GWR 2900 Class 2999 Lady of Legend

GWR 2900 Class 2999 Lady of Legend
2999 Lady of Legend at Didcot in April 2019.
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer George Jackson Churchward Builder The Saint Project Build date 2009–2019
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-0 Leading dia. 3 ft 2 in (0.965 m) Driver dia. 6 ft 8+1⁄2 in (2.045 m) Length 63 ft 0+1⁄4 in (19.21 m) Width 8 ft 11 in (2.718 m) Height 13 ft 3+1⁄2 in (4.051 m) Axle load 18 long tons (18 t; 20 short tons) Loco weight 68.30 long tons (69.40 t; 76.50 short tons) Tender weight 43.15 long tons (43.84 t; 48.33 short tons) Fuel capacity 5 long tons (5.1 t; 5.6 short tons) Water cap. 3,500 imp gal (16,000 L; 4,200 US gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 27.22 sq ft (2.529 m2) Boiler GWR Standard No. 1 (with variations) Boiler pressure 225 psi (1.55 MPa) (production series) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 154.94 sq ft (14.394 m2)  • Tubes and flues 1,485.96 sq ft (138.050 m2) Superheater: ​  • Type "Swindon No. 3"  • Heating area 307.52 sq ft (28.570 m2) Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 18 in × 30 in (457 mm × 762 mm) - 18+1⁄2 in × 30 in (470 mm × 762 mm) Valve gear Stephenson Valve type 10 inches (254 mm) piston valves
Performance figures Tractive effort 20,530 lbf (91.32 kN) - 24,395 lbf (108.51 kN)
Career Class 2900 or Saint Power class GWR: C BR: 4P Numbers 2999 Official name Lady of Legend Axle load class GWR: Red Disposition in service

GWR 2900 "Saint" Class No. 2999 Lady of Legend is a 4-6-0 steam locomotive completed in 2019 to a design by George Jackson Churchward. It was based on the frames and boiler of 4900 "Hall" Class No. 4942 Maindy Hall, and was largely constructed at Didcot Railway Centre in Didcot, Oxfordshire, where it is now based. The project started in the 1970s, and was described as "building the 78th Saint", since none of the original class-members were preserved.

Maindy Hall

No.4942 Maindy Hall in scrapyard condition, at Didcot

No. 4942 Maindy Hall was a 4-6-0 locomotive of the GWR's 4900 Hall class. It was built in 1929 at Swindon. After being withdrawn from service in 1963, it was moved to Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales in 1964. It was then bought by the Didcot Railway Centre in 1974, who also bought 5900 Hinderton Hall. It was later restored and rebuilt into 2999 Lady of Legend by The Saint Project at Didcot.

The Saint Project

'The Saint Project' is a group of railway preservationists, which was formed in the 1970s, who created a plan to build a new 2900 Saint, since none of the original class members were preserved. The last class member was 2920 Saint David, which was withdrawn from service in October 1953, and was sent straight for scrap.

It was decided to rebuild 4942 Maindy Hall from scrapyard condition into a Saint. There were another ten members of the 4900 Hall class in preservation, so the loss of a Hall was considered acceptable. Historically, the first Hall class prototype was converted from 2925 Saint Martin, so, reverting a Hall back to a Saint was acceptable. It was also decided (like 60163 Tornado) to number the locomotive as a new member of the class, sequential to the highest-numbered original Saint: 2998 Ernest Cunard. An early production lot of Saints were named after historical, mythological or poetical 'Ladies', which lead to the name Lady of Legend being chosen for 2999.

Construction

In order to convert a Hall to a Saint, a number of modifications had to be made. For example, the original driving wheels for the Hall are 6 feet (1.83 m), while the size of the driving wheels for a Saint are 6 feet 8+1⁄2 inches (2.04 m), the front bogie wheels are similarly larger on a Saint than those of a Hall.

Other parts used in the construction of 2999 are original GWR parts that had, at one time, been fitted to Saints. Such examples include a connecting rod from 2906 Lady of Lynn, and a whistle from 2910 Lady of Shalott.

The chimney is also an original part, but is from a 6800 class 4-6-0. The engine was largely constructed in an early configuration, with straight frames, lever reversing gear and a flush riveted tender tank, but for practical reasons there are a number of components and features that are later in design than the Lady series as they originally left the factory.

Modern modifications

Lady of Legend pulling a train on the Severn Valley Railway.

The original height of the 2900 Saints was 13 feet 3+1⁄2 inches (4.05 m), but the maximum height allowed for steam locomotives to work on the main line by Network Rail is 13 feet 1 inch (3.99 m), because of overhead line clearances. The height of 2999 was therefore reduced to allow it to operate on the main line. Mainline operation also requires additional equipment that none of the original members of its class had, including: AWS, TPWS, OTMR & GSM-R.

Despite being fitted for the mainline, a 2019 decision from Didcot regarding the ceasing of mainline running means that the engine will only see use off of the mainline, such as at Didcot and on other heritage railways.

Lady of Quality & Redgauntlet

2999 appearing as classmate Lady of Quality before completion.

On 18^th November 2018, prior to completion, 2999 appeared in a British Railways black unlined livery, while bearing the name and number of scrapped classmates 2908 'Lady of Quality', and earlier in the same day, 2983 'Redgauntlet'. Donations were taken throughout the photoshoot, which were used to complete the locomotive. She subsequently appears in GWR Brunswick green as 2999 'Lady of Legend'.

Naming 2999

2999's nameplate, featuring the name chosen for her: Lady of Legend.

Many names were submitted in a competition run by The Saint Project to name 2999. The name eventually chosen was Lady of Legend. Other names that were submitted in the competition included: Lady in Waiting, Lady Diana, Lady of Lourdes, Saint Dai, Maindy Court (reference to donor loco 4942 Maindy Hall), Prince Charles, John Betjeman & Phoenix.

Atlantic option

An integral part of the Saint project is the 'Atlantic option'. Although it is intended by the Saint Project that the completed engine will run primarily in its 4-6-0 configuration as a Saint, it is planned to have the engine run for a period during its 10-year boiler certification as a 4-4-2 Atlantic. The number it is expected to carry when converted into its 4-4-2 Atlantic form is 191, and the names it might carry include Atlantic and Churchward. This mirrors the original Saint class, of which 13 were built as 4-4-2s for comparative purposes, and only later converted to 4-6-0s.

External links

• Official website on Wayback Machine
• 2999 Lady of Legend at Didcot
• Building a Saint documentary