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Steam Locomotives of the Great Northern Railway (GNR)[Inhalt]
Heavy version of the C1 in LNER colors catching water at full speed
Heavy version of the C1 in LNER colors catching water at full speed
collection R. Blencowe

The Great Northern Railway was founded in 1846 to build a line from London to York. Operations on the first section began as early as March 1848. At that time, some lines of other railway companies were used, on which the trackage rights were secured. As early as 1850, the section from London to Peterborough was fully opened. The following year construction began on King's Cross station in London, which opened in 1852. The main line of the GNR finally joined the line of the North Eastern Railway to the north of Doncaster.

Today it forms part of the East Coast Main Line, which connects to Edinburgh. From the 1870s the GNR operated the Flying Scotsman there in conjunction with the North Eastern and North British. Here the GNR express locomotives were able to show off their high travel speeds on their section. The world's first dining cars were introduced there in 1879, and continuous vacuum brakes were also installed from 1881.

Today
Today's view of King's Cross, the London terminus
Reading Tom

Over time, more and more connections to cities off the main line were made. The most important of these were Leicester, Nottingham, Manchester and Sheffield. In the 1860s several suburban routes in London were bought up. An increasingly important task was the transport of coal from the mining areas in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Yorkshire. The delivery of ever-increasing quantities of coal to London soon brought in the company's largest turnover. Furthermore several joint railways were operated together with other railway companies.

The first chief mechanical engineer was Benjamin Cubitt, who died after only a short time on duty. He was succeeded in 1850 by Archibald Sturrock, who had learned his trade at the GWR under Gooch and was to design more than a dozen locomotives for the GNR. He accompanied the company during a period of great growth, in which the number of employees increased more than tenfold.

Archibald Sturrock
Archibald Sturrock
National Railway Museum

His successor from 1866 was Patrick Stirling, who was known for his singles with a wheel diameter of eight feet and one inch or 2.464 mm. These express engines could already reach 85 mph (137 km/h) and set records in the 1895 “Race to the North” with average speeds of more than 60 mph (97 km/h).

After Stirling's death in 1895, he was succeeded by Henry Alfred Ivatt, who became known for the technical innovations he was the first to introduce in Great Britain. These were the Atlantic express locomotive in 1898, the superheater in 1908 and also the Heusinger valve gear.

Henry Ivatt
Henry Ivatt

In 1911 Nigel Gresley took over the post. One of his first achievements was the introduction of “Quad Art” type commuter trainsets. These were four-car, permanently connected passenger coaches which rested on common Jakobs bogies and thus saved weight. For the ever-increasing coal traffic to London, he was one of the first in Great Britain to introduce freight locomotives with a 2-8-0 wheel arrangement. In 1922, shortly before the grouping, he developed the A1 class Pacific, which was the first proven to reach a speed of 100 mph (161 km/h) in regular service. He later continued to make a name for himself with the LNER with extra fast steam engines when the A4 “Mallard” reached 126 mph (203 km/h).

When the British railway administrations were grouped in 1923, the Great Northern became part of the London & North Eastern. Now the entire East Coast Main Line was under the control of a single company. Gresley was able to assert himself as chief engineer of the entire company and retained this title until his death in 1941.

Great Northern (UK) Sturrock 7 ft Singles
Great Britain | 1860
12 produced
Locomotive Magazine, January 1899

Archibald Sturrock had a total of twelve 2-2-2 express locomotives built by three manufacturers in 1860 and 1861, which had a driving wheel diameter of seven feet. They were at the same time generously sized and very handsomely proportioned, so that they are sometimes described as Sturrock's masterpiece. The long firebox, which was raised compared to the boiler barrel, is clearly visible. The leading axle was now directly under the smokebox. This arrangement was adopted for all further GNR three-axle passenger and express locomotives.

