Hunslet 50550 Class
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
The Hunslet Engine Company Class 50550 is a design of steam locomotive designed for shunting. The class became the standard British shunting locomotive during the Second World War, becoming known as Austerity 0-6-0ST and a total of 485 were built right through until 1964.
The 48150 class were built for the Guest Keen Baldwins Iron & Steel Company in 1937, being an enlarged version of a design dating from 1923. These developed into the 50550, with various modifications.
At the outbreak of the Second World War, The War Department had initially chosen the LMS Fowler 3F 0-6-0T as its standard shunting locomotive, but switched allegiance to the more modern Hunslet design from 1943. The Hunslet engines were more suitable than the Jinties.
Hunslet subcontracted construction to Andrew Barclay, W. G. Bagnall, Hudswell Clarke, Robert Stephenson and Hawthorn and the Vulcan Foundry.
After D-Day they were used on Continental Europe.
A total of 337 were built by 1945, later examples taking the total number built to 485. The Yorkshire Engine Company also built some in 1954.
After the war the LNER bought 75 and classified the J94. 27 wre loaned to Nederlandsche Spoorwegen who bought them in 1947. 11 were loaned to the Nederlandsche Staatsmijen, who bought 9 of those. Others are believed to have worked in light and industrial railways France, and six went to the Chemins de Fer Tunisiens.
They were used in industry until the 1980s. They have become a favourite of the heritage railway scene, and several examples are preserved.
References
- Continent, Coalfield and Conservation - The Biographical History of the British Army Austerity 0-6-0 Saddle Tank by A.P.Lambert & J.C.Woods ISBN 0-901096-63-6
External links
- http://www.cirsel.freeserve.co.uk/wdindex.htm
- http://www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/23/18in_Hunslets.htm
