Hawksworth Modified Hall class

The Great Western Railway (GWR) 6959 Class or Modified Hall Class is a class of 4-6-0 steam locomotive. They were a development by Frederick Hawksworth of Charles Collett's earlier Hall Class named after English and Welsh country houses.
Although the GWR had been at the forefront of British locomotive development between 1900 and 1930, the 1930s saw a degree of complacency at Swindon reflected in the fact that many designs and production methods had not kept pace with developments elsewhere. This was especially true with the useful GWR 4900 Class, the design of which largely originated in the 1900s and had not fundamentally changed since the mid-1920s.[1] Charles Collett was replaced as the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Railway by F.W. Hawksworth in 1941 who immediately created a modified version of the design, known as the 'Modified Hall Class'.
Design
The Modified Halls marked the most radical change to Swindon Works' practice since Churchward's time as chief mechanical engineer and was very far from a simple modification of the Hall design. 'Although in outward appearance it looked almost the same, nearly everything about it was new.'[2] Hawksworth's use of plate frames throughout the design was a break with Churchward's practice for 2 cylinder locomotives. The cylinders were cast separately from the smokebox saddle and bolted to the frames on each side. A stiffening brace was inserted between the frames and extended to form the smokebox saddle. The exhaust pipes leading from the cylinders to the blastpipe were incorporated into this assembly.
Additionally, Churchward's bar framed bogie which had been adapted for the original Hall prototype in 1924 was replaced by a plate frame structure with individual springing. There were changes, too, above the running board. Hawksworth decided that the declining quality of coal reaching Great Western depots necessitated a higher degree of superheating. A larger three-row superheater and header regulator were fitted into Swindon No.1 boiler. Improvements were subsequently made to the draughting on some engines, while others were fitted with hopper ashpans.
Production
The first batch of twelve Modified Halls was delivered from Swindon works between March and September 1944. They carried plain black livery were unnamed and numbered 6959-6970 (immediately following the Hall Class sequence). They were all subsequently named between 1946 and 1948
A further batch of ten locomotives appeared during October and November 1947 and others were on order when the nationalisation of Britain's railways took place in 1948. British Railways continued construction of this class until November 1950, by which time there were seventy-one examples
Some modified Halls were equipped with a flat, high-sided Hawksworth tenders. Once he became Chief Mechanical Engineer, many earlier locomotives also received these tenders so a Hawksworth tender does not necessarily mean a Hawksworth locomotive.
Assessment
The Modified Hall class 'ran freely, steamed well and were popular with both footplate and maintenance staff. After the unambitious designs of Collett's final years, they restored Swindon's reputation. 'Fourteen survived until the end of steam on the former GWR in 1965.

This 1st collection features 6959-6970 built in 1944 including now preserved 6960 Raveningham Hall
6960 Raveningham Hall unknown location
https://tinyurl.com/499vhuly
Full collection of over 60 photos starts here with
6959 minus Peatling Hall nameplates Oxford Shed 21st April 1965
https://tinyurl.com/3p9ex2ml


Neil.


https://tinyurl.com/499vhuly

 

I have added a new collection of Hawksworth Modified Hall class locos
This collection features 6971-6980 built in 1947
Including this photo showing the run down state in which they were working
6976 minus Graythwaite Hall nameplates or number plates Oxford April 1965
https://tinyurl.com/19qr6q51
https://tinyurl.com/2xxrk6xt
anyone recognise themselves here
https://tinyurl.com/y2r4m4p4
Full collection starts here with
6971 Athelhampton Hall at Leamington with a Birkenhead to Ramsgate service 30th June 1956 Hawksworth Modified Hall
https://tinyurl.com/396ouqtj
Neil.

 

I have added a new collection of Hawksworth Modified Hall class locos
This collection features 6981-6995 built in 1948
Over 60 photos in this collection including
This loco getting a soaking at Dawlish (nothing changed then)
6981 Marbury Hall passing a bit rough sea
https://tinyurl.com/57f82xyk
This collection also features now preserved 6990 Witherslack Hall
Photos taken during the 1948 Loco trials on the G.C.R.
6990 Witherslack Hall Locomotive exchange trials 16-6-1948 1.56pm Marylebone-Manchester Exchange
https://tinyurl.com/44y73qqj
unknown location
https://tinyurl.com/7a9kh7v0
Full collection starts here with
6981 Marbury Hall nr Ebbw curve 23rd July 1955
https://tinyurl.com/2okm8uuc

Neil.