General
Built1860-1861
ManufacturerKitson & Co., Sharp, Stewart & Co., Robert Stephenson & Co.
Axle config2-2-2 (Jenny Lind) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Wheelbase18 ft
Rigid wheelbase18 ft
Service weight77,504 lbs
Adhesive weight29,792 lbs
Axle load29,792 lbs
Water capacity2,882 us gal
Fuel capacitycoal
Boiler
Firebox area177 sq ft
Tube heating area883.6 sq ft
Evaporative heating area1,060.6 sq ft
Total heating area1,060.6 sq ft
Power Plant
Driver diameter84 in
Expansion typesimple
Cylinderstwo, 17 x 22 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
express
Archibald Sturrock
last changed: 02/2024
Great Northern (UK) No. 264 to 269
later Ivatt class B6
Great Britain | 1866
6 produced
No. 266 built by Fowler
No. 266 built by Fowler
Locomotive Magazine, March 1899
No. 268 built by the Yorkshire Engine Co.
No. 268 built by the Yorkshire Engine Co.
Locomotive Magazine, March 1899

The last locomotives that Sturrock designed for the GNR were six 2-4-0 express locomotives and a driver diameter of seven feet. These were built half each by Fowler and the Yorkshire Engine Co. The steel driving wheels were an innovation. Since the coupling rods often broke, Stirling converted the locomotives to 2-2-2 wheel arrangement from 1873 onwards. In this form they were more successful and were only retired between 1898 and 1902.

General
Built1866-1867
ManufacturerJohn Fowler & Co., Yorkshire Engine Co.
Axle config2-4-0 (Porter) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Wheelbase18 ft 1 in
Rigid wheelbase18 ft 1 in
Water capacity3,002 us gal
Fuel capacity4,480 lbs (coal)
Boiler
Grate area19.7 sq ft
Firebox area121 sq ft
Tube heating area907 sq ft
Evaporative heating area1,028 sq ft
Total heating area1,028 sq ft
Power Plant
Driver diameter84 in
Boiler pressure150 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylinderstwo, 17 x 24 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power375 hp (280 kW)
Optimal speed23 mph
Starting effort10,528 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
express
Archibald Sturrock
last changed: 03/2023
Great Northern (UK) No. 472 and 473
Great Britain | 1866
2 produced
Locomotive Magazine, February 1899

The Great Northern needed new locomotives to accommodate the growing freight traffic on the Metropolitan Line between King's Cross and the goods yards between Farringdon Street and Ludgate Hill. The particular challenges were gradients of up to 1 in 35, tight curves and several tunnels. Two locomotives were therefore ordered from Avonside in 1866, based on two others that had been built for the Vale of Neath Railway.

With four coupled axles they were exceptionally strong by British standards at the time. In order to be able to drive through the tight curves, the first and last axles could each be moved laterally by 5/8 inch and were reset by springs. Because of the tunnels they had a condenser. However, as they turned out to be too large for the Metropolitan Line, it is unclear how long they were actually used there in the time until they were scrapped in 1880.

General
Built1866
ManufacturerAvonside
Axle config0-8-0T (Eight-coupled) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Wheelbase15 ft 10 in
Rigid wheelbase5 ft 5 in
Service weight125,440 lbs
Adhesive weight125,440 lbs
Axle load31,360 lbs
Fuel capacitycoal
Boiler
Grate area17 sq ft
Firebox area100 sq ft
Tube heating area1,450.1 sq ft
Evaporative heating area1,550.1 sq ft
Total heating area1,550.1 sq ft
Power Plant
Driver diameter42 in
Boiler pressure150 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylinderstwo, 18 1/2 x 24 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power425 hp (317 kW)
Optimal speed11 mph
Starting effort24,935 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
tank locomotive
freight
condensator
Archibald Sturrock
last changed: 12/2023
Great Northern (UK) Stirling 2-4-0
later classes E3 and E1
Great Britain | 1867
137 produced

Stirling's first locomotives for the Great Northern were the 20 2-4-0s of class 280, built in 1867 and 1868. Despite the large drivers measuring 6 feet 7 inches or 2,007 mm in diameter, they were used for passenger and mail trains, while express trains were reserved for Singles. One feature was that the driving axles were mounted in the inside frame and the leading axle in the outside frame.

From 1874 onwards, 117 more followed, which were known as class 86 and had some changes. Many of these were rebuilt to class E1 from 1897, when Ivatt succeeded Stirling. They received a larger boiler, while those that were not rebuilt were now referred to as class E3. In the 20th century they only served light trains on branch lines. 34 came to the LNER, but they were retired by 1927.

