Changes to details and modifications happened throughout
the class' lifetime. Some of the most pertinent points have been summarised
by SEmG member Tony Harker:
- Stovepipe chimneys were fitted to 812 in 1921 and to 817
& 819 when built. 818 received the stovepipe chimney from 819 sometime
before 1923. Later, about 1926/7, they were replaced by parallel
types.
- Immediately after the Grouping all locos were painted
sage green, (Urie LSWR Green) repainted into (Maunsell) olive after
1931.
- During 1939, 1413 & 1850 were painted Olive green
with no lining. Others were painted black but only when necessary, i.e. after a
major overhaul, etc.
- Between 1939 and 1941 1821/25/47/78 & 1403 were
painted Maunsell Green with Bulleid gilt lettering unlined. Two engines
received Malachite green in 1946, 1817 & 1854. Lining was yellow edged in
black with "Sunshine" style lettering, not gilt.
- All Ns were painted black by the end of the war. It is
not known if Bulleid or Maunsell style lettering was applied in general to
wartime liveried Ns, but 1831 carried Bullied style (this loco was converted to
oil burning during 1947 and converted back in 1948).
- When built all engines had smokebox mounted snifting
valves. These were removed during the war or just after.
- Engines built before 1930 had piston tail rods - these
were removed in 1933 when front steps were fitted. Engines built by the SR,
i.e. 1400 and later, had front steps from new.
- Some locos ran with tail rods and front steps for a while, e.g. 1824.
- In 1933, experimental Marshall valve gear and motion was
fitted to 1850. It was found to be unsuccessful and removed in April 1934 after
the loco failed.
- Two types of smoke deflector were fitted to the class in
1933, some had a vertical handrail with a round handhole, but most had a
horizontal handrail with a rectangular handhole.
- In 1930/31 A816 was extensively modified with a steam
condensing apparatus for trial. This trial lasted until mid 1935 when it was
rebuilt into "normal" N at Eastleigh so it will have been re-painted
in dark olive. It's chimney was replaced by a U1 type.
- From 1955 until 1961, 29 engines were re-cylindered. In
some cases the frames were replaced but others only had the front end renewed.
Outside steampipes were fitted for the new cylinders. Some engines, e.g. 31848,
ran for a while with the smoke deflectors removed. From 1957 some locos
received BR Class 4 chimneys, e.g. 31412 which had a new chimney (but not new
cylinders).
- Steam Heating hoses were removed during the Summer and
were sent to Eastleigh for testing! Was this general for all SR locos?
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