LNER Class A4 4902 Seagull
Encyclopedia
LNER 4902 Seagull was one of 35 Doncaster
built Class A4 Gresley Pacific steam locomotives.
It entered service on the 28th June 1938 and was withdrawn on the 29th December 1962.
Like her famous sister Mallard
, Seagull was one of a small number of A4 Pacifics built with a double chimney and double Kylchap blastpipe.
4902 Seagull was based at Kings Cross and ran on the London-Edinburgh line.
When British Railways were nationalised and the LNER A4s were renumbered, 60033 Seagull and two of her sisters E22 Mallard and 60034 Lord Farringdon
were used for the 1948 Locomotive Exchange Trials
. Seagull was used on the ex-GWR
line from London down to Devonshire.
Though Seagull didn't perform as well as the GWR locomotives which were made for that stretch, she performed better than the Mallard and better than the SR and LMS competition.
60033 Seagull was withdrawn from Kings Cross Top Shed on December 29, 1962. She was cut-up at Doncaster works January 23, 1963.
As with all 35 of the Gresley A4 pacific steam locomotives, Seagull was fitted with streamlined valances, or side skirting, when she was built. This was removed to ease maintenance in wartime, as it was on her sister engines. 4902 lost her valances during a works visit 27 May 1942.
Seagull was fitted with eleven boilers during her twenty-four year career. These boilers were: 9030 (from construction), 8947 (from 4484 Falcon, September 24, 1943), 8949 (from 60018 Sparrow Hawk, May 6, 1949), 29278 (from 60025 Falcon, November 10, 1950), 29313 (new-build, June 13, 1952), 29296 (from 60006 Sir Ralph Wedgewood, December 3, 1953), 29301 (from 60022 Mallard
, May 14, 1955), 29290 (from 60029 Woodcock, June 13, 1956), 29301 (from 60027 Merlin, March 5, 1958), 29302 (from 60004 William Whitelaw, July 4, 1959) and 27967 (new-build, June 8, 1961).
Seagull was fitted with three tenders during her career: 5636 (June 28, 1938 - March 30, 1948), 5325 (April 9, 1948 - May 28, 1954) and 5332 (May 28, 1954 - December 29, 1962).
Seagull was only allocated to two depots during her career: Kings Cross Top Shed from new, Grantham from April 23, 1944 and returning to Top Shed March 21, 1948.
Doncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
built Class A4 Gresley Pacific steam locomotives.
It entered service on the 28th June 1938 and was withdrawn on the 29th December 1962.
Like her famous sister Mallard
LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard
Number 4468 Mallard is a London and North Eastern Railway Class A4 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive built at Doncaster, England in 1938. While in other respects a relatively typical member of its class, it is historically significant for being the holder of the official world speed record for steam...
, Seagull was one of a small number of A4 Pacifics built with a double chimney and double Kylchap blastpipe.
4902 Seagull was based at Kings Cross and ran on the London-Edinburgh line.
When British Railways were nationalised and the LNER A4s were renumbered, 60033 Seagull and two of her sisters E22 Mallard and 60034 Lord Farringdon
LNER Class A4 60034 Lord Faringdon
Ex-LNER 60034 Lord Faringdon was one of 35 Doncaster built Class A4 Gresley Pacific steam locomotives....
were used for the 1948 Locomotive Exchange Trials
1948 Locomotive Exchange Trials
The 1948 Locomotive Exchange Trials were organised by the newly nationalised British Railways . Locomotives from the former "Big Four" constituent companies were transferred to and worked on other regions...
. Seagull was used on the ex-GWR
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...
line from London down to Devonshire.
Though Seagull didn't perform as well as the GWR locomotives which were made for that stretch, she performed better than the Mallard and better than the SR and LMS competition.
60033 Seagull was withdrawn from Kings Cross Top Shed on December 29, 1962. She was cut-up at Doncaster works January 23, 1963.
Technical specifications
Seagull, Doncaster Works number 1876, was fitted with a Kylchap double blastpipe as from new, never having a single chimney. In her service life she wore a variety of liveries with different numbering schemes: Garter Blue as 4902 from her introduction, LNER black as of May 27, 1942, wartime black marked on tender as "NE" from September 24, 1943, she was renumbered as 33 on October 31, 1946, garter blue with no valances as of December 5, 1947, renumbered as 60033 on April 10, 1948, British Railways dark blue on November 