Variant28086rebuilt E1
General
Built1867-18681874-1879from 1897
ManufacturerAvonside, Yorkshire Engine Co.Doncaster, Kitson & Co.Doncaster
Axle config2-4-0 (Porter) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Wheelbase17 ft 9 in17 ft 11 in
Rigid wheelbase17 ft 9 in17 ft 11 in
Empty weight72,352 lbs
Service weight77,168 lbs86,464 lbs92,960 lbs
Adhesive weight53,536 lbs57,992 lbs
Total weight179,200 lbs
Axle load27,664 lbs30,912 lbs33,600 lbs
Fuel capacitycoal
Boiler
Grate area15.9 sq ft16.3 sq ft
Firebox area94 sq ft95 sq ft103 sq ft
Tube heating area991.5 sq ft897 sq ft1,016 sq ft
Evaporative heating area1,085.5 sq ft992 sq ft1,119 sq ft
Total heating area1,085.5 sq ft992 sq ft1,119 sq ft
Variant28086rebuilt E1
Power Plant
Driver diameter79 in
Boiler pressure130 psi170 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylinderstwo, 17 x 24 intwo, 17 1/2 x 26 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power375 hp (280 kW)350 hp (261 kW)525 hp (391 kW)
Optimal speed25 mph20 mph23 mph
Starting effort9,702 lbf11,137 lbf14,564 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
passenger
Patrick Stirling
last changed: 02/2024
Great Northern (UK) Stirling Single
Great Britain | 1870
53 produced
ETH Zürich

Patrick Stirling believed that locomotives with large wheels would not only be suitable for higher speeds, but would also achieve better traction. So he borrowed a 2-2-2 locomotive from the Great Eastern and used it to develop a significantly larger locomotive. By adding a two-axle leading bogie, guidance at higher speeds was improved and the increased weight was better distributed.

The no longer operational No. 1 in July 2003 in Doncaster
The no longer operational No. 1 in July 2003 in Doncaster
Our Phellap

The driving wheels were eight feet and one inch in diameter, equivalent to 2,464 mm. The cylinders were very large at 18 by 28 inches in order to still be able to convert enough steam at the lower rotational speeds of the large wheels. In order to be able to position the boiler low despite the large cylinders and also to avoid the problems with cranked axles and high forces, the cylinders were arranged on the outside. Between 1870 and 1895 a total of 53 were manufactured, which became increasingly heavier and had a higher boiler pressure.

sectional drawing
sectional drawing
Locomotive Magazine, February 1902

The Singles were also used on heavier trains on the flat line between London and York with an average speed of around 50 mph or 80 km/h. Trains with ten to 16 three-axle coaches that weighed between 150 and 240 tons in total were common on lines that rarely had a gradient of more than 1 in 200 and a maximum of 1 in 95. With lighter trains, they could reach speeds of up to 85 mph or 137 km/h.

In the “Race to the North” they ran lighter trains at average speeds of more than 60 mph or 97 km/h. Even with heavier trains, there were strict instructions not to use pilot locomotives in order to showcase the performance of the Singles. After there were two derailments in 1895 and 1896 due to the high axle load on the driving axle, the weight was reduced.

At the turn of the century, the trains became too heavy for the Singles, so pilot locomotives were now used. With the introduction of Ivatt's Atlantics in 1898, the area of operation also shifted to less important trains. Nevertheless, some received a larger domed boiler by Ivatt. After the last ones were retired by 1916, only number 1 remained as the oldest Single from 1870. It ran for the last time in 1985 and is now in the National Railway Museum in York.

Variant1870 variant1884 variant1894 variant
General
Built187018841894-1895
ManufacturerDoncaster
Axle config4-2-2 (Single) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length50 ft 7 in
Length loco29 ft29 ft 11 in
Wheelbase22 ft 10 in22 ft 1 in23 ft 3 in
Rigid wheelbase8 ft 8 in9 ft
Service weight86,128 lbs101,136 lbs110,992 lbs
Adhesive weight33,600 lbs38,080 lbs43,904 lbs
Total weight146,608 lbs175,924 lbs204,400 lbs
Axle load33,600 lbs38,080 lbs43,904 lbs
Water capacity3,223 us gal3,483 us gal4,624 us gal
Fuel capacity7,840 lbs (coal)11,200 lbs (coal)
Boiler
Grate area17.6 sq ft17.8 sq ft20 sq ft
Firebox area122 sq ft109 sq ft121.7 sq ft
Tube heating area1,043 sq ft936 sq ft910 sq ft
Evaporative heating area1,165 sq ft1,045 sq ft1,031.7 sq ft
Total heating area1,165 sq ft1,045 sq ft1,031.7 sq ft
Variant1870 variant1884 variant1894 variant
Power Plant
Driver diameter97 in97.5 in
Boiler pressure140 psi160 psi172 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylinderstwo, 18 x 28 intwo, 19 1/2 x 28 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power550 hp (410 kW)575 hp (429 kW)650 hp (485 kW)
Optimal speed32 mph29 mph26 mph
Starting effort11,130 lbf12,654 lbf15,965 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
express
Patrick Stirling
last changed: 01/2024
Great Northern (UK) class C1 (small boiler) “Klondykes”
London & North Eastern class C2
Great Britain | 1898
22 produced
Locomotive Magazine, July 1898