 

A couple of locations to add -

29/62 6987 Basingstoke Up Local line next to loco shed
62/62 6995 Swindon

Cheers, Neil

 

I have added a new collection of Hawksworth Modified Hall class locos
This collection features 6996-6999 + 7900-7906 (Built 1949)
Including these photos of now preserved 6998 in filthy condition
6998 without Burton Agnes Hall nameplates waiting to take over a passenger service at Oxford April 1965 Hawksworth modified Hall (1)
https://tinyurl.com/1ij98cjj
https://tinyurl.com/1okes8ff
7903 Foremarke Hall
https://tinyurl.com/yonnuwkt
Full collection of over 75 photos starts here with
6996 Blackwell Hall leaves Swindon with the 1.20pm service to Gloucester 7-4-1964
https://tinyurl.com/4uccjffr

Neil.

 

Final collection features 7907-7929 (Built 1950)
Including this filthy run down engine typical of the Steam scene on B.R. prior to withdrawal
7908 Henshall Hall in filthy condition with no nameplates or number plates just number chalked on buffer beam Wolverhampton L.L.
https://tinyurl.com/4scy2nzr
also
7912 Little Linford Hall boiler having a general overhaul Swindon 'A' shop 28-4-63
https://tinyurl.com/76pdmwcz
& last built
7929 Wyke Hall unknown shed location
https://tinyurl.com/55cuwukv
Full collection of 130 photos starts here with
Hawksworth Modified Hal alongside a Collett Hall
7907 Hart Hall (r) Hawksworth modified Hall + 5913
https://tinyurl.com/m43x263a

Neil.

 

Hi Neil,

7/130 7908 Shrewsbury
22/130 7911 Basingstoke
30/130 7913 Old Oak Common (Mitre Bridge Lane bridge)
35/130 7916 Newbury

Cheers, Neil

 

I have added a lot of new photos featuring Hawksworth 6959 Class or Modified Hall Class 4-6-0
This collection features 7907-7929 (Built 1950)
Including various locos at Tyseley
7929 Wyke Hall, 48212 & 44691 Hawksworth Modified Hall Tyseley shed
https://tinyurl.com/3s8tcfzy

over 20 new photos start here with
7910 Hown Hall unknown location Hawksworth modified Hall
https://tinyurl.com/4njwe7cn
to
7916 Mobberley Hall Swindon works
https://tinyurl.com/y4vuu6ca
to
7928 Wolf Hall Worcester Shrub Hill
https://tinyurl.com/3d9xv8af

Neil

 

I have added 3 new photos to the collection of Hawksworth Modified Hall class
This collection features 6959-6970 built 1944

6961 Stedham Hall Old Oak Common April 1961
https://tinyurl.com/yckj87ja
6963 minus Throwley Hall nameplates
https://tinyurl.com/yy9hkr67
6969 Wraysbury Hall Bristol Bath Road shed 16th April 1955
https://tinyurl.com/4268pt8h

Neil

https://tinyurl.com/yckj87ja

 

I have added 3 new photos to the collection of Hawksworth’s Modified Halls
6971-6980 built 1947
6972 Beningbrough Hall & Black 5 44776 at Bristol 14th December 1963
https://tinyurl.com/2p8k37pc
6972 Beningbrough Hall Bristol Bath Road shed 19th June 1960
https://tinyurl.com/4t24765m
6977 Grundisburgh Hall unknown location
https://tinyurl.com/32efznpt

Neil

 

I have added 3 new photos to the collection of Hawksworth’s Modified Halls
6981-6995 (Built 1948)
Which includes 6990 Witherslack Hall now preserved
6990 Witherslack Hall Swindon running shed 24th April 1955
https://tinyurl.com/2p9a228t
6985 Parwick Hall passing Landore 6th July 1958
https://tinyurl.com/2p8azbcj
6994 Baggrave Hall passing Patney & Chirton 14th September 1956
https://tinyurl.com/2p8nash9

Neil

 

I have added some new photos to the collection of Hawksworth’s Modified Halls
This collection features 6996-6999 + 7900-7906 (Built 1949)
New photos start here with
7900 Saint Peter's Hall near Kennington Jct
https://tinyurl.com/mpt9svjk

Neil