GWR 1076 Class

The 1076 Class were 266 double framed 0-6-0 tank locomotives built by the Great Western Railway between 1870 and 1881; the last one was withdrawn in 1946. They are often referred to as the Buffalo Class following the naming of locomotive 1134.

History

These large tank locomotives, with their 4-foot-7-inch (1,397 mm) wheels and 17-by-24-inch (432 mm × 610 mm) dia × stroke cylinders were capable of working trains on the main line. They followed on from George Armstrong's 1016 Class built from 1867, themselves derived from the earlier 302 Class of Joseph Armstrong, and were perpetuated by his successor William Dean until 1881. Modernised saddle tank locomotives of similar size were then produced in the 1813 Class.

The first six were built with side tanks. The following locomotives had saddle tanks covering their boilers and fireboxes, but from 1874 longer saddle tank extending to the front of the smokebox were the norm. All the earlier locomotives were eventually fitted with these larger tanks. Most were reconstructed with pannier tanks from 1911 onwards.

The first locomotives had just a spectacle plate to give protection for the crew, but then small cabs, open at the back, were fitted. Later on most of the surviving locomotives were given full cabs so that there was protection when running in reverse.

Other changes to various locomotives over their long lives were Belpaire fireboxes, enlarged coal bunkers, and even superheaters. One or two were fitted with spark-arresting chimneys. 21 were fitted for working autotrains.

Broad gauge conversions

Locomotive 1256 with the last broad gauge service at Truro in 1892

Ten locomotives were built in 1876 with broad gauge wheels outside the standard double frames. Five more broad gauge locomotives were built in 1878, while from 1884 another 35 were converted from standard gauge to broad. All were eventually converted back to standard gauge.

1256 was one of a pair of locomotives that worked the last broad gauge train from Penzance back to Swindon for conversion on 20 May 1892.

Locomotives built new as broad gauge are denoted in this list by an asterisk*.

Named locomotive

• 1134 Buffalo

The reason this locomotive was given a name is unclear. It was certainly named within a few years of construction but there was already a Buffalo 0-6-0ST which gave its name to the South Devon Railway Buffalo class. The nameplate was removed from 1134 in 1914 when it was fitted with its pannier tanks. The name itself is that of a strong animal, the Buffalo.

Locomotives sold

Two locomotives were sold to the Neath and Brecon Railway:

• 1563 became N&BR 14 in 1911 and returned to the Great Western Railway in 1922
• 1591 became N&BR 15 in 1912 and returned to the Great Western Railway in 1922 was withdrawn before being given it number back

Five locomotives were sold to the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway:

• 1660 became R&SBR 2 in 1919 and returned to the Great Western Railway in 1922
• 1652 became R&SBR 31 in 1912 and returned to the Great Western Railway in 1922
• 728 became R&SBR 32 in 1915 and returned to the Great Western Railway in 1922
• 957 became R&SBR 33 in 1914 and was withdrawn in 1921
• 1167 became R&SBR 34 in 1919 and returned to the Great Western Railway in 1922

List of locomotives

727 to 756

Originally fitted with short saddle tanks.

947 to 966

Originally fitted with short saddle tanks.

1076 to 1081

Originally fitted with side tanks.

1134 to 1153

Most were originally fitted with short saddle tanks.

1166 to 1185

1228 to 1297

1561 to 1660

References

• le Fleming, H.M. (April 1958). White, D.E., ed. The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, Part 5: Six-coupled Tank Engines. The Railway Correspondence and Travel Society. ISBN 0-901115-35-5. OCLC 500544510. 
• Aves, W.A.T. (1998). "The Pre-1923 GWR Pannier and Saddle Tank Locomotives". Locomotives Illustrated. RAS Publishing (118). ISSN 0307-1804. 
• Casserley, H.C.; Johnston, S.C. (1966). Locomotives at the Grouping: Great Western Railway. Shepperton: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-7110-0555-9. 
• Reed, P. J. T. (February 1953). White, D. E., ed. The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, Part 2: Broad Gauge. Kenilworth: RCTS. pp. B44–B45. ISBN 0-901115-32-0. 
• 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. 

External links

• Image of model locomotive