Barry Railway Class C facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Barry Railway Class C
Barry Railway Class C 2-4-0T
Power type	Steam
Designer	J. H. Hosgood
Builder	Sharp Stewart
Build date	1889–1890
Total production	4
Configuration	2-4-0T altered to 2-4-2T
UIC classification	1B n2t altered to 1B1 n2t
Gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver diameter	5 ft 3 in (1.600 m)
Trailing wheel diameter	3 ft 6 in (1.067 m)
Wheelbase	15 ft 3 in (4.648 m)
Locomotive weight	41 long tons 2 cwt (92,100 lb or 41.8 t) (46.0 short tons)
Fuel type	Coal
Boiler pressure	150 psi (1.03 MPa)
Cylinders	Two inside
Cylinder size	17 in × 24 in (432 mm × 610 mm)
Tractive effort	14,040 lbf (62.45 kN)
Delivered	1889–1890
Withdrawn	1898–1928
Disposition	All scrapped

The Barry Railway Class C was a type of steam locomotive used by the Barry Railway in South Wales. These engines were designed by J. H. Hosgood and built by Sharp Stewart. They were first made between 1889 and 1890.

What They Did

These locomotives were the first passenger trains built especially for the Barry Railway company. They were used to pull passenger trains between Barry and Cogan. They also ran on the Cardiff branch line.

Later, on August 14, 1893, the Barry Railway started running trains all the way from Barry to Cardiff Riverside station. This was a big step for the company.

A Tricky Start

On the very first day of the new Barry to Cardiff service, a Class C locomotive, number 21, had the honor of pulling the first train. But something unexpected happened! It went off the tracks (derailed) at a sharp curve called Cogan Junction. This caused delays for several hours on both the Barry and Taff Vale railways.

Changing Their Wheels

The Class C locomotives, along with the Class G, handled the Barry–Cardiff service. This was until the Class J engines arrived in 1897. The Class C engines had a problem: they couldn't carry enough fuel or water for the longer trips.

Because of this, in June 1898, locomotives numbers 21 and 22 were taken to the Barry Locomotive Works. Their wheel arrangement was changed. They went from a 2-4-0T design to a 2-4-2T design. This change helped them carry more and be more stable.

New Jobs for the Engines

After their wheels were changed, these locomotives returned to duty. They made a limited return to the Cardiff service. However, they were often given other important jobs.

For example, locomotive number 21 was used to pull special carriages. These included the Directors' saloon, the Engineer's saloon, and the Manager's Truck. Locomotive number 22 often pulled trains carrying coal miners. It also worked on lighter passenger trains on the Vale of Glamorgan line.

In 1914, two of the Barry Railway's steam railmotors were changed into special coaches. These were called the "vestibule set." Locomotives 21 and 22 were used to pull this train on the Barry to Bridgend service.

What Happened to Them

Two of the Class C locomotives were sold off quite early. These were numbers 37 and 52, which were both retired and sold in 1898. Number 37 stayed as a 2-4-0T engine. Number 52 was changed to a 2-4-2T just before it was sold.

Final Retirement

The two remaining locomotives, numbers 21 and 22, became part of the Great Western Railway in 1922. Number 21 was retired in 1926. Number 22 was retired in 1928. Sadly, none of these locomotives were saved. They were all scrapped.

How They Were Numbered