WD Austerity 2-8-0

The War Department Austerity 2-8-0 is a heavy freight steam locomotive introduced in 1943 for war service. A total of 935 were built, making it one of the most-produced classes of British steam locomotive, and railwaymen nicknamed them Ozzies. Robert Riddles, then Deputy Director General of Equipment for the Royal Engineers, adapted the LMS Stanier Class 8F to wartime conditions, helped by Thomas Coleman and the design offices of several private builders. The changes, a parallel boiler, a steel firebox, cast iron wheel centres and a simplified cab, cut construction time and strategic materials and saved roughly 20 per cent of the man-hours of an 8F. The North British Locomotive Company built 545 and the Vulcan Foundry at Newton-le-Willows built 390. After the war 200 were sold to the LNER as Class O7 and 733 became British Railways numbers 90000 to 90732, of which only 90732 was named, Vulcan, after the builder. One, Vulcan Foundry works number 5200, is preserved on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.