# G&SWR 403 Class

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British steam locomotive class (1915–1947)

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Glasgow and South Western Railway 403 class Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Peter Drummond Builder North British Locomotive Co., Queen's Park Works, Glasgow Serial number 21172–21182 Build date 1915 Total produced 11 Specifications Configuration: ​ • Whyte 2-6-0 • UIC 1′C h2 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Leading dia. 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Driver dia. 5 ft 0 in (1,524 mm) Wheelbase 06 ft 6 in (1.98 m) + 08 ft 1 in (2.46 m) + 09 ft 0 in (2.74 m) = 23 ft 7 in (7.19 m) Length 58 ft (17.68 m) Loco weight 62 long tons (63.0 t; 69.4 short tons) Fuel type Coal Water cap. 3,970 imp gal (18,000 L; 4,770 US gal) Boiler pressure 180 psi (1.24 MPa) Heating surface 1,491 sq ft (138.5 m2) Superheater: ​ • Type Robinson • Heating area 211 sq ft (19.6 m2) Cylinders Two Cylinder size 19+1⁄2 in × 26 in (495 mm × 660 mm) Valve gear Stephenson Performance figures Tractive effort 25,210 lbf (112.14 kN) Career Class G&SWR 403, 33, 51 Power class LMS: 4F Retired 1935–1947 Disposition All scrapped

The [Glasgow and South Western Railway](/source/Glasgow_and_South_Western_Railway) (G&SWR) **403 (or 'Austrian Goods') Class** was a class of [2-6-0](/source/2-6-0) (mogul) [steam locomotive](/source/Steam_locomotive) designed by [Peter Drummond](/source/Peter_Drummond_(engineer)), of which 11 were built in 1915 by the [North British Locomotive Company](/source/North_British_Locomotive_Company) at its Queens Park works. Originally built as the 403 class, as a result of renumbering they became known as the 33 Class in 1916 and then 51 Class in 1919, before passing to the [London, Midland and Scottish Railway](/source/London%2C_Midland_and_Scottish_Railway) (LMS) on its formation in 1923, where they were given power classification 4F.

These freight-traffic locomotives were given the nickname *Austrian Goods*. The nickname was acquired because when the locomotives were delivered it was rumoured that they had been built from materials that NBL had gathered for a contract for [Austria](/source/Austria) which was cancelled when [World War I](/source/World_War_I) broke out. However, this rumour was unfounded as the design was entirely Drummond's and there is no evidence of any Austrian contract.[1]

## History

The class was a development of Drummond's earlier [279 Class 0-6-0](/source/G%26SWR_279_Class), fitted with [superheating](/source/Superheater), [pony trucks](/source/Pony_truck) and numerous other improvements. They were far more successful than the 279s, being free-running and remarkably economical in coal and water. However, there were some reliability problems, notably with the design of the [big ends](/source/Crankpin) and they were not considered suitable for passenger duties except in emergencies at reduced speed.[2]

The locomotives were initially allocated to the G&SWR's Carlisle Currock shed for goods trains to Glasgow, Greenock, and Ayrshire. Under LMS ownership they were transferred to the former Caledonian Railway shed at Carlisle Kingmoor, after which they were also used on runs over the [Caledonian main line](/source/Caledonian_main_line) and occasionally the [Settle-Carlisle Line](/source/Settle-Carlisle_Line). As new [LMS 'Crab' 2-6-0s](/source/LMS_Hughes_Crab) took over their duties in the early 1930s, most were displaced from Kingmoor to various LMS sheds throughout Scotland, with some even operating from Inverness for a time.[3]

In addition to their fuel economy, the type had the significant advantage that unlike most G&SWR locomotives, it was possible to fit a Caledonian Railway type boiler. This stopped the LMS from withdrawing them as non-standard as soon as their boilers became due for replacement.[4] The class, therefore, outlived all other G&SWR tender locomotive types, being withdrawn and scrapped between 1935 and 1947.

## Numbering

Table of locomotives[5][6] GSWR (original) no. GSWR (1915/16) no. GSWR (1919) no. LMS no. Builder's no. Delivered Withdrawn 403 33 52 17821 NBL 21172 Sep 1915 Sep 1946 404 34 53 17822 NBL 21173 Sep 1915 Apr 1944 405 92 55 17824 NBL 21174 Sep 1915 Sep 1935 406 93 56 17825 NBL 21175 Sep 1915 Nov 1936 407 94 57 17826 NBL 21176 Sep 1915 Nov 1945 408 99 58 17827 NBL 21177 Sep 1915 Apr 1938 409 16 51 17820 NBL 21178 Nov 1915 Jan 1938 410 61 54 17823 NBL 21179 Oct 1915 Dec 1936 116 116 59 17828 NBL 21180 Nov 1915 Dec 1935 117 117 60 17829 NBL 21181 Nov 1915 Mar 1947 121 121 61 17830 NBL 21182 Nov 1915 Nov 1938

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESmith1976126_1-0)** [Smith (1976)](#CITEREFSmith1976), p. 126.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESmith1976127–128_2-0)** [Smith (1976)](#CITEREFSmith1976), pp. 127–128.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESmith1976127_3-0)** [Smith (1976)](#CITEREFSmith1976), p. 127.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEsseryJenkinson1986167_4-0)** [Essery & Jenkinson (1986)](#CITEREFEsseryJenkinson1986), p. 167.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESmith1976179–180_5-0)** [Smith (1976)](#CITEREFSmith1976), pp. 179–180.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBaxter1984167_6-0)** [Baxter (1984)](#CITEREFBaxter1984), p. 167.

- Baxter, Bertram (1984). Baxter, David (ed.). *British Locomotive Catalogue 1825–1923*. Vol. 4: Scottish and remaining English Companies in the LMS Group. Ashbourne, Derbyshire: Moorland Publishing Company. p. 167.

- Casserley, H.C.; Johnson, Stuart W. (1974) [1966]. *Locomotives at the Grouping 3, London Midland and Scottish Railway*. Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allan Limited. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7110-0554-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7110-0554-0).

- Essery, Bob; Jenkinson, David (1986). *An Illustrated History of L.M.S. Locomotives, Volume Three: Absorbed Pre-Group Classes, Northern Division*. Poole: Oxford Publishing Co.

- Highet, Campbell (1965). *The Glasgow & South-Western Railway*. Lingfield: Oakwood Press.

- Smith, David L. (1976). *Locomotives of the Glasgow and South Western Railway*. Newton Abbot: David & Charles.

v t e Glasgow and South Western Railway locomotives Peter Robertson (1850-1853) 86 Patrick Stirling (1853-1866) 2 9 23 34 40 45 46 52 58 95 99 103 105 131 141 James Stirling (1866-1878) 6 8 13 65 75 113 157 187 208 218 221 Hugh Smellie (1878-1890) 1 22 119 153 157 218 (1881) 291 James Manson (1890-1912) 8 11 14 17 18 128 160 194 224 240 266 272 281 306 326 361 381 336 Rail motor Peter Drummond (1912-1918) 5 14 45 131 137 279 403 Robert Whitelegg (1918-1923) 1 394 540

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [G&SWR 403 Class](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%26SWR_403_Class) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%26SWR_403_Class?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.