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LBSCR C2/C2x 0-6-0

photograph: Mike Morant collection.

C2x N°2540 was one of the class which had a single dome boiler, and is seen here outside Tunbridge Wells West locomotive shed

Following Billinton's death in office on 7th November 1904, the post of Locomotive Superintendent went to D E Marsh who had worked under Dean at Swindon and Ivatt at Doncaster. Apart from his "Brighton Atlantics" (very much a copy of the GN Atlantics) and I3 tanks, Marsh-designed locomotives were very poor performers but his rebuilds were something else! In 1908 the first three of class C2x were outshopped, being rebuilds of C2s Nos 545, 547 and 553, with a 5ft diameter boiler giving 1,300 sq. ft. of heating surface, working pressure increased to 170lb and a reduced grate area. As such, the C2x was a very useful engine for both the intended goods workings and the occasional passenger ones. Another, 551, was rebuilt in 1909 and a further 27 between then and 1922. The Southern Railway then rebuilt a further ten in 1924/5, two in 1939 and two in 1940, these last four being rebuilt at Ashford rather than Brighton. With seven locos withdrawn between 1927 and 1937, there were just three original C2s left, Nos 32435, 32436 and 32533, to be taken into British Railways stock in 1948.

Visually there were obvious differences between the original and rebuilt locos. For the C2x Marsh fitted an extended smokebox, resting on a saddle and pitched considerably higher than the original and, as mentioned previously, some were fitted with a second dome. From 1924 onwards all C2s and C2xs had their domes and chimneys reduced in height to fit in with the smaller Southern Railway loading gauge.

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  • 2435
     
    C2 N°2435 was one of the locos that was never rebuilt as a C2x. Although she lasted into BR ownership, she would never have carried a new number as she was withdrawn in May 1948. The shorter smokebox is very noticeable when compared with other photographs here.
    Photograph: Mike Morant collection.
  • C2 N°2436
     
    The next-to-be-built C2 N°2436 which was another of the locos that was not rebuilt, though this example lasted until January 1950. Again the shorter smokebox is very noticeable when compared with other photographs here.
    Photograph: Mike Morant collection.
  • C2x N°2538
    Two domes
    C2x N°2538 was one of those fitted with the two-ring boiler and subsequent second dome.
    Photograph: Mike Morant collection.
  • C2x N°2438
     
    Single domed C2x N°2438 in Southern Railway days.
    Photograph: Mike Morant collection.
  • C2x N°32548
    Chichester
    Double-domed C2x N°32548 on a goods at Chichester, during her twilight years, having just arrived from Lavant and Drayton. This turn was shared with sister engine N°32550.
    Photograph by Trevor Tupper.
  • C2x N°32550
    Chichester
    Another double domed, C2x N°32550, and the Drayton goods at Chichester, 29th October 1955.
    Photograph by Trevor Tupper.
  • C2x N°32437
    Horsted Keynes
    C2x N°32437 photographed at Horsted Keynes on 24th February 1957 with the LCGB "Southern Counties Limited" railtour.
    Photograph: Mike Morant collection.
  • C2x N°32535
    Tunbridge Wells
    C2x N°32535 at Tunbridge Wells West with the Bluebell Railway Preservation Society's special train on 12th July 1959. It is thought that this train traversed the Goods spur at East Grinstead to access the Bluebell lines.
    Photograph by Ian Fossey.
  • C2x N°32535
    Kingscote
    N°32535 has now taken her train onto the Bluebell Line and is seen here at Kingscote.
    Photograph by Ian Fossey.
  • C2x N°32535
    Horsted Keynes
    Another view of N°32535, now at Horsted Keynes. This was almost certainly the last passenger carrying train to vist the Bluebell Line via East Grinstead and depart via Lewes. The round trip from/to Tonbridge ran via East Grinstead, Horsted Keynes, Lewes and Uckfield, all of it behind N°32535.
    Photograph: Mike Morant collection.

