Collett 32xx/90xx Dukedog class

The Great Western Railway 3200 Class (or 'Earl' Class) was a design of 4-4-0 steam locomotive for passenger train work. The nickname for this class, almost universally used at the time these engines were in service was Dukedog since the locomotives were composed of former Duke Class boilers on Bulldog Class frames. As such they were one of the last steam locomotive classes to retain outside frames

he GWR absorbed the Cambrian Railways in 1923, but, with the Cambrian main line being lightly built, permanent way restrictions debarred the use of heavier locomotives. This meant that only a few classes of GWR locomotive were allowed to run over it, including the Duke Class. However, by the 1930s the Duke class engines were past their estimated life, and in particular the frames were in poor condition. At the same time the heavier Bulldog Class was becoming redundant and being withdrawn, and later members of this class had an improved straight topped frame design

In December 1929, Duke No.3265 Tre Pol and Pen was withdrawn, and the cab, cylinders and motion, together with a Duke boiler and smokebox, were fitted to the straight-topped frames of Bulldog no. 3365 Charles Grey Mott. The rebuilt locomotive was given the name and number of the Duke. This resulted in an engine with stronger frames which could still be used on yellow weight restricted routes.

The conversion was a success and from 1936 twenty-nine "new" locomotives were constructed from the relevant components of withdrawn Dukes and Bulldogs. The classification of the rebuilds as "new" locomotives had advantages in the railway's accounts, and they were given new numbers in the 32xx series (3200-3228). A further eleven conversions were scheduled, but the onset of World War II brought a halt to the program

The prototype conversion retained its Duke number and name (3265 Tre Pol and Pen). The first nominally new locomotive was numbered 3201, and originally kept the name of the parent Duke. A decision was then taken to name the class after living Earls who had some connection with the GWR. Apparently, as a riposte to repeated requests from aristocratic GWR directors for engines to be named after them, the CME of Great Western, Charles Collett decided that these "new" engines, with their decidedly old-fashioned Victorian appearance, should be given the names of those directors. When the directors assembled at Paddington Station for the unveiling of the "new" class, the group were not impressed at Collett's joke. So, although the first batch of twenty were allocated Earl names, following the construction and naming of no. 3212 Earl of Eldon in May 1937, the nameplates were removed and the names given to nos. 5043-5062 of the express Castle class instead.


Renumbering

In the 1946 renumbering all the surviving locomotives in the 32xx series, both Dukes and Dukedogs, were renumbered in the 90xx series, retaining the same last two digits. This was to free the 32xx numbers for new 2251 Class engines


Large collection of over 75 photos


Starting with the original numbering series 32xx series


3265 Tre Pol and Pen (original first loco rebuilt as a Dukedog) Collett Dukedog

https://railway-photography.smugmug...-designs/Collett-Dukedog-BR-service/i-hSSSRKD



back to numerical sequence


3202 Earl of Dudley

https://railway-photography.smugmug...-designs/Collett-Dukedog-BR-service/i-zpwqqKj



to 3228

https://railway-photography.smugmug...-designs/Collett-Dukedog-BR-service/i-LvnTZtN



renumbered in the 90xx series



9004

https://railway-photography.smugmug...-designs/Collett-Dukedog-BR-service/i-RcQ5QHM



to 9005

https://railway-photography.smugmug...-designs/Collett-Dukedog-BR-service/i-wfNtB3f



then 5 pages of photos to



9017

https://railway-photography.smugmug...-designs/Collett-Dukedog-BR-service/i-4KqwXkT



finishing with



9027

https://railway-photography.smugmug...-designs/Collett-Dukedog-BR-service/i-XJdSG2N



Neil

 

Hi Neil,

The only images I can fill in are
35/76 9011 Victoria Eastern
71/76 9023/9011 Victoria passing Grosvenor Carriage Sidings

Cheers, Neil