4-4-0 Class D15 LSWR Profile and Models

4-4-0 Class D15 LSWR

30467 at West Weybridge in July 1953. ©Ben Brooksbank

The LSWR D15 class 4-4-0 was the last steam locomotive design by Dugald Drummond for the London and South Western Railway in 1912. By 1912, Dugald Drummond had built several classes of unsuccessful 4-6-0 express passenger locomotives. The result of these failures was that when he designed what was to be his last class in 1911, a new 4-4-0 design emerged from Eastleigh Works in February 1912, with what was to be the first of his D15 class. Contrary to Drummond's previous 4-6-0 designs, the D15s performed exceptionally well and were put to work on trains to Bournemouth, where many drivers noted their superior operational characteristics when compared to the T14 class 4-6-0s. This was due to a marked reduction in coal, water and oil consumption, and easier maintenance. These successful locomotives worked, in the main, out of Waterloo and prior to electrification had a virtual monopoly of the Portsmouth expresses. All 10 worked into BR ownership and were eventually retired by the end of 1956. None were preserved.

(Information provided via Wikipedia)

Type of Locomotive

Steam

Builder

LSWR Eastleigh Works

Build Date

1912 to 1913

Total Built

10

Tractive Effort

22,333 lbf (20,100 lbf after rebuilding)

Wheel Configuration

4-4-0

Operated By

London & South Western Railway
Southern Railway
British Railways

Main Duties

Passenger Services

In Service Until

1956

Surviving Examples

0