GNR Class C2
Encyclopedia
The Great Northern Railway
(GNR) Small Boiler Class C1 is a class of steam locomotive, the first 4-4-2
or Atlantic type in Great Britain. They were designed by Henry Ivatt
in 1897. In total 22 were built between 1898 and 1903 at Doncaster Works
.
The class were commonly known as 'Klondykes' (sic), after the 1897 Klondike gold rush
.
The 4-4-2 or Atlantic type made its first appearance in 1888 in the United States of America. It was the natural development of the 4-4-0
the additional trailing truck not only supporting a larger firebox but improving the riding. Ten years later the GNR's Henry Ivatt
introduced the Atlantic type engines to Britain.
Ivatt had the daunting task of replacing the venerable Patrick Stirling
at the head of the GNR's locomotive department. Stirling, who had died in office aged 75, was revered not only for the performance of his locomotives but for their looks as well. 'Artistry in metal' was one description of his work and many consider the legendary Stirling Single to be the apotheosis of British locomotive aesthetics.
By the turn of the century, however, these single wheelers were being taxed by increasing train loadings on the East Coast Main Line
. Seeking greater power and adhesion, Ivatt took the American route. He was not alone; his counterpart on the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway, John Aspinall
was also working on an Atlantic. Possibly to register a British first construction of the type, Ivatt's Atlantic was given a high priority by the GNR. Numbered No.990 and named Henry Oakley
after the general manager of the railway, it was outshopped from Doncaster works in 1898, beating Aspinall's prototype by a few months.
Like Churchward on the Great Western Railway
Ivatt placed great importance on the boiler design. On No.990 he opted for a large capacity vessel and it was this extra steam raising capacity that gave the Atlantics the edge over Stirling's single wheelers. The first production Atlantics entered service in 1900 and proved fast, lively runners. So lively indeed, that Ivatt had to caution his drivers to rein in the speed because stretches of the track between London and Doncaster were considered too uneven for safety! In their turn, the enginemen would have told Ivatt that the cylinders were no match for the boiler. These first Atlantics had to be worked at undesirable and uneconomic rates to achieve the expected performance; in other words they were thrashed.
Following on from this success Ivatt built the large boiler GNR Class C1
.
After the grouping this class became LNER Class C2, whereas the large boiler engines were LNER Class C1. GNR's own Class C2 Atlantic tank locomotives became LNER Class C12.
Great Northern Railway (Great Britain)
The Great Northern Railway was a British railway company established by the Great Northern Railway Act of 1846. On 1 January 1923 the company lost its identity as a constituent of the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway....
(GNR) Small Boiler Class C1 is a class of steam locomotive, the first 4-4-2
4-4-2 (locomotive)
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-4-2 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...
or Atlantic type in Great Britain. They were designed by Henry Ivatt
Henry Ivatt
Henry Alfred Ivatt was the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Great Northern Railway from 1896 to 1911.- Biography :...
in 1897. In total 22 were built between 1898 and 1903 at Doncaster Works
Doncaster Works
Doncaster railway works is in the town of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England.Always referred to as "the Plant", it was established by the Great Northern Railway in 1853, replacing the previous works in Boston and Peterborough...
.
The class were commonly known as 'Klondykes' (sic), after the 1897 Klondike gold rush
Klondike Gold Rush
The Klondike Gold Rush, also called the Yukon Gold Rush, the Alaska Gold Rush and the Last Great Gold Rush, was an attempt by an estimated 100,000 people to travel to the Klondike region the Yukon in north-western Canada between 1897 and 1899 in the hope of successfully prospecting for gold...
.
The 4-4-2 or Atlantic type made its first appearance in 1888 in the United States of America. It was the natural development of the 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...
the additional trailing truck not only supporting a larger firebox but improving the riding. Ten years later the GNR's Henry Ivatt
Henry Ivatt
Henry Alfred Ivatt was the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Great Northern Railway from 1896 to 1911.- Biography :...
introduced the Atlantic type engines to Britain.
Ivatt had the daunting task of replacing the venerable Patrick Stirling
Patrick Stirling
Patrick Stirling was Locomotive Superintendent of the Great Northern Railway.His father Robert Stirling was also an engineer. His brother James Stirling was also a locomotive engineer...
at the head of the GNR's locomotive department. Stirling, who had died in office aged 75, was revered not only for the performance of his locomotives but for their looks as well. 'Artistry in metal' was one description of his work and many consider the legendary Stirling Single to be the apotheosis of British locomotive aesthetics.
By the turn of the century, however, these single wheelers were being taxed by increasing train loadings on the East Coast Main Line
East Coast Main Line
The East Coast Main Line is a long electrified high-speed railway link between London, Peterborough, Doncaster, Wakefield, Leeds, York, Darlington, Newcastle and Edinburgh...
. Seeking greater power and adhesion, Ivatt took the American route. He was not alone; his counterpart on the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway, John Aspinall
John Aspinall
John Aspinall may refer to:* John Aspinall , zoo owner and gambler* John Aspinall , engineer* John Thomas Walshman Aspinall , English Conservative Party politician, Member of Parliament for Clitheroe 1853...
was also working on an Atlantic. Possibly to register a British first construction of the type, Ivatt's Atlantic was given a high priority by the GNR. Numbered No.990 and named Henry Oakley
Henry Oakley
Sir Henry Oakley , was a British railway administrator. He spent most of his working life with the Great Northern Railway , joining in 1849. He was chief clerk in the Company Secretary's office until taking over as Secretary in 1858...
after the general manager of the railway, it was outshopped from Doncaster works in 1898, beating Aspinall's prototype by a few months.
Like Churchward on the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
Ivatt placed great importance on the boiler design. On No.990 he opted for a large capacity vessel and it was this extra steam raising capacity that gave the Atlantics the edge over Stirling's single wheelers. The first production Atlantics entered service in 1900 and proved fast, lively runners. So lively indeed, that Ivatt had to caution his drivers to rein in the speed because stretches of the track between London and Doncaster were considered too uneven for safety! In their turn, the enginemen would have told Ivatt that the cylinders were no match for the boiler. These first Atlantics had to be worked at undesirable and uneconomic rates to achieve the expected performance; in other words they were thrashed.
Following on from this success Ivatt built the large boiler GNR Class C1
GNR Class C1
The Great Northern Railway Class C1 is a type of 4-4-2 steam locomotive. One, ex GNR 251, later LNER 2800, survives in preservation.- Development :...
.
After the grouping this class became LNER Class C2, whereas the large boiler engines were LNER Class C1. GNR's own Class C2 Atlantic tank locomotives became LNER Class C12.
Preservation
Only one of the small boiler C1 class has survived into preservation and it was the very first. No.990 Henry Oakley is preserved as part of the national collection. Although operated since preservation, it is now on static display and is currently (April 2011) on static display at Bressingham Steam Museum, Diss, Norfolk.External links
- http://www.lner.info/locos/C/c2.shtml LNER Encyclopedia entry for LNER class C2