Furness Railway Class 19

The Furness Railway Class 19 were a group of ten 0-6-0 tank locomotives designed by W. F. Pettigrew. Eight were manufactured by the Vulcan Foundry and two by Kitson and Company in 1910 and from 1915 to 1916. All ten were passed over to the London, Midland and Scottish Railway in the 1923 grouping. They were all withdrawn between 1930 and 1942.

History

Design

In 1910, W. F. Pettigrew, locomotive superintendent for the Furness Railway, designed the class to replace the older Class G1 "Neddies" for shunting and small freight work. The new engines were utilised the standard wheels and cylinders to increase power output.

Construction

Six were initially built by the Vulcan Foundry in 1910 and numbered 19–24. Two more were ordered during World War I and built by Kitson & Co in 1915, numbered 51–52. These were followed by a final pair built by Vulcan in 1916 and numbered 53–54. The original 1910 locomotives were renumbered 55–60 to maintain sequence with the later built engines.

Service life

The G5 class were initially used as shunters at Barrow Docks and also bankers at Lindal-in-Furness. The class would later be fitted for passenger services, but rarely used as such. All ten passed into LMS ownership in 1923, being renumbered 11553–11562.

Withdrawal

Trade reductions in the 1930s due to the Great Slump of Britain rendered the class obsolete. Six were withdrawn and scrapped between 1930 and 1932 despite being in serviceable condition. Three more were withdrawn between 1934 and 1936, with only 11553 remaining. 11553 was ultimately retired in 1942 and scrapped at Horwich the following year.