2-8-0 Class WD ROD Profile and Models
1718 at Couchil-le-temple, France in January 1919. ©Public Domain
The Railway Operating Division (ROD) ROD 2-8-0 is a type of 2-8-0 steam locomotive which was the standard heavy freight locomotive operated in Europe by the ROD during the First World War. During the First World War the Railway Operating Division of the Royal Engineers requisitioned about 600 locomotives of various types from thirteen United Kingdom railway companies; the first arrived in France in late 1916. As the war became prolonged it became clear that the ROD needed its own standard locomotive, so the ROD adopted the Great Central Railway Class 8K 2-8-0 designed by John G. Robinson in 1911. There were three batches of orders, with 521 built in total. The locomotives were mainly used to haul military supply and troop trains, plus some services for civilians. After the war British railway companies had a backlog of locomotives that required overhaul and repair: 498 ROD 2-8-0s were loaned to nine railway companies between 1919 and 1921 to cover goods traffic while the backlog was cleared. Three ROD 2-8-0s and one pre-war 8K have been preserved: |
|
Type of Locomotive |
Steam |
Builder |
North British Locomotive Co Robert Stephenson & Co Nasmyth, Wilson & Co Kitson & Co GCR Gorton Works |
Build Date |
1917 to 1919 |
Total Built |
521 |
Tractive Effort |
31,325 lbf |
Wheel Configuration |
2-8-0 |
Operated By |
Railway Operating Division War Department Great Central Railway Great Western Railway London & South Western Railway London & North Eastern Railway London, Midland & Scottish Railway British Railways Richmond Vale Railway (Australia) |
Main Duties |
Heavy Freight Wartime Use |
In Service Until |
1966 (UK) 1973 (Australia) |
Surviving Examples |
3 |
Products awaiting categorisation
Scale | Brand | Image | Construction Type | DCC Capability | Product Code | Product Title | Livery |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
N Gauge | Graham Farish | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
370-400Loco View |
WD Austerity 2-8-0 No.400 "Sir Guy Williams" in LMR Blue. Split from Longmoor Military Railway Train Pack | Longmoor Military Railway |