SEG

SECR D1 Class 4-4-0

Maunsell was confronted with what had become his perennial problems: increased train capacity combined with the need for a light axle loading. He had already achieved those ends with his brilliant E1 class rebuilds of Wainwright's E class and he wisely followed a similar path to success by applying the same principles to some of his predecessor's D class 4-4-0s. These D1 locomotives were, to all intents and purposes, the same as the E1 class.
 
1494

Photograph: Mike Morant collection

D1 class Nº1494 in barely discernible Southern Railway livery at what appears to be Ashford shed.
 
Ashford was blessed with a great design team but didn't have the works capacity to facilitate the rebuilding in situ and so the drawings and ten locomotives were dispatched to the works of Beyer Peacock during the course of 1921. The resultant rebuilds proved to be just as effective and economical as the E1 class and provided sterling service on the railways of southern England for the next forty years.
 
1509 In this mid-30s shot, Nº1509 enters Faversham station. The picture oozes period atmosphere with all the visible rolling stock from the pre-grouping era and a pall of smoke over the engine shed.

photograph: Mike Morant collection
 
Two more of the D class were rebuilt during the following year but the work was undertaken in-house at Ashford. It says a great deal about their success that a further nine examples, also rebuilt at Ashford, followed in their forebears' footsteps some five years later in 1927. The table below lists the relevant rebuilding dates for all members of the class.
 
On 19th May 1957 Nº31545 worked the SLS London, Chatham & Dover Rail Tour, here seen with a good head of steam ready to leave Victoria

photograph: Mike Morant collection

 31545
 
31545 A short while later Nº31545 was photographed on the down line near Bickley.

photograph: Mike Morant collection
 
The same train, now travelling on the up line through Shortlands station.

photograph: Mike Morant collection

 31545
 
31735 Nº31735 photographed on a bright and sunny day though the date and location are not known, though it may have been at Tonbridge.

photograph: Mike Morant collection
 
Towards the end of the D1s' life, many gravitated away from home metals and performed lesser duties on the metals of the former LSWR system with occasional forays on to the LBSCR.
 
Now Nº31735 is depicted on shed at Eastleigh on 30th July 1960 and almost at the end of her active life.

photograph: Mike Morant collection

 31735
 
31743 In contrast to the above photo of Nº31735, Nº31743 is decidedly grubby and merges with its equally grubby backdrop.

photograph: Mike Morant collection
 

Technical Details

  • Introduced: 1921
  • Driving Wheel: 6 ft 8 ins
  • Bogie Wheel: 3 ft 7 ins
  • Length: 54 ft 117/8 ins ????
  • Total Weight: 91 tons 4 cwt
  • Water Capacity: 3,300 gals
  • Cylinders (2): 19 in x 26 in
  • Boiler Pressure: 180 lb sq in
  • Tractive Effort: 17,950 lb
  • Coal Capacity: 4 ton 10 cwt
  • Power Classification: 3-P
SECR Nº SR Nº # BR Nº Rebuilt from Class D Rebuilt by Withdrawn
145 1145 31145 1922 Ashford Oct 1961
246 1246 31246 1921 Beyer, Peacock & Co. Mar 1961
247 1247 31247 1921 Beyer, Peacock & Co. Jul 1961
470 1470 31470 1926 Ashford Jun 1959
487 1487 31487 1921 Beyer, Peacock & Co. Feb 1961
489 1489 31489 1921 Beyer, Peacock & Co. Nov 1961
492 1492 31492 1927 Ashford Jan 1960
494 1494 31494 1921 Beyer, Peacock & Co. Aug 1960
502 1502 31502 1921 Beyer, Peacock & Co. Feb 1951
505 1505 31505 1927 Ashford Sep 1961
509 1509 31509 1927 Ashford May 1960
545 1545 31545 1921 Beyer, Peacock & Co. Mar 1961
727 1727 31727 1922 Ashford Mar 1961
735 1735 31735 1921 Beyer, Peacock & Co. Apr 1961
736 1736 31736 1927 Ashford Dec 1950
739 1739 31739 1927 Ashford Nov 1961
741 1741 31741 1927 Ashford Sep 1959
743 1743 31743 1927 Ashford Feb 1960
745 1745 31745 1927 Ashford Feb 1951
747 1747 - 1921 Beyer, Peacock & Co. Oct 1944
749 1749 31749 1921 Beyer, Peacock & Co. Nov 1961
# Between 1923 and 1928 SR numbers were the SECR numbers with the added prefix 'A'
although the new number may not have been applied until some time later.

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This page was last updated 18 September 2011

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