GCR Class 11F
Encyclopedia
The Great Central Railway
Class 11F or Improved Director Class is a class of 4-4-0
steam locomotive
designed by John G. Robinson for passenger work. The LNER classified them as Class D11 from 1923. They were based on the earlier GCR Class 11E
"Director" class (LNER D10).
There were two subclasses: D11/1 were the original GCR engines and D11/2 were those built in 1924 by the LNER to a reduced loading gauge with smaller boiler mountings for hauling passenger trains in Scotland
.
during the late 1940s and early 1950s, they hauled expresses between Manchester Central
and Liverpool Central
; also semi-fast trains from Manchester Central via Northwich to Chester Northgate
.
Their 6 ft 9 inches driving wheels made them fast locos, but consequently unsuitable for hauling freight trains. The eleven original 11F locos were withdrawn during 1959 and 1960 as diesel multiple units took over operation of the shorter distance passenger trains.
The locomotive operated passenger trains on the preserved Great Central Railway
in Leicestershire
during the late 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s but is now out of running order and is a static exhibit in the National Railway Museum
at York. The locomotive was temporarily placed on display at Barrow Hill Roundhouse, near Chesterfield, in 2005. No. 506 is the only surviving GCR passenger locomotive.
506 Butler Henderson is still on display at Barrowhill Roundhouse next to British Railways 60532 Blue Peter.
Richard had risen to be a top express driver on the GCR having left the Buckinghamshire farm land to seek work on the railways. In the photograph there is a bold watch chain showing across his waistcoat. Richard apparently marched into Wintergarten's shop after driving his engine all day, still in his overalls, and purchased the chain and the gold watch attached to it with a roll of banknotes. He lived with his wife Ethel and son Lawrence in the GCR cottages in Gresham Street, Neasden. Ethel’s Mother had GCR drivers as lodgers in her house in Woodford. Her Father, Richard David Nicolson, was a Signal Engineer. Richard gave the watch to Lawrence, who wore it every day throughout the Second World War. The watch passed to Richard’s great great grandson on Lawrence's death in 2005.
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 11F or Improved Director Class is a class of 4-4-0
4-4-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-4-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and no trailing wheels...
steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
designed by John G. Robinson for passenger work. The LNER classified them as Class D11 from 1923. They were based on the earlier GCR Class 11E
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:...
"Director" class (LNER D10).
There were two subclasses: D11/1 were the original GCR engines and D11/2 were those built in 1924 by the LNER to a reduced loading gauge with smaller boiler mountings for hauling passenger trains in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Operational career
The 11F Class was initially used on passenger work on the GCR system, including fast expresses from Sheffield Victoria to London Marylebone. Later in their careers, they were used on short distance passenger trains. On lines of the Cheshire Lines CommitteeCheshire Lines Committee
The Cheshire Lines Committee was the second largest joint railway in Great Britain, with 143 route miles. Despite its name, approximately 55% of its system was in Lancashire. In its publicity material it was often styled as the Cheshire Lines Railway...
during the late 1940s and early 1950s, they hauled expresses between Manchester Central
Manchester Central railway station
Manchester Central railway station is a former railway station in Manchester City Centre, England. One of Manchester's main railway terminals between 1880 and 1969, it now houses an exhibition and conference centre named Manchester Central.-History:...
and Liverpool Central
Liverpool Central railway station
Liverpool Central railway station is a railway station in Liverpool, England, and forms the central hub of the Merseyrail network, being on both the Northern Line and the Wirral Line. In the years 2008/09, Liverpool Central station was shown to be the busiest station in Liverpool, despite being...
; also semi-fast trains from Manchester Central via Northwich to Chester Northgate
Chester Northgate railway station
Chester Northgate is a former railway station in Chester, Cheshire that was a terminus for the Cheshire Lines Committee and Great Central Railway...
.
Their 6 ft 9 inches driving wheels made them fast locos, but consequently unsuitable for hauling freight trains. The eleven original 11F locos were withdrawn during 1959 and 1960 as diesel multiple units took over operation of the shorter distance passenger trains.
Preservation
The first member of the GCR Class 11F, No. 506 Butler Henderson, was withdrawn from use by British Railways during 1960. It has been preserved and currently wears restored GCR colours.The locomotive operated passenger trains on the preserved Great Central Railway
Great Central Railway (preserved)
The Great Central Railway is a heritage railway split into two adjacent sections, one in Leicestershire and the other Nottinghamshire.The Leicestershire section is currently Britain's only double track mainline heritage railway, with of working double track, period signalling, locomotives and...
in Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
during the late 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s but is now out of running order and is a static exhibit in the National Railway Museum
National Railway Museum
The National Railway Museum is a museum in York forming part of the British National Museum of Science and Industry and telling the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. It has won many awards, including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001...
at York. The locomotive was temporarily placed on display at Barrow Hill Roundhouse, near Chesterfield, in 2005. No. 506 is the only surviving GCR passenger locomotive.
