GWR 2999 Lady of Legend
| GWR 2999 Lady of Legend | |
|---|---|
 GWR 2999 Lady of Legend (2021) | |
| Built By | GWS Didcot |
| Configuration | 4-6-0 |
| Power class | 4P |
| Status | Visitor periodically on hire |
| Loco Number | 2999 |
| History | |
| Built | 2019 |
| Designed By | George Jackson Churchward |
| Type | GWR 2900 Saint |
| 2021 | Spring Gala plus other use |
| 2022 | Spring Gala plus other use |
| 2024 | Summer hire plus Autumn Gala |
| Technical | |
| Length | 63ft 0¼in |
| Weight | 70t 4cwt |
| Tractive effort | 23,100 lb |
| Pressure | 225 lb/sq in |
GWR 2900 Saint class 2999 Lady of Legend has spent periods on hire at the SVR in 2021, 2022 and 2024. It is a recreation of a Saint class 4-6-0 locomotive adapted from a surviving member of the 4900 Hall class.
GWR Saint Class[edit | edit source]
The GWR 2900 Saint class was designed by George Jackson Churchward, with 77 built between 1902 and 1913. They were a highly successful class which influenced the design principles for GWR 2-cylinder classes over the next fifty years as well as similar classes on other British railway companies. One example, 2925 Saint Martin was rebuilt with smaller 6ft driving wheels in December 1924 to become the prototype for the Collett 4900 Hall class. The last examples were withdrawn in 1953[1].
GWR 2999 Lady of Legend[edit | edit source]
No examples of the Saint survived into preservation, although 11 members of the 4900 Hall class did so. The Great Western Society at Didcot therefore acquired 4942 Maindy Hall from Barry Scrapyard in 1974 with the intention of converting it into a Saint, effectively reversing the original process by which 2925 had become a Hall.[2]
The locomotive spent some years in storage, with the project not beginning in earnest until 1995. The decision was taken to adopt an early configuration with straight frames, lever reversing gear and a flush riveted tender tank, although certain components and features were of a later design for practical reasons. Although it was intended that the completed engine would run primarily in its 4-6-0 configuration as a Saint, the Saint project included an 'Atlantic option' where the engine would run for a period as a 4-4-2 Atlantic, mirroring the original Saint class of which 13 were built as 4-4-2s for comparative purposes and later converted to 4-6-0s. Rear extension frames for this purpose were constructed and trial fitted before being stored.[2]
The project required the casting of three new driving wheel sets of 6ft 8½ in diameter and two bogie wheel sets of the correct 3ft 2in size. Other new components included two identical 'half' cylinder blocks to recreate the Saint's inside cylinders fed by a straight steam pipe. The lever reverse was also made from scratch. The frames from No. 4942 were extensively modified and strengthened and many other components including the boiler were refurbished. Components from other GWR locomotives were also used, including a connecting rod from 2906 Lady of Lynn, the whistle from 2910 Lady of Shalott and the chimney from a 6800 Grange Class.[2]
The locomotive adopted the number 2999 as next in sequence from the highest-numbered original Saint, 2998 Ernest Cunard. Ten of the early Saints were named after historical, mythological or poetical 'Ladies', with the name Lady of Legend being the winning entry in the competition to name the locomotive. The project was completed in 2019 and was recognised by the Heritage Railway Association in February 2020 when it won the first-ever Chairman's special prize at the annual awards. It was also 'Highly Commended' at the national Museums + Heritage awards in September 2020[2].
2999 Lady of Legend at the SVR[edit | edit source]
After entering service at Didcot in 2019, 2999 was originally booked to appear as a guest at the Spring Steam Gala in April 2020.[3] However, the event did not take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic
The following year, 2999 visited the SVR as a guest for the 'Spring Steam Up' on 15-18 April 2021. It also worked other services until 7 May,[4] accumulating a total of 784 miles on 13 steaming days.[5]
2999 returned in 2022 for another appearance at the Spring Steam Gala on 21-24 April. It also featured in the four-day special event to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee on 4-7 June, remaining in service until the end of July[6] and accumulating a further 1,147 miles in the course of 20 steaming days.[5]
During 2024 the SVR was operating with a smaller operating fleet, so the GWS agreed at short notice to lend 2999 to the SVR to provide cover for washouts and maintenance over the busy summer season. As part of this arrangement, the SVR agreed to look into some of the engineering issues which were awaiting attention by the GWS. These included attention to a wasting exhaust injector, which was removed while parts were machined and others replaced. The loco then saw use on service trains and footplate rides, although it appeared to be responsible for an increasing number of lineside fires, resulting it being 'failed' while the likely cause (buckled damper doors) was addressed. 2999 was also fitted with a char breaker plate to the rear of the spark arrestor, a modification already made to the SVR's own locomotives.[7] With these tasks completed, 2999 took part in the 2024 Autumn Steam Gala before departing.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
Links[edit | edit source]
- 2999 Lady of Legend on didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk
- GWR 2900 Class 2999 Lady of Legend on Wikipedia
- GWR 2900 Class on Wikipedia
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