LB&SCR B2 class
Encyclopedia
The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
(LB&SCR) B2 class was a class of small 4-4-0
steam locomotives intended for express passenger work on the LB&SCR London to Portsmouth line
. They were designed by R. J. Billinton
and built at Brighton works
from 1895 to 1897. They proved to be reliable locomotives but barely adequate for the heaviest trains and acquired the nickname Grasshoppers. As a result the B3 and B2X classes were later rebuilds of these locomotives with larger boilers.
took over as chief Mechanical Engineer
of the LB&SCR in 1890, following the sudden death of William Stroudley
, the London to Brighton
trains were adequately served by Stroudley's Gladstone Class
but the lighter Portsmouth expresses were beginning to struggle behind his G class
singles. Billinton therefore designed a small 4-4-0
, specifically for these services. However, during the course of 1892/3 the London to Brighton trains began to increase in weight, and the Board of Governors of the railway agreed to invest money in larger turntables and so Billinton was able to enlarge his design further to make them more generally useful.
Three locomotives appeared in 1895, with a further eight in 1896 and fourteen in 1897. They were named after famous politicians, bankers and railway engineers. The new design was clearly influenced by the locomotives of Samuel W. Johnson
on the Midland Railway
, for whom Billinton had previously worked, and were the first LB&SCR
locomotives to have leading bogie
wheels. It incorporated Billinton's C2 class
boiler. They proved to be adequate for the lightly loaded Portsmouth
express trains but barely so for heavier trains. They also tended to ride unevenly and consequently acquired the nickname of Grasshoppers by their crews.
rebuilt the entire class (including 213 Bessemer) with the improved boiler used on his C3 class
. Thereby creating the B2X class.
The rebuilt locomotives were a significant improvement in both looks and performance and were used on the heaviest expresses to Portsmouth
and Hastings
and semi-fast trains on the Brighton
line.
of the railways of southern England to form the Southern Railway
. The class continued to find useful work on secondary passenger services between London and the south coast until 1929, when the impending electrification of the Brighton line began to make them redundant. They were thus all withdrawn between June 1929 and March 1933, and none have survived in preservation.
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...
(LB&SCR) B2 class was a class of small 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 locomotives intended for express passenger work on the LB&SCR London to Portsmouth line
Arun Valley Line
The Arun Valley Line, also known as the Mid Sussex Line, is part of the Southern-operated railway services. For the initial part of the route trains follow the Brighton Main Line, and at a junction south of Three Bridges the route turns westwards...
. They were designed by R. J. Billinton
R. J. Billinton
Robert John Billinton was the Locomotive, Carriage, Wagon and Marine Superintendent of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway from 1890 until his death.-Early career:...
and built at Brighton 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...
from 1895 to 1897. They proved to be reliable locomotives but barely adequate for the heaviest trains and acquired the nickname Grasshoppers. As a result the B3 and B2X classes were later rebuilds of these locomotives with larger boilers.
History
When R. J. BillintonR. J. Billinton
Robert John Billinton was the Locomotive, Carriage, Wagon and Marine Superintendent of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway from 1890 until his death.-Early career:...
took over as chief Mechanical Engineer
Chief Mechanical Engineer
Chief Mechanical Engineer and Locomotive Superintendent are titles applied by British, Australian, and New Zealand railway companies to the person ultimately responsible to the board of the company for the building and maintaining of the locomotives and rolling stock...
of the LB&SCR in 1890, following the sudden death of William Stroudley
William 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...
, the London to Brighton
Brighton Main Line
The Brighton Main Line is a British railway line from London Victoria and London Bridge to Brighton. It is about 50 miles long, and is electrified throughout. Trains are operated by Southern, First Capital Connect, and Gatwick Express, now part of Southern.-Original proposals:There were no fewer...
trains were adequately served by Stroudley's Gladstone Class
LB&SCR B1 Class
The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway B1 Class is a class of 0-4-2 express passenger steam locomotives, known from the name of the first, No. 214, as the "Gladstones".-History:...
but the lighter Portsmouth expresses were beginning to struggle behind his G class
LB&SCR G class
The LB&SCR G class, were powerful 2-2-2 locomotives, designed by William Stroudley of the London Brighton and South Coast Railway in 1874.-History:...
singles. Billinton therefore designed a small 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...
, specifically for these services. However, during the course of 1892/3 the London to Brighton trains began to increase in weight, and the Board of Governors of the railway agreed to invest money in larger turntables and so Billinton was able to enlarge his design further to make them more generally useful.
Three locomotives appeared in 1895, with a further eight in 1896 and fourteen in 1897. They were named after famous politicians, bankers and railway engineers. The new design was clearly influenced by the locomotives of Samuel W. Johnson
Samuel W. Johnson
Samuel Waite Johnson was Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Midland Railway from 1873 to 1903. He was born in Bramley, Yorkshire and educated at Leeds Grammar School.-Career:...
on the Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
, for whom Billinton had previously worked, and were the first LB&SCR
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...
locomotives to have leading bogie
Bogie
A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
wheels. It incorporated Billinton's C2 class
LB&SCR C2 Class
The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway C2 class was a class of 0-6-0 steam locomotives, intended for heavy freight trains. Fifty-five were built by the Vulcan Foundry between 1893 and 1902 to the design of Robert J. Billinton.-History:...
boiler. They proved to be adequate for the lightly loaded Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
express trains but barely so for heavier trains. They also tended to ride unevenly and consequently acquired the nickname of Grasshoppers by their crews.
B3 & B2X Classes
As a result of the complaints about the use of the class on the Brighton line, Billinton fitted the last locomotive in the class No. 213 Bessemer, with a larger boiler, which thereafter became known as the B3 class. This caused a slight improvement in performance but not one significant enough to alter the entire class at that time. However, once the original boilers were worn out, it became more of an economic proposition to do so. Thus between October 1907 and 1910 Billinton's successor Douglas Earle MarshD. E. Marsh
Douglas Earle Marsh was the Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Superintendent of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway from November 1904 until his early retirement on health grounds in July 1911.-Early career:...
rebuilt the entire class (including 213 Bessemer) with the improved boiler used on his C3 class
LB&SCR C3 class
The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway C3 class was a class of 0-6-0 steam locomotives, intended for heavy freight trains. Ten were built by Brighton railway works in 1906 to the design of Douglas Earle Marsh.-History:...
. Thereby creating the B2X class.
The rebuilt locomotives were a significant improvement in both looks and performance and were used on the heaviest expresses to Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
and Hastings
Hastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
and semi-fast trains on the Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
line.
Post-grouping
All 25 locomotives were still in regular use in December 1922 at the groupingRailways Act 1921
The Railways Act 1921, also known as the Grouping Act, was an enactment by the British government of David Lloyd George intended to stem the losses being made by many of the country's 120 railway companies, move the railways away from internal competition, and to retain some of the benefits which...
of the railways of southern England to form the Southern Railway
Southern 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...
. The class continued to find useful work on secondary passenger services between London and the south coast until 1929, when the impending electrification of the Brighton line began to make them redundant. They were thus all withdrawn between June 1929 and March 1933, and none have survived in preservation.