LSWR 415 class

LSWR/SR 415 class
415 class No. 30583 at Tipton St Johns in 1953, while on a railtour.
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerWilliam Adams
BuilderRobert Stephenson & Co. (28);
Dübs & Co. (20);
Neilson & Co. (11);
Beyer Peacock (12)
Serial numberRS 2501–2518, 2601–2610
Dübs 2000–2009, 2105–2114;
Neilson 3200–3210;
BP 2167–2178
Build date1882–1885
Total produced71
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte4-4-2T
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Leading dia.3 ft 1 in (0.940 m)
Driver dia.5 ft 7 in (1.702 m)
Length36 ft 5+12 in (11.11 m)
Loco weight55 tons 2 cwt (124,200 lb or 56.3 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity1 long ton (1.02 t; 1.12 short tons)
Water cap.1,200 imp gal (5,500 L; 1,400 US gal)
Boiler pressure160 psi (1.10 MPa)
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size17.5 in × 24 in (444 mm × 610 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort14,919 lbf (66.36 kN)
Career
OperatorsLondon and South Western Railway,
Southern Railway,
British Railways
Class415, later 0415
Power classLSWR / SR: K,
BR: 1P
NicknamesRadial Tank
LocaleGreat Britain
Withdrawn1916–1928, 1961
PreservedNo. 488
DispositionOne preserved, remainder scrapped

The LSWR 415 class is a 4-4-2T steam tank locomotive, with the trailing wheels forming the basis of its "Radial Tank" moniker. It was designed by William Adams and introduced in 1882 for service on the London and South Western Railway (LSWR).

Originally rostered for suburban traffic, the class was soon displaced to the countryside by Dugald Drummond's M7 class. Most of the class was scrapped around the end of the First World War, and further decreases meant that all of them were due to be withdrawn by 1929. However, the class was noted for its long service on the Lyme Regis branch line, and three members of this long obsolete class were utilised on this duty until 1962, when suitable replacements became available. One has survived and can be found on the Bluebell Railway.