• Source: Caledonian Railway 439 Class

The Caledonian Railway 439 Class is a class of 0-4-4T steam locomotive. It was a development of earlier Caledonian Railway 0-4-4T locomotives, including the 19 Class and 92 Class, and predecessor of the 431 Class. The 439 Class was introduced by John F. McIntosh in 1900 and a modified version was introduced by William Pickersgill in 1915.




Introduction


Ninety-two engines of the class were built between 1900 and 1925, a few under LMS auspices. Seventy-four Class 439s passed into British Railways ownership in 1948 and they were numbered 55159-55236 (with gaps).




Earlier versions


19 Class Introduced 1895
92 Class Introduced 1897, developed from 29 Class 0-6-0T
The 19 and 92 Classes were originally fitted with condensing apparatus for use on Glasgow Central Low Level lines. Twenty-four of them passed into British Railways ownership and they were numbered 55119-55146 (with gaps).




Later versions


In 1922 Pickersgill introduced the 431 Class with larger cylinders and a cast-iron front buffer beam for banking. This was possibly to move the centre of gravity forwards and put more weight on the driving wheels. However, it was unusual to use a large-wheeled 0-4-4T (rather than a small-wheeled 0-6-0T) for banking. The 431 Class was numbered 431–434 by the Caledonian, 15237–15240 by the LMS, and 55237–55240 by British Railways.
In 1925 the LMS introduced their own version of the 439 Class and these were numbered 55260–55269 by British Railways.
In the 431 and LMS classes, the cylinder bore was increased to 18+1⁄4 in (460 mm), increasing the tractive effort to 19,200 lbf (85,000 N).




Preservation



One example, CR 419, (later LMS number 15189, BR 55189) has been preserved and is the flagship locomotive of the Scottish Railway Preservation Society.




See also


Caledonian Railway 0-4-4T
Locomotives of the Caledonian Railway




References






Sources



Ian Allan ABC of British Railways Locomotives, 1948 edition, part 3, pages 45–46 and 1961 edition, part 3, page 54




External links


Photos of 55189
Class 2P-H Details at Rail UK

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Caledonian Railway 439 Class
• Caledonian Railway 300 Class
• Caledonian Railway 0-4-4T
• 439 Class
• Locomotives of the Caledonian Railway
• John F. McIntosh
• 0-4-4T
• Locomotives of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
• Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway
• British Rail Class 98