Shortly before the turn of the century, Henry Ivatt had the task of developing a new locomotive for the increasing loads of the most important express trains. He had to measure himself against the singles from his predecessor Patrick Stirling, who were still considered excellent and very fast, but no longer powerful enough. Here, for the first time in Great Britain, the wheel arrangement 4-4-2 was used, which originally came from the USA and was known there as “Atlantic”. The difference was that the Atlantic was developed in the US from the 4-4-0 “American” to allow for a larger firebox and smoother running, while in the UK it was a 4-2-2 “Single” with an extra coupled axle

No. 990 “Henry Oakley” at the Doncaster Works Open Day, July 2003
No. 990 “Henry Oakley” at the Doncaster Works Open Day, July 2003
Our Phellap

The class also represented a departure from British tradition in other respects, most notably with its externally mounted cylinders. The class was initially only named after the first machine built with the number 990 and later got the designation C1. To distinguish them from the larger boiler design of 1902, the locomotives are generally known simply as “C1 (small boiler)” or “Small Atlantics”. Because of the American influence, they were also nicknamed “Klondykes” after the Klondike Gold Rush. A single example, number 271, was built in 1902 with four small simple acting cylinders.

Schematic drawing
Schematic drawing
Locomotive Magazine, October 1900

A total of 22 pieces were made. The locomotives easily reached 90 mph, which proved difficult in everyday use on routes such as between London and Doncaster. At some speeds, it was often found that the cylinders were too small to implement the boiler's output. This led to unfavorable valve gear settings during operation, which led to high steam consumption.

In 1909, number 988 was the only one equipped with a superheater according to the Schmidt patent. The boiler pressure was reduced from 175 to 160 psi and in return the cylinder diameter was increased from 19 to 20 inches. From 1914 all other machines were converted with the Robinson superheater. From 1923, the machines were listed as class C2 by the LNER. The decommissioning began as early as 1935 and lasted until 1946. Today only number 990, which was built first, still exists, which bears the name “Henry Oakley” after the former managing director of the Great Northern

VariantproductionsuperheatedNo. 271
General
Built1898-19031909, 1914-19251902
ManufacturerDoncaster
Axle config4-4-2 (Atlantic) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Wheelbase26 ft 4 in26 ft 9 in
Rigid wheelbase6 ft 10 in6 ft 10 1/2 in
Total wheelbase48 ft 3 in
Service weight129,941 lbs134,400 lbs131,600 lbs
Adhesive weight69,548 lbs72,128 lbs73,360 lbs
Total weight221,557 lbs226,016 lbs217,840 lbs
Axle load35,750 lbs37,184 lbs38,080 lbs
Water capacity4,407 us gal
Fuel capacity11,200 lbs (coal)
Boiler
Grate area26.8 sq ft24.5 sq ft
Firebox area140 sq ft137 sq ft140.5 sq ft
Tube heating area1,302 sq ft1,027 sq ft1,162.5 sq ft
Evaporative heating area1,442 sq ft1,164 sq ft1,303 sq ft
Superheater area343 sq ft
Total heating area1,442 sq ft1,507 sq ft1,303 sq ft
VariantproductionsuperheatedNo. 271
Power Plant
Driver diameter78 in
Boiler pressure175 psi170 psi175 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylinderstwo, 18 3/4 x 24 intwo, 20 x 24 infour, 15 x 20 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power800 hp (597 kW)1,050 hp (783 kW)775 hp (578 kW)
Optimal speed32 mph38 mph29 mph
Top speed90 mph
Starting effort16,091 lbf17,785 lbf17,163 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
express
Henry Alfred Ivatt
last changed: 06/2022
Great Northern (UK) class C1 (large boiler)
London & North Eastern class C1
Great Britain | 1902
94 produced
No. 1300 with four-cylinder compound engine
No. 1300 with four-cylinder compound engine
Vulcan Foundry

