SECR J class

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}} {{Use British English|date=March 2017}} {{one source|date=January 2015}} {{Infobox locomotive |powertype = Steam |name = SECR J class |image = Ashford Depot rare SE&CR locomotive geograph-2654083-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg |caption = J class 1598 at Ashford 1946 |designer = [[Harry Wainwright]] |builder = [[Ashford Works]] |builddate = 1913 |totalproduction = 5 |whytetype = [[0-6-4T]] |uicclass = C2′ h2t |gauge = {{track gauge|ussg}} |driverdiameter = {{convert|5|ft|6|in|m|3|abbr=on}} |trailingdiameter= {{convert|3|ft|7|in|m|3|abbr=on}} |length = |axleload = {{long ton|18|14}} |weightondrivers = {{long ton|51|18}} |locoweight = {{long ton|70|14}} |fueltype = Coal |fuelcap = {{long ton|3|5}} |watercap = {{convert|2000|impgal|abbr=on}} |boilerpressure = {{convert|160|lbf/in2|MPa|2|abbr=on}} |firearea = {{convert|17.6|sqft|abbr=on}} |tubearea = {{convert|593|sqft|abbr=on}} |fluearea = {{convert|294|sqft|abbr=on}} |fireboxarea = {{convert|112|sqft|abbr=on}} |totalsurface = |superheatertype = Schmidt |superheaterarea = {{convert|234|sqft|abbr=on}} |cylindercount = Two, inside |cylindersize = {{convert|19+1/2|x|26|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} |valvegear = |valvetype = {{convert|8|in|mm|0|adj=on}} piston valves |tractiveeffort = {{convert|20400|lbf|kN|2|abbr=on}} |operator = {{ubl|[[South Eastern and Chatham Railway]]|→ [[Southern Railway (Great Britain)|Southern Railway]]|→ [[Southern Region of British Railways]]}} |operatorclass = SECR / SR: J |powerclass = |fleetnumbers = |withdrawndate = 1949–1951 |disposition = All scrapped }}

The '''SECR J class''' was a class of [[0-6-4T]] [[Steam locomotive|steam]] [[tank locomotive]] built for heavy freight service on the [[South Eastern and Chatham Railway]], by [[Harry Wainwright]].

==History== The [[South Eastern and Chatham Railway]] (SECR) had a need for versatile mixed traffic locomotives which could accelerate quickly so as not to impede the heavy passenger traffic on the densely used lines around London. Following the success of his [[SECR C class|C class]] [[0-6-0]] and his [[SECR H class|H class]] [[0-4-4T]] [[Harry Wainwright]] sought to combine their good features but was limited by weight restrictions on many lines. The result was an [[0-6-4]] tank.{{sfn|Bradley|1980|p=45}} Five locomotives were constructed at Ashford during 1913, but Wainwright retired soon afterwards and no more were constructed. The class were moderately successful on a variety of secondary passenger and freight services. All had completed more than one million miles at the time of their withdrawal between 1949 and 1951.{{sfn|Bradley|1980|p=48}}<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Austin |first=David |date=2012 |title=The 'J' class engines of the SE&CR |magazine=The Southern Way |issue=20 |pages=84–93 |isbn=9781906419899}}</ref>

==Numbering== The class were originally allocated unused numbers between 126 and 614. However, all but number 597 were renumbered by the [[Southern Railway (Great Britain)| Southern Railway]] in 1927/8 to create a unified sequence from A595 to A599. These later became 1595–1599, and then 31595–31599 under [[British Railways]].

==Locomotive Summary== {| class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style=text-align:center |+J class locomotive fleet summary ! SECR No. !! SR No. !! BR No. !! Date Delivered !! Date Withdrawn |- | 129 || A596 || 31596 || {{dts|1913|10}}|| {{dts|1951|09}} |- | 207 || A595 || 31595 || {{dts|1913|10}}|| {{dts|1951|04}} |- | 597 || A597 || 31597 || {{dts|1913|11}}|| {{dts|1950|10}} |- | 611 || A598|| 31598 || {{dts|1913|11}}|| {{dts|1950|12}} |- | 614 || A599|| 31599 || {{dts|1913|12}}|| {{dts|1949|11}} |- |}

==Sources== {{reflist}} {{refbegin}} *{{cite book |last=Bradley |first=D. L. |year=1980 |title=The locomotive history of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway |location=London |publisher=[[Railway Correspondence and Travel Society]] |isbn=0-901115-49-5 }} {{refend}}

==External links== * {{cite web| url=https://sremg.org.uk/steam/j(se)class.shtml| title=SECR J Class 0-6-4T| website=Southern E-Group| access-date=2 July 2025| archive-date=2 July 2025| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250702233126/https://sremg.org.uk/steam/j(se)class.shtml| url-status=dead}} * {{cite web| url=http://www.railuk.info/steam/getsteamclass.php?item=J| title=Class J Details| website=RailUK}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Secr J Class}} [[Category:South Eastern and Chatham Railway locomotives|J]] [[Category:0-6-4T locomotives]] [[Category:C2′ locomotives]] [[Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1913]] [[Category:Standard-gauge steam locomotives of Great Britain]] [[Category:Freight locomotives]] [[Category:Scrapped locomotives]]