LB&SCR B1 Class
Encyclopedia
The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
B1 Class is a class of 0-4-2
express passenger steam locomotive
s, known from the name of the first, No. 214, as the "Gladstones".
, and were a larger and improved version of his Richmond class
of 1878. Thirty-six locomotives were turned out from Brighton railway works
between 1882 and 1891, and were used for the heaviest London to Brighton express trains. All were named after politicians, men associated with the railway, or places served by the railway. In 1889 No.189 Edward Blount was exhibited at the 1889 Paris Exhibition
and received a gold medal.
The locomotives were originally designated "Class B" together with the "Richmond Class" but were later designated B1 class by D.E. Marsh.
During the first decade of the twentieth century the class were gradually replaced by Billinton B4 class
locomotives and were transferred to secondary duties. Withdrawal began in April 1910 and by the outbreak of the First World War ten had been scrapped.
in 1923, but withdrawals recommenced in 1926 and the last survivor (No. 172) was withdrawn in 1933.
, was preserved as a static exhibit thanks to the efforts of the Stephenson Locomotive Society
and is normally on display in the National Railway Museum
, York
.
London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1846 to 1922. Its territory formed a rough triangle, with London at its apex, practically the whole coastline of Sussex as its base, and a large part of Surrey...
B1 Class is a class of 0-4-2
0-4-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-2 represents the wheel arrangement with no leading wheels, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...
express passenger 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...
s, known from the name of the first, No. 214, as the "Gladstones".
History
They were the last express passenger design of William StroudleyWilliam Stroudley
William Stroudley was one of Britain's most famous steam locomotive engineers of the nineteenth century, working principally for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway...
, and were a larger and improved version of his Richmond class
LB&SCR Richmond class
The LB&SCR Richmond class, 0-4-2 express passenger locomotives, were designed by William Stroudley of the London Brighton and South Coast Railway in 1877...
of 1878. Thirty-six locomotives were turned out from Brighton railway works
Brighton railway works
Brighton railway works was one of the earliest railway-owned locomotive repair works, founded in 1840 by the London and Brighton Railway in Brighton, England, and thus pre-dating the more famous railway works at Crewe, Doncaster and Swindon...
between 1882 and 1891, and were used for the heaviest London to Brighton express trains. All were named after politicians, men associated with the railway, or places served by the railway. In 1889 No.189 Edward Blount was exhibited at the 1889 Paris Exhibition
Exposition Universelle (1889)
The Exposition Universelle of 1889 was a World's Fair held in Paris, France from 6 May to 31 October 1889.It was held during the year of the 100th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, an event traditionally considered as the symbol for the beginning of the French Revolution...
and received a gold medal.
The locomotives were originally designated "Class B" together with the "Richmond Class" but were later designated B1 class by D.E. Marsh.
During the first decade of the twentieth century the class were gradually replaced by Billinton B4 class
LB&SCR B4 Class
The B4 class were 4-4-0 steam locomotives for express passenger work on the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway. They were designed by R. J. Billinton and were either built at Brighton works 1899–1902 or else by Messrs Sharp, Stewart and Company in 1901. Twelve members of the class were...
locomotives and were transferred to secondary duties. Withdrawal began in April 1910 and by the outbreak of the First World War ten had been scrapped.
Southern Railway
The remaining twenty-six locomotives passed to the Southern RailwaySouthern Railway (Great Britain)
The Southern Railway was a British railway company established in the 1923 Grouping. It linked London with the Channel ports, South West England, South coast resorts and Kent...
in 1923, but withdrawals recommenced in 1926 and the last survivor (No. 172) was withdrawn in 1933.
Preservation
The first of the class, 214 GladstoneWilliam Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
, was preserved as a static exhibit thanks to the efforts of the Stephenson Locomotive Society
Stephenson Locomotive Society
The Stephenson Locomotive Society was founded in the UK in Autumn 1909 for the study of rail transport and locomotives.It was originally named The Stephenson Society in honour of George Stephenson. In late 1911 the professional engineers seceded from the Society to form the Junior Institution of...
and is normally on display 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...
, York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
.