As a development of the C1 with a small boiler, Ivatt had number 251 built in 1902, which was also an Atlantic. The most striking difference was the significantly larger boiler, which had a diameter of 5 ft 6 in instead of 4 ft 8 in. Based on the American model, its firebox stood on the frame behind the coupled axles and was significantly wider. This should serve the goal of being able to produce large amounts of steam even at the highest speeds.

The prototype had only two cylinders, slightly larger than those of the smaller Atlantic. The slide valves were soon exchanged for piston valves, improving performance. Initially 80 production pieces of this version were built between 1904 and 1908. Ten more followed in 1910, which had a factory superheater and operated with a boiler pressure of just 150 instead of 170 psi. The earlier pieces also got a superheater later.

Individual examples were built with four compound cylinders and a 200 psi pressure boiler as a trial. Number 292, which was already built in 1904, made the start. As a compound locomotive of the De Glehn type, it had external high-pressure cylinders that drove the rear coupled axle and internal low-pressure cylinders that drove the front coupled axle. The valve gear was designed in such a way that it could start up as a four-cylinder engine with simple steam expansion and then be switched to compound action. This locomotive had a boiler pressure of 200 psi and was in service until 1927.

No. 251
No. 251
J.R. Howden, „The Boys' Book of Locomotives”

Similar to the 292 was the 1421, also built at Doncaster in 1907. It had a similar engine, but larger low-pressure cylinders. After receiving a superheater in 1914, it was converted into a simple two-cylinder engine in 1920 and thus joined the 91 examples of the production version.

An exception was number 1300, built by the Vulcan Foundry in 1905, which like the small Atlantic had a long, narrow firebox. The arrangement of the cylinders corresponded to the other two four-cylinder locomotives, but the valve gear differed. It had an automatic starting device, which initially worked with two cylinders with simple steam expansion and automatically switched to compound operation with all four cylinders as speed increased. Like the 1421, it received a superheater in 1914 and was converted to a two-cylinder engine in 1917.

The 279, which had been part of the series production, was converted into a four-cylinder locomotives in 1915. Here, however, simple steam expansion was still used, which is why all cylinders now had a diameter of 15 instead of 19 inches. It remained in service in this form until 1938, when it received two new 20-inch diameter cylinders from the K2 class Mogul

Schematical drawing of No. 292
Schematical drawing of No. 292
Locomotive Magazine, May 1908

Since the production version already provided very good service, no further special versions were built. Like their predecessors, they easily reached 90 mph and, in contrast to these, were able to pull up to 500 long tons at high speeds. The LNER also referred to them as class C1, while the smaller C1s now became C2s. Although one machine was equipped with a booster in 1923 to increase the tractive effort, the tractive effort of the other machines was apparently still sufficient and so this was later removed again.

Regular service on the heaviest express trains ended in the 1920s with the introduction of the A1 class Pacifics. The C1 now tended to pull lighter express trains and stood in for failed Pacifics. Especially in the latter area of operation, they often proved that they could also take over these trains without any problems and thus provided train services that were actually significantly higher than the services originally intended for them. From about 1950 they mainly only pulled regular passenger trains before they were retired between 1954 and 1960.

