GNR Class L1
Encyclopedia
The Great Northern Railway
(GNR) Class L1 (LNER Class R1) was a 0-8-2T side tank steam locomotive
designed by Henry Ivatt
. It was originally designed for suburban passenger traffic on the Metropolitan City Lines
.
A prototype was built in 1903, but it was overweight, so it was rebuilt with a smaller boiler and shorter side tanks. Ten more engines were then built to this modified design. During the "small boiler" era, the cylinders were lined to 18" to match the boilers.
In 1905 and 1906, thirty more engines were built for working goods trains in the West Riding of Yorkshire
. The original eleven engines were not a great success on passenger services so, in 1907, they were moved to the West Riding for goods work.
for working in tunnels. The thirty built for the West Riding were probably not so fitted, but this is subject to confirmation. It is not known whether the condensing apparatus was removed from the original eleven when they were moved to the West Riding.
s fitted and, on these, the working pressure was reduced to 170psi.
would have been an 8-cylinder diesel engine
of 400 horsepower, driving a 4-cylinder air compressor
to charge an air reservoir. Compressed air from the reservoir would have been heated, both by the diesel exhaust and by steam from an oil-fired steam generator
, and would then have entered the locomotive's original cylinders at about 150 psi. The use of steam to heat the air is reminiscent of the Mekarski system
. This diesel-pneumatic proposal never became a reality but a German one of 1929 did.
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) Class L1 (LNER Class R1) was a 0-8-2T side tank 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 Henry Ivatt
Henry Ivatt
Henry Alfred Ivatt was the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Great Northern Railway from 1896 to 1911.- Biography :...
. It was originally designed for suburban passenger traffic on the Metropolitan City Lines
Metropolitan railway
Metropolitan Railway can refer to:* Metropolitan line, part of the London Underground* Metropolitan Railway, the first underground railway to be built in London...
.
A prototype was built in 1903, but it was overweight, so it was rebuilt with a smaller boiler and shorter side tanks. Ten more engines were then built to this modified design. During the "small boiler" era, the cylinders were lined to 18" to match the boilers.
In 1905 and 1906, thirty more engines were built for working goods trains in the West Riding of Yorkshire
West Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county, County of York, West Riding , was based closely on the historic boundaries...
. The original eleven engines were not a great success on passenger services so, in 1907, they were moved to the West Riding for goods work.
Condensing apparatus
The first eleven locomotives were fitted with condensing apparatusSteam locomotive condensing apparatus
A steam locomotive condensing apparatus differs in purpose from the usual closed cycle steam engine condenser, in that its function is primarily either to recover water, or to avoid excessive emissions to the atmosphere, rather than maintaining a vacuum to improve both efficiency and power...
for working in tunnels. The thirty built for the West Riding were probably not so fitted, but this is subject to confirmation. It is not known whether the condensing apparatus was removed from the original eleven when they were moved to the West Riding.
Modifications
Between 1909 and 1926 the locomotives were gradually rebuilt with larger boilers to the original specification. Seven locomotives had superheaterSuperheater
A superheater is a device used to convert saturated steam or wet steam into dry steam used for power generation or processes. There are three types of superheaters namely: radiant, convection, and separately fired...
s fitted and, on these, the working pressure was reduced to 170psi.
Proposed diesel conversion
In 1932 there was a proposal to convert some of the locomotives to diesel power. The prime moverPrime mover (locomotive)
In engineering, a prime mover is an engine that converts fuel to useful work. In locomotives, the prime mover is thus the source of power for its propulsion. The term is generally used when discussing any locomotive powered by an internal combustion engine...
would have been an 8-cylinder diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
of 400 horsepower, driving a 4-cylinder air compressor
Air compressor
An air compressor is a device that converts power into kinetic energy by compressing and pressurizing air, which, on command, can be released in quick bursts...
to charge an air reservoir. Compressed air from the reservoir would have been heated, both by the diesel exhaust and by steam from an oil-fired steam generator
Boiler (steam generator)
A boiler or steam generator is a device used to create steam by applying heat energy to water. Although the definitions are somewhat flexible, it can be said that older steam generators were commonly termed boilers and worked at low to medium pressure but, at pressures above this, it is more...
, and would then have entered the locomotive's original cylinders at about 150 psi. The use of steam to heat the air is reminiscent of the Mekarski system
Mekarski system
The Mekarski system was a compressed-air propulsion system for trams invented by Louis Mékarski or Louis Mékarsky in the 1870s. He worked in France, was born in 1843 in Clermont-Ferrand of Polish origin...
. This diesel-pneumatic proposal never became a reality but a German one of 1929 did.