For many years the London, Chatham and Dover Railway (LCDR) had favoured the 0-4-4T wheel arrangement for suburban and stopping passenger trains, and when more were required in 1890, consideration was given to ordering a further batch of the existing A2 class 0-4-4T (introduced 1883); it was then decided that a modified design was required.[3] The new locomotives were designed by William Kirtley as a development of his earlier A2 class,[3] and 18 were built by Sharp, Stewart and Company in 1891.[4][5] The new locomotives were originally classified A3, but this was altered to R when that class letter was vacated with the withdrawal of the last of the Ruby class in November 1891.[6]
Numbering
Their LCDR numbers were 199–216, which under the South Eastern and Chatham Railway became 658–675 from 1899.[4] They were renumbered three more times: to A658–A675 by the Southern Railway (SR) from 1923; to 1658–1675 by the SR from 1931; and to 31658–31675 by British Railways from 1948.
Withdrawal
Three (Nos. 1664, 1668 and 1669) were withdrawn in 1940 to provides spares for the others,[1] and withdrawal of the rest occurred between 1949 and 1955.[5]
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