Variantproduction variantNo. 292No. 1300No. 1421
General
Built1902-1910190419051907
ManufacturerDoncasterVulcan FoundryDoncaster
Axle config4-4-2 (Atlantic) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Wheelbase26 ft 4 in28 ft 4 in26 ft 4 in
Rigid wheelbase6 ft 10 in8 ft 6 in6 ft 10 in
Service weight153,215 lbs153,440 lbs159,040 lbs154,785 lbs
Adhesive weight80,640 lbs82,880 lbs80,640 lbs
Total weight244,830 lbs245,055 lbs250,655 lbs156,130 lbs
Axle load40,320 lbs40,880 lbs41,440 lbs40,880 lbs
Water capacity4,203 us gal
Fuel capacity14,560 lbs (coal)
Boiler
Grate area31 sq ft
Firebox area141 sq ft170 sq ft143.6 sq ft
Tube heating area2,500 sq ft2,515 sq ft2,351 sq ft
Evaporative heating area2,641 sq ft2,685 sq ft2,494.6 sq ft
Total heating area2,641 sq ft2,685 sq ft2,494.6 sq ft
Variantproduction variantNo. 292No. 1300No. 1421
Power Plant
Driver diameter80 in
Boiler pressure170 psi200 psi
Expansion typesimplecompound
Cylinderstwo, 19 x 24 infour, HP: 13 x 20 in
and LP: 16 x 26 in
four, HP: 14 x 26 in
and LP: 23 x 26 in
four, HP: 13 x 20 in
and LP: 18 x 26 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power1,050 hp (783 kW)1,250 hp (932 kW)1,350 hp (1,007 kW)1,200 hp (895 kW)
Optimal speed43 mph84 mph54 mph75 mph
Top speed90 mph
Starting effort15,649 lbf9,527 lbf15,803 lbf10,252 lbf
with start valve11,432 lbf18,964 lbf12,302 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
express
De Glehn compound
Henry Alfred Ivatt
last changed: 06/2022
Great Northern (UK) class H1
Great Britain | 1899
20 produced
Railway and Locomotive Engineering, March 1900

The obsolescence of the existing freight locomotives on the Great Northern shortly before the turn of the century faced the problem that there was no free capacity in the local locomotive factories. Neither the own workshops in Doncaster, nor the commercial British factories were able to deliver any significant number in a timely manner. So they turned to Baldwin in the USA, which designed a freight locomotive for use in England.

While in Great Britain at that time ordinary freight locomotives were normally manufactured with a 0-6-0 wheel arrangement, mainline locomotives in the USA were always designed with a leading axle or bogie. Thus the new locomotive was a lightly built Mogul, which was delivered a total of 20 times in 1899. It corresponded mainly to American design principles and got a four-axle tender with bogies. Typically British features were the placement of the sandbox under the running boards and a British-design chimney.

Schematic drawing
Schematic drawing
Locomotive Magazine, November 1900

During operation, a somewhat high coal consumption and a very high consumption of lubricating oil were noticed. Despite the leading axle, their running was considered unsteady and due to the light construction, the continuous steaming performance did not have any significant advantages compared to earlier freight locomotives. Even the experimental use with London suburban trains from King's Cross did not bring convincing results. Thus, the decommissioning took place between 1909 and 1915, when enough freight locomotives from indigenous production were available.

General
Built1899
ManufacturerBaldwin
Axle config2-6-0 (Mogul) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Wheelbase22 ft 8 in
Rigid wheelbase14 ft 9 in
Total wheelbase51 ft 7 in
Service weight100,700 lbs
Adhesive weight85,500 lbs
Total weight194,700 lbs
Axle load28,500 lbs
Water capacity4,203 us gal
Fuel capacity11,200 lbs (coal)
Boiler
Grate area16.7 sq ft
Firebox area120 sq ft
Tube heating area1,260 sq ft
Evaporative heating area1,380 sq ft
Total heating area1,380 sq ft
Power Plant
Driver diameter61.5 in
Boiler pressure175 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylinderstwo, 18 x 24 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power650 hp (485 kW)
Optimal speed22 mph
Starting effort18,808 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
freight
last changed: 07/2022
Great Northern (UK) class H4
London & North Eastern class K3
Great Britain | 1920
193 produced
No. 61815 at Stratford
No. 61815 at Stratford
flickr/stratfordman72

The Great Northern class H4 was a 2-6-0 mixed-traffic locomotive designed by Sir Nigel Gresley. Its basis was the H3, but now it got three instead of two cylinders, being the first production locomotive to use Gresley's conjugated valve gear. All three cylinders worked on the second driving axle. With a huge boiler being six feet in diameter, the axle loading became somewhat high for some lines.

The first ten locomotives were built in 1920 at Doncaster and the LNER adopted this class as a standard design. With additional batches built at Doncaster, Darlington and three commercial manufacturers, 193 had been completed by 1937. They were designated class K3 by the LNER. Due to their rhythm of the exhaust beat and the uneven gyratory movements, they earned the nickname “Jazzers”.

