<kuid2:4468:4502:1> 4-6-2 West Country Class SR Tender

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4-6-2 West Country Class SR Tender

At the end of World War II, a fast and powerful mixed traffic engine was needed to replace the Southern's war-weary locomotive stock. Southern Railway introduced a new class of Light Pacific locomotive, capable of operating on a worn and damaged rail netework. Design effort started in 1943 and, after considering and rejecting a 4-6-0, the 'Light Pacific' was born, copying as closely as possible the Merchant Navy class design but with the objective of retaining the maximum possible power, whilst at the same time keeping the engines' weight to a ceiling of 86 tons, with an axle load of no more than 19 tons. This was achieved by utilising the Merchant Navy's bogie, coupled wheels, axleboxes and motion while reducing the size of the trailing wheels, cylinders and pistons. Further, the boiler and firebox were scaled down and utilised welding techniques to save weight.

Roll out occurred in June 1945, resplendent in pre-war Malachite livery, which sharply contrasted to the prevailing starkness of the wartime overall black livery. The class name was also replaced, gone the term 'Lightweight Pacific' and replaced by 'West Country' These locomotives were destined for operations in the south and south-west, while a subsequent batch given the class name of 'Battle of Britain' primarily operated in the south-east.

Initially 70 locomotives were ordered but the build was subsequently extended through and after nationalisation to a total of 110 examples. Of the 110, 66 were named after places and features of the south-west while the reamining 44 were named after squadrons and other aspects associated with the Battle of Britain and hence the 'Battle of Britain class'. In all respects other than the naming, they were identical locos to the WC class.

The Southern Railway Company stole a march on the other railway companies and gained a considerable amount of public support by introducing a bold forward looking design wearing a bright livery and by their naming policy honouring the war effort.

From Waterloo, beyond Okehampton to Launceston and Padstow, from Barnstaple via the 1 in 36 Morthoe bank to Ilfracombe, over Meldon viaduct or along the GWR route to Plymouth, on the S&D line to Bath, the 'West Country' pacifics were doing their stuff and holding their own when rostered to take a Merchant Navy task.


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I would like to thank John Ewan (JWEwan), for hours of dedicated beta testing and research efforts to support this project and providing insights and ideas on how to improve the model, so cheers John for that work.