GWR 119 Class (tank engine)

GWR 119 Class (tank engine)

Type and origin Power type Steam Designer George Armstrong Builder GWR Wolverhampton works Build date 1878-1883 Total produced 11

Specifications Configuration 0-6-0ST Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Fuel type coal Cylinders two

Career Operators GWR

The 119 Class of the Great Western Railway consisted of a series of 11 0-6-0 saddle tank engines. They were numbered 119-21 and 123-30 and had originally been built in 1861 at Swindon Works as tender engines to a design of Daniel Gooch, part of the 79 Class. Their rebirth as tank engines was the result of their being renewed at Wolverhampton Works under the aegis of George Armstrong between 1878 and 1883.

Variations

Three were turned out with condensing gear. All continued as tank locomotives until their withdrawal. (Though the missing "odd man out", No. 122, always remained a tender engine.)

Use

The 119 Class started work in the Northern Division, but most of them migrated south, and most of their subsequent rebuildings were done at Swindon. Eventually most were moved to South Wales.

Rebuilding

From 1913, like nearly all the GWR's saddle tanks, they became pannier tanks as Belpaire boilers were fitted to them. Most were scrapped by 1928, No. 120 soldiering on at Oswestry until 1933.