Nevertheless, they were able to run at up to 75 mph (121 km/h) and were also used to haul express trains when needed. So they could be rated as being very successful, although Thompson rebuilt one in 1945 into the two-cylinder K5. All were withdrawn between 1959 and 1962 with none being preserved. The A1 steam trust once announced that they might build a new K3, but as of today no new news can be found about that topic.

General
Built1920-1937
ManufacturerDoncaster, Darlington, Armstrong Whitworth, Robert Stephenson & Co., North British
Axle config2-6-0 (Mogul) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Wheelbase25 ft 2 in
Rigid wheelbase16 ft 3 in
Service weight160,610 lbs
Adhesive weight134,400 lbs
Total weight257,155 lbs
Axle load44,800 lbs
Water capacity4,203 us gal
Fuel capacitycoal
Boiler
Grate area28 sq ft
Firebox area182 sq ft
Tube heating area1,901 sq ft
Evaporative heating area2,083 sq ft
Total heating area2,083 sq ft
Power Plant
Driver diameter68 in
Boiler pressure180 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylindersthree, 18 1/2 x 26 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power1,000 hp (746 kW)
Optimal speed21 mph
Starting effort30,032 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
passenger
freight
Herbert Nigel Gresley
last changed: 06/2024
Great Northern (UK) classes J5 and J4
London & North Eastern classes J4 and J3
Great Britain | 1901
322 produced
LNER No. 4142 in September 1947 in Immingham depot
LNER No. 4142 in September 1947 in Immingham depot
Ben Brooksbank / An ex-GN 0-6-0 at Immingham Locomotive Depot

The design of the J5 goes back to the design of Patrick Stirling's “Standard Goods” which were built from 1867 and are known as the Class J7. As a direct development, the J6 was built from 1873, in which the boiler diameter was increased by two inches from 4 feet and 1/2 inch, the cylinder diameter grew from 24 to 26 inches and which now had splashers around the wheels.

After the last ten J6s received other 4ft 5in diameter boilers, 133 new locomotives were built in 1903 with these boilers and designated J5. 125 of the 170 J6 were then also converted to the J5. Twelve almost identical locomotives went to the Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway. The J5s could often be found double-headed in front of heavy coal trains running non stop from Peterborough to London. In some cases, however, they were even used in front of local trains. During the First World War, 26 engines were drafted by the ROD and taken to France. They received a condensation device to reduce the visible vapor plume, which was removed again when they returned to Great Britain.

From 1912 Nigel Gresley began rebuilding the J5 into a new class called the J4. A new boiler was used, which now had a diameter of 4 feet and 8 inches and was actually intended for the 4-4-0 class D2 locomotives. Prior to the grouping, 71 examples were rebuilt, which then became the J3 in the newly formed LNER, while the remaining J5s became the new class J4. By 1929, the LNER had rebuilt a further 82 units. During this time, the task area of the locomotives shifted to shunting tasks and local freight trains, since more powerful locomotives were now available for transporting heavy freight trains on main lines. Gradually the number of locomotives was reduced, with some being sold to coal mines. A few examples made it to British Railways in 1948, the last unconverted being retired in 1951 and the last converted in 1954.

VariantJ5rebuilt J4
General
Built1901-19031912-1929
ManufacturerDoncaster
Axle config0-6-0 (Six-coupled) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Wheelbase15 ft 6 in
Rigid wheelbase15 ft 6 in
Total wheelbase36 ft 11 1/2 in
Service weight92,400 lbs95,424 lbs
Adhesive weight92,400 lbs95,424 lbs
Total weight170,576 lbs181,664 lbs
Axle load34,048 lbs35,840 lbs
Fuel capacitycoal
Boiler
Grate area16.3 sq ft
Firebox area103 sq ft105 sq ft
Tube heating area1,016 sq ft1,130 sq ft
Evaporative heating area1,119 sq ft1,235 sq ft
Total heating area1,119 sq ft1,235 sq ft
VariantJ5rebuilt J4
Power Plant
Driver diameter62 in
Boiler pressure170 psi175 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylinderstwo, 17 1/2 x 26 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power600 hp (447 kW)650 hp (485 kW)
Optimal speed21 mph22 mph
Starting effort18,558 lbf19,104 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
freight
Henry Alfred Ivatt
last changed: 09/2022
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