506 Butler Henderson is still on display at Barrowhill Roundhouse next to British Railways 60532 Blue Peter.
Stock list
| GCR No. | |Name | |Date built | |LNER No. | |1946 LNER No. | |Date withdrawn | |Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 501 | Mons | 5501 | 2665 | |||
| 502 | Zeebrugge | 5502 | 2666 | |||
| 503 | Somme | 5503 | 2667 | |||
| 504 | Jutland | 5504 | 2668 | |||
| 505 | Ypres | 5505 | 2669 | |||
| 506 | Butler-Henderson | 5506 | 2660 | Preserved | ||
| 507 | Gerard Powys Dewhurst | 5507 | 2661 | |||
| 508 | Prince of Wales | 5508 | 2662 | |||
| 509 | Prince Albert | 5509 | 2663 | |||
| 510 | Princess Mary | 5510 | 2664 | |||
| 511 | Marne | 5511 | 2670 | |||
| 1378 | Baile MacWheeble | 6378 | 2671 | |||
| 1379 | Baron of Bradwardine | 6379 | 2672 | |||
| 1380 | Evan Dhu | 6380 | 2673 | |||
| 1381 | Flora MacIvor | 6381 | 2674 | |||
| 1382 | Colonel Gardiner | 6382 | 2675 | |||
| 1383 | Jonathan Oldbuck | 6383 | 2676 | |||
| 1384 | Edie Ochiltree | 6384 | 2677 | |||
| 1385 | Luckie Mucklebackit | 6385 | 2678 | |||
| 1386 | Lord Glenallen | 6386 | 2679 | |||
| 1387 | Lucy Ashton | 6387 | 2680 | |||
| 1388 | Captain Craigengelt | 6388 | 2681 | |||
| 1389 | Haystoun of Bucklaw | 6389 | 2682 | |||
| 1390 | Hobbie Elliott | 6390 | 2683 | |||
| 1391 | Wizard of the Moor | 6391 | 2684 | |||
| 1392 | Malcolm Graeme | 6392 | 2685 | |||
| 1393 | The Fiery Cross | 6393 | 2686 | |||
| 1394 | Lord James of Douglas | 6394 | 2687 | |||
| 1395 | Ellen Douglas | 6395 | 2688 | |||
| 1396 | Maid of Lorn | 6396 | 2689 | |||
| 1397 | The Lady of the Lake | 6397 | 2690 | |||
| 1398 | Laird of Balmawhapple | 6398 | 2691 | |||
| 1399 | Allan-Bane | 6399 | 2692 | |||
| 1400 | Roderick Dhu | 6400 | 2693 | |||
| 1401 | James Fitzjames | 6401 | 2694 | |||
GCR locomotive Gerard Powys Dewhurst and her driver
The photograph (left) was taken at Neasden shed. Gerard Powys Dewhurst, No 507, was the latest type of passenger express engine in 1920. It was the second of the class delivered and was still in service to BR in 1958. In 1920 it would have been the centre of interest and the pride of the crew. Known then as Director Class D11 the engines were built by the GCR and were maintained in immaculate condition as they were the main loco class on services out of Marylebone at this time. In 1923 No 507 was renumbered 5507 when the LNER took over the GCR and 62661 in 1948 when it came under BR ownership. There are three men standing on the track in front of the loco. At centre is Richard Hinson, born on 1 November 1880 and died in 1958.Richard had risen to be a top express driver on the GCR having left the Buckinghamshire farm land to seek work on the railways. In the photograph there is a bold watch chain showing across his waistcoat. Richard apparently marched into Wintergarten's shop after driving his engine all day, still in his overalls, and purchased the chain and the gold watch attached to it with a roll of banknotes. He lived with his wife Ethel and son Lawrence in the GCR cottages in Gresham Street, Neasden. Ethel’s Mother had GCR drivers as lodgers in her house in Woodford. Her Father, Richard David Nicolson, was a Signal Engineer. Richard gave the watch to Lawrence, who wore it every day throughout the Second World War. The watch passed to Richard’s great great grandson on Lawrence's death in 2005.