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South Eastern & Chatham Railway H-class, 263

The H-class approaches Horsted Keynes, with SECR carriages in tow, August 1996. Richard Salmon

The photo on the right, by Keith Harwood, shows our locomotive, as British Railways No.31263, leaving East Grinstead high level station for Three Bridges. The coaches are a pair of SR Maunsell carriages formed into a push-pull set, which the loco is here pushing.

Built as the standard loco for the SECR's suburban services, the H-class were a popular loco in later years for services on rural branch lines in Sussex, especially after the withdrawal of the LBSCR D3 tanks. This particular locomotive ended up on the line between East Grinstead and Three Bridges and worked there until the last push-pull services on that line were withdrawn in January 1964. It is estimated to have run 1,849,668 miles over its 59-year main-line career.

Purchased from BR by the H-Class Trust, it was initially located at Robertsbridge, but soon found a home at the South Eastern Steam Centre at Ashford, where the engine appeared at various open days. However, in 1975 the Trustees decided that the locomotive would have much more scope for running if based on the Bluebell. Since then it has had two periods in steam, and is now awaiting its turn in the queue for an overhaul, which will involve substantial boiler work.

Length: 33ft overall
Weight: 54 Tons 8 cwt
Water capacity: 1,200 Gallons
Coal capacity: 2 Tons 5 cwt
Boiler Pressure: 160 lb/sq.in
Driving Wheels: 5ft 6in diameter
Cylinders: (2, inside) 18" x 26"
Tractive Effort: 17,360 lbs
Engine brake: Vacuum BR power classification: 1P

Last major overhaul: c1989
Last operational: 1998
Owner: H-Class Trust
Current status: Static display, awaiting overhaul.