GCR Class 1
Encyclopedia
The Great Central Railway
Class 1 - London and North Eastern Railway
Class B2, later B19 - was a class of steam locomotives designed by John G. Robinson and introduced to service between December 1912 and 1913.
Although commonly believed that they were intended as express passenger locomotives, the Great Central actually classified and used them as mixed traffic locomotives. The minutes of the Locomotive Committee show that they were ordered as a superheated version of the 8F (Immingham) class mixed traffic locomotives. They were described as mixed traffic locomotives in the contemporary Great Central publication 'Per Rail' which promoted the company's goods services. Three of the class were painted in lined black goods livery from the outset. Their initial allocations included the 'Pipe trains', the vacuum-brake fitted express goods services between Manchester and London, among the most important services on the Great Central. There is no evidence that they were intended to challenge the contemporary 11E (Director) class
4-4-0s for the generally light express passenger services of the pre-1914 years on the London Extension.
There is similarly no evidence to support the claims that they had problems in service which led to their alleged demotion from express passenger use. The design of the fire grate
and ash pan
was very similar to, for example, the later Gresley K3 2-6-0s, and their firebox
es were deep and relatively large for their 26.5 square feet (2.5 m²) grate area. Overheating troubles with axleboxes have been alleged, related to the large force from the inside cylinders. Robinson in fact took care to make the coupled boxes as large as possible, 9 by 9 in (228.6 by 228.6 mm) on the two leading axles and 8 by 12 in (203.2 by 304.8 mm) on the trailing set. In fact a more likely source of initial trouble was the marine-type big ends fitted to the first five, since the sixth reverted to strap and cotter type.
Great Central Railway
The Great Central Railway was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed its name in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension . On 1 January 1923, it was grouped into the London and North Eastern...
Class 1 - London and North Eastern Railway
London and North Eastern Railway
The London and North Eastern Railway was the second-largest of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain...
Class B2, later B19 - was a class of steam locomotives designed by John G. Robinson and introduced to service between December 1912 and 1913.
Although commonly believed that they were intended as express passenger locomotives, the Great Central actually classified and used them as mixed traffic locomotives. The minutes of the Locomotive Committee show that they were ordered as a superheated version of the 8F (Immingham) class mixed traffic locomotives. They were described as mixed traffic locomotives in the contemporary Great Central publication 'Per Rail' which promoted the company's goods services. Three of the class were painted in lined black goods livery from the outset. Their initial allocations included the 'Pipe trains', the vacuum-brake fitted express goods services between Manchester and London, among the most important services on the Great Central. There is no evidence that they were intended to challenge the contemporary 11E (Director) class
GCR Class 11E
The GCR Class 11E was a type of 4-4-0 steam locomotive used by the Great Central Railway for express passenger services. Ten were built in the railway's own workshops at Gorton, Manchester during 1913; they remained in service until the mid 1950s.-History:...
4-4-0s for the generally light express passenger services of the pre-1914 years on the London Extension.
There is similarly no evidence to support the claims that they had problems in service which led to their alleged demotion from express passenger use. The design of the fire grate
Steam locomotive components
A listing of the components found on typical steam locomotives.center|720px|Schematic steam locomotiveGuide to steam locomotive components .A listing of the components found on typical steam...
and ash pan
Steam locomotive components
A listing of the components found on typical steam locomotives.center|720px|Schematic steam locomotiveGuide to steam locomotive components .A listing of the components found on typical steam...
was very similar to, for example, the later Gresley K3 2-6-0s, and their firebox
Firebox
In a steam engine, the firebox is the area where the fuel is burned, producing heat to boil the water in the boiler. Most are somewhat box-shaped, hence the name.-Railway locomotive firebox :...
es were deep and relatively large for their 26.5 square feet (2.5 m²) grate area. Overheating troubles with axleboxes have been alleged, related to the large force from the inside cylinders. Robinson in fact took care to make the coupled boxes as large as possible, 9 by 9 in (228.6 by 228.6 mm) on the two leading axles and 8 by 12 in (203.2 by 304.8 mm) on the trailing set. In fact a more likely source of initial trouble was the marine-type big ends fitted to the first five, since the sixth reverted to strap and cotter type.