Somerset & Dorset Joint 4-4-0 Locomotives in Great_Britain

Class 69 (Locobase 10440)

Data from "Bogie Passenger Locomotive, Somerset and Dorset Joint Ry," The Locomotive Magazine, Vol X (12 February 1904), p. 39.

Similar to, but apparently not identical with, several Midland Railway designs, this class was produced by the latter company's shops. Samuel W Johnson designed the trio before his death and R M Deeley built them. The dimensions reflect a service requirement below the express-train level, which suited the S & DJ's role.

Class 77 (Locobase 10644)

Data from "Bogie Passenger Locomotive, Somerset and Dorset Joint Ry," The Locomotive Magazine, Vol XIV (14 March 1908), p. 45.

These were similar to the Midland-Railway-inspired locomotives purchased by the S & DJ Rwy four years before (Locobase 10440).

Class H (Locobase 20024)

Data from "South Western & Midland Railway Joint Line", The Locomotive Magazine, Volume XVII [17] (15 September 1911), p. 192.

M F Ryan, locomotive superintendent of the S&DJRwy, rebuilt a set of Eight-wheelers originally delivered in 1891 (4) and 1896-1897 (4) by fitting new boilers that had 35% more grate area and 200 sq ft (18.58 sq m) more heating surface area.

The LM report said that during the peak summer months, the class was worked up to its maximum power on the heavy main line passenger service that linked Bath and Bournemouth.

The LMS took four of the class but retired them by 1931.

Class Midland 483 - superheated (Locobase 20332)

Data from "Rebuilt Passenger Engines for the Somerset and Dorset Joint Ry", The Locomotive Magazine, Vol XX (15 August 1914), p. 210.

The two S&DJ locomotives were based on Henry Fowler's Midland 483 conversions and were undertaken because of the latter's successful trials. In addtion to the superheater, the Fowler design mounted cylinders of 2 1/2" (63.5 mm) greater diameter with piston valves and very tall drivers..