GWR Churchward & De Glehn compounds

Churchward purchased three French de Glehn-du Bousquet four-cylinder compound locomotives, in order to evaluate the benefits of compounding. Similar to the Paris-Orleans Railway's 3001 class and built by Society Alsacienne de Constructions Mécaniques, the first locomotive no.102 La France was delivered in 1903, with Nos. 103 and 104 purchased in 1905. The locomotives had two high pressure cylinders fitted between the frames, and two low pressure outside cylinders.


103 President unknown location Churchward & De Glehn compound 4-4-2

https://railway-photography.smugmug...omotives/103-President-104-Alliance/i-3ffSHD5


104 Alliance alongside Lode Star unknown location with GWR boiler Churchward & de Glehn-du Bousquet four-cylinder compound locomotive

https://railway-photography.smugmug...omotives/103-President-104-Alliance/i-QfCb3jw


104 Alliance unknown location

https://railway-photography.smugmug...omotives/103-President-104-Alliance/i-dD98SrZ


https://railway-photography.smugmug...omotives/103-President-104-Alliance/i-h54RK7q


103 President unknown location Churchward & De Glehn compound 4-4-2

https://railway-photography.smugmug...omotives/103-President-104-Alliance/i-3ffSHD5


Neil

 

The first of the 3 French engines, No. 102 La France, was based on the Nord Railway Class 2.641. It had an outside-framed bogie and was slightly smaller than Nos 103/4, which as you say were derived from the later Paris-Orleans Class 3001.

Both designs had the small high-pressure cylinders outside, adjacent to the rear bogie wheels. The larger low-pressure cylinders were inside. Nos 103/4 had the main frame spacing widened at the front-end to accommodate these low-pressure cylinders, which were 600mm (23½-inch) diameter.

In the photo-set, Pics 2,3 & 8 show the engines with their original French-designed boilers, while the other pics show them after replacement GW-type boilers had been fitted.