GWR 2602 'Kruger' Class
No. 2601, the Kruger 4-6-0
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer William Dean Builder GWR Swindon Works Order number 116 Serial number 1723, 1724–1732 Build date 1899–1903
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-0 (1) 2-6-0 (9) Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Leading dia. 2 ft 8 in (0.813 m) Driver dia. 4 ft 7+1⁄2 in (1.410 m) Boiler pressure 180 psi (1,200 kPa) Cylinders 2 Cylinder size 19 in × 28 in (483 mm × 711 mm)
Career Operators Great Western Railway Numbers 2601, 2602–2610

The 2602 Class was a series of steam locomotives designed by William Dean and built at the Swindon Works of the Great Western Railway.

Design

They had outside frames to the six coupled driving wheels, but inside frames for the leading wheels. A distinctive visual feature, initially, was a large saddle-shaped sandbox over the first ring of the boiler. The class had two prototypes: No. 2601, which was a 4-6-0, while No. 2602 was a 2-6-0. These were built in 1899, and Nos. 2603-2610, all 2-6-0s, followed later, up to 1903. Though Dean was officially still in charge, Churchward's influence is evident in the rugged design. Their perhaps ironic nickname was after Paul Kruger, the Boer War leader defeated by Lord Roberts in 1900.

Problems

Perhaps Churchward saw the chance of experimenting in the name of Dean, and this somewhat experimental class was not successful, the boiler with its high pressure and 3 ft 6 in (1.067 m) long combustion chamber gave trouble^[1] and the long 28-inch (711 mm) stroke of the inside cylinders led to fractures of the solid crank axles.^[2] So the class was not long-lived and most were withdrawn around 1906. Several of the boilers were converted for stationary use in Swindon Works at reduced pressure, and remained in service there until the 1950s.

Aberdare class

Their numbers were adopted in 1907 by some of the last batch of the more elegant and reliable Aberdare Class 2-6-0s, which may also have re-used some of the "Kruger"s' parts.^[3]