Technical Details

 

Introduced:
Driving Wheel:
Weight:
Water Capacity:
Cylinders (2):
Boiler Pressure:
Tractive Effort:
Coal Capacity:
BR Power Classification:

C2

1893
5 ft
38 tons 0 cwt
2,420 galls
18 in x 26 in
160 lb sq in
19,094 lbs
4 tons
2-F

Modified C2

1893
5 ft
38 tons 0 cwt
2,420 galls
17½ in x 26 in
160 lb sq in
18,048 lbs
4 tons
2-F

C2x

1908
5 ft
45 tons 5 cwt
2,420 galls
17½ in x 26 in
170 lb sq in
19,175 lbs
4 tons
2-F

Data

LBSC N° SR N° # BR N° Built Rebuilt as C2x Withdrawn
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
2433
2434
2435
2436
2437
2438
2439
2440
2441
2442
2443
2444
2445
2446
2447
2448
2449
2450
2451
2452
2521
2522
2523
2524
2525
2526
2527
2528
2529
2530
2531
2532
2533
2534
2535
2536
2537
2538
2539
2540
2541
2542
2543
2544
2545
2546
2547
2548
2549
2550
2551
2552
2553
2554
2555
 
32434
32435
32436
32437
32438
 
32440
32441
32442
32443
32444
32445
32446
32447
32448
32449
32450
32451
 
32521
32522
32523
32524
32525
32526
32527
32528
32529
 
 
32532
32533
32534
32535
32536
32537
32538
32539
32540
32541
 
32543
32544
32545
32546
32547
32548
32549
32550
32551
32552
32553
32554
 
Feb 1893
Mar 1893
Mar 1893
Mar 1893
Apr 1893
Apr 1893
Apr 1893
May 1893
May 1893
May 1893
Jun 1893
Jun 1893
Jul 1894
Jul 1894
Aug 1894
Aug 1894
Oct 1894
Oct 1894
Oct 1894
Nov 1894
Aug 1900
Aug 1900
Aug 1900
Sep 1900
Sep 1900
Sep 1900
Sep 1900
Oct 1900
Oct 1900
Oct 1900
Oct 1900
Oct 1900
Oct 1900
Oct 1900
Nov 1900
Nov 1900
Nov 1900
Nov 1900
Nov 1900
Nov 1900
Dec 1901
Dec 1901
Dec 1901
Dec 1901
Dec 1901
Jan 1902
Jan 1902
Jan 1902
Jan 1902
Jan 1902
Feb 1902
Feb 1902
Feb 1902
Feb 1902
Feb 1902
 
Nov 1910
 
 
Sep 1911
Feb 1924
 
Dec 1911
Oct 1912
Jun 1922
Oct 1924
Sep 1910
Mar 1911
Jun 1912
Jan 1911
Nov 1912
Jan 1912
Feb 1910
Mar 1924
 
Jan 1925
Sep 1910
Apr 1924
Oct 1912
Dec 1910
Jun 1940
Oct 1939
Sep 1911
Apr 1924
 
 
Jul 1911
 
May 1911
Dec 1939
Jun 1924
Aug 1924
Apr 1910
Jun 1924
Dec 1921
May 1910
 
Oct 1915
Jan 1911
Jul 1908
Jun 1912
Oct 1908
Mar 1925
Oct 1912
Nov 1910
Feb 1909
Jan 1940
Oct 1908
Apr 1911
 
Nov 1936
Mar 1957
May 1948
Jan 1950
Jun 1959
Dec 1961
Apr 1937
Oct 1958
Oct 1961
Feb 1960
Aug 1960
Mar 1960
Nov 1961
Oct 1960
Feb 1960
Oct 1961
Jun 1961
Oct 1961
Nov 1961
Oct 1935
Dec 1961
Oct 1961
Feb 1962
Mar 1958
Jan 1962
Feb 1960
Nov 1960
Feb 1961
Sep 1959
Oct 1935
Mar 1936
May 1960
Feb 1950
Sep 1961
Feb 1962
Mar 1961
Apr 1957
Dec 1961
Nov 1961
Apr 1958
Jan 1961
Jan 1937
Oct 1960
Nov 1961
Dec 1961
Apr 1961
Nov 1961
Nov 1961
Dec 1961
Dec 1961
Feb 1960
Jun 1961
Aug 1961
Feb 1960
Dec 1937

# Between 1923 and 1928 SR numbers were the LBSC numbers with the added prefix 'B'

This page was last updated 7 July 2011

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