small square spectacles rather than the round ones above. After final sale to the Bluebell Railway her cab was returned to its "cutaway" shape which gives a far better view when shunting.

photograph by Keith Harwood

All passed to Southern Railway control in 1923. The fourteen that had been retained by the Docks Department were painted dark chocolate with red lining, while the remaining 11 received the standard SR lined goods black livery. After 1938, plain black became the standard livery for all members of the class. For most of their pre-war life they were confined to LSWR metals although for a brief period two of them worked the LBSCR Deptford Wharf branch. In 1941, 2 of the class were loaned to the GWR for six months for service in Pembroke Dock, but by 1945 14 of the class were at work in the Southampton Docks.

B4 Nº96 Normandy on display at the Woking 150 event on 30 May 1988.

photograph by Colin Duff

Because the cost of heavy overhauls was considered by Bulleid to be unjustifiable, he decided to purchase redundant USA Army tank engines for Southampton duties and three B4s were scrapped in 1948 and eleven sold to outside purchasers around the country. For all these 11, their days ended by being cut up on these far-off sites by 1961.

Normandy on the turntable at Swanage on the Swanage Railway whilst on loan from the Bluebell Railway.

photograph by Tony Cane

The remaining 11 passed into BR ownership and received several general repairs. Transfers to locations into ex-SEC territory occurred, but all except 30096 and 30102 were scrapped by 1964. These two were sold, the first, Nº96 to a subsidiary of Corralls at Southampton to become Corrall Queen. From there, Nº96 was sold to the Bulleid Preservation Society in 1972 and was sent to the Bluebell Railway, where to this day it performs invaluable service. No. 102 was sold to Butlins in 1964 to be 'stuffed and mounted' at the holiday camp at Ayr, but it was rescued in 1971 and sent to Bressingham for preservation.

Normandy in the locomotive shed at Sheffield Park on 21st July 2001

photograph by Colin Duff

Technical Details

Introduced:
Driving Wheel:
Length:
Weight:
Cylinders (2):
Boiler Pressure:
Water Capacity:
Coal capacity:
Tractive Effort:
BR Power Classification:

Adams B4

1891
3 ft 10 ins
24 ft 10½ in
33 tons 9 cwt
16 in x 22 in
140 lb sq in
500 gals
1 ton
14,650 lbs
1F

Drummond K14/ B4

1908
3 ft 10 ins
24 ft 11½ in
32 tons 18 cwt
16 in x 22 in
140 lb sq in
500 gals
1 ton
14,650 lbs
1F

Locomotives listed in order of build.
LSWR/Southern# Nº	Name	Designer	Built	BR Nº	Withdrawn
85	Alderney	Adams	Oct 1891	30085	Jan 1949 *
86	Havre	Adams	Dec 1891	30086	Feb 1959
87	-	Adams	Dec 1891	30087	Dec 1958
88	-	Adams	Oct 1892	30088	Jul 1959
89	Trouville	Adams	Nov 1892	30089	Mar 1963
90	Caen	Adams	Nov 1892	30090	May 1948 *
91	-	Adams	Nov 1892	30091	Aug 1948 *
92	-	Adams	Dec 1892	30092	Apr 1949 *
93	St Malo	Adams	Dec 1892	30093	Apr 1960
94	-	Adams	Dec 1892	30094	Mar 1957
176	Guernsey	Adams	Oct 1893	30176	Jun 1949 *
81	Jersey	Adams	Nov 1893	30081	Feb 1949 *
95	Honfleur	Adams	Nov 1893	30095	Apr 1949 *
96	Normandy	Adams	Nov 1893	30096	Oct 1963 §
97	Brittany	Adams	Nov 1893	30097	Feb 1949 *
98	Cherbourg	Adams	Nov 1893	30098	Feb 1949 *
99	-	Adams	Dec 1893	30099	Feb 1949 *
100	-	Adams	Dec 1893	30100	Feb 1949 *
102	Granville	Adams	Dec 1893	30102	Sep 1963 §
103	-	Adams	Dec 1893	30103	May 1949 *
101	Dinan	Drummond	Apr 1908	30101	Nov 1948 *
147	Dinard	Drummond	Apr 1908	30147	Feb 1949 *
82	-	Drummond	Jun 1908	30082	Jun 1957
83	-	Drummond	Jun 1908	30083	Nov 1959
84	-	Drummond	Jun 1908	30084	Aug 1959
# Between 1923 and 1928 SR numbers were the LSWR numbers with the added prefix 'E', although the new number may not have been applied until some time later.
* Highly unlikely that these locos ever carried their BR number.
§ Preserved at the Bluebell Railway.
§ Preserved at Bressingham.

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This page was last updated 24 July 2007