GWR 388 class

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Armstrong Goods
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerJoseph Armstrong
BuilderGWR Swindon Works
Order numberLots 9th Goods, 10th Goods, 1st Renewals, 11th Goods, 15, 16, 17, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, 31, 35, 41, 42
Serial number79–128, 135–154, 215–144, 251–300, 321–350, 352–391, 432–461, 483–502, 623–662
Build date1866–1876
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte0-6-0
 • UICC n2
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
and 7 ft 1⁄4 in (2,140 mm)
Driver dia.5 ft 0 in (1,524 mm)
Wheelbase15 ft 8 in (4.78 m)
BoilerGWR Standard Goods[1]
Cylinder size17 in × 24 in (432 mm × 610 mm)
dia × stroke
Career
OperatorsGreat Western Railway
Class388 Class

The GWR 388 class was a large class of 310 0-6-0 goods locomotives built by the Great Western Railway. They are sometimes referred to as the Armstrong Goods or Armstrong Standard Goods to differentiate from the Gooch Goods and Dean Goods classes, both of which were also large classes of standard goods locomotives.

Use[edit]

Despite their description as goods engines, for many years they were also used on passenger trains; the class that principally replaced them was Churchward's mixed-traffic 2-6-0s, the 4300 Class of 1919-21. They were used throughout the GWR system where the gauge permitted; principally in the Northern Division to start with.

War service[edit]

While the service overseas of Dean's 2301 Class during two world wars is well known, the service of the 388 Class in World War I is less often documented. Six of the class were sent to Serbia in 1916, two of them returning in 1921; and 16 of them were shipped to Salonika in 1917, though the first batch of eight was lost at sea. After the war four of them entered the stock of the Ottoman Railway; another four were returned to the GWR in 1921.

Numbering[edit]

The 388 class were built in several batches between 1866 and 1876; many locomotives were given numbers from recently withdrawn locomotives, so they do not run in a continuous series, or even in order of construction.[2]

In the following table the "Works Number" is a sequential number allocated by the builder, the "Locomotive number" is the number carried on the locomotive for identification.

Table of orders and numbers[3]
Year Quantity Lot No. Works Nos. Locomotive numbers Notes
1866-67 19 9th Goods 79–97 388–406
1867 16 10th Goods 98–113 407–412, 419–428
1867 5 1st Renewals 114–118 1012–1014, 1064–1065 1064/65 renumbered 1088/98 in September 1868;[4] then 238 and 37 in July 1870[5]
1867 10 11th Goods 119–128 429–438
1868 10 15th 135–144 445–454
1868 5 16th 145–149 370–371, 426–428 426–429 renumbered 26, 42, 1066 in February 1868;[4] 1066 renumbered 1090 in September 1868;[4] then 38 in July 1870.[5]
1868 5 17th 150–154 1091–1095 renumbered 41, 43, 44, 46, 50 in July 1870[5]
1870 30 21st 215–244 491–496, 1168, 498–500, 1169–1171, 497, 501–516 1168–1171 renumbered 1082–85 in July 1870.[5]
1870 30 23rd 251–280 1086–1099, 1100–1105, 593–602
1870-71 20 24th 281–300 1106–1115, 603–612
1871-72 30 26th 321–350 657–676, 24, 31, 48, 51, 52, 116, 298, 300, 415, 416
1872 40 28th 252–391 677–716
1873 30 31st 432–461 776–805
1873-74 20 35th 483–502 874–893
1875-76 20 41st 623–642 21–23, 25, 27, 29, 32, 39, 53, 117, 1186–1195
1876 20 42nd 643–662 1196–1215

Broad gauge[edit]

Twenty locomotives were converted to 7 ft 1⁄4 in (2,140 mm) broad gauge from 1884 and reconverted to standard gauge in 1892.

Accidents and incidents[edit]

On 11th November 1890, No. 1100 was struck by a broad gauge boat train from Plymouth at Norton Fitzwarren.[6]

Withdrawal[edit]

There were numerous withdrawals from around 1920. After 1930 the few survivors were at Oxley, Stourbidge and Wellington, and the last was withdrawn in 1934. As with all Armstrong classes, none was preserved.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Champ, Jim (2018). An Introduction to Great Western Locomotive Development. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Transport. p. 320. ISBN 978-1-4738-7784-9. OCLC 1029234106. OL 26953051M.
  2. ^ Tabor 1956, pp. D57–D67.
  3. ^ Allcock et al. (1968), pp. 24–26.
  4. ^ a b c Allcock et al. (1968), p. 8.
  5. ^ a b c d Allcock et al. (1968), p. 9.
  6. ^ Waters, Laurence (1999). The Great Western Broad Gauge. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-7110-2634-3.
  • Allcock, N. J.; Davies, F. K.; le Fleming, H. M.; Maskelyne, J. N.; Reed, P. J. T.; Tabor, F. J. White, D. E. (ed.). The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, part one: Preliminary Survey. Kenilworth: RCTS.
  • Reed, P.J.T. (February 1953). White, D.E. (ed.). The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, Part 2: Broad Gauge. Kenilworth: The Railway Correspondence and Travel Society. ISBN 0-901115-32-0. OCLC 650490992.
  • Tabor, F.J. (February 1956). White, D.E. (ed.). The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, part four: Six-wheeled Tender Engines. Kenilworth: The Railway Correspondence and Travel Society.
  • Casserley, H.C.; Johnston, S.C. (1966). Locomotives at the Grouping: Great Western Railway. Shepperton: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-7110-0555-9.
  • Russell, J.H. (1975). A Pictorial Record of Great Western Engines, Volume 1. Oxford: Oxford Publishing Company. ISBN 0-86093-398-9.
  • Waters, Laurence (1999). The Great Western Broad Gauge. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-7110-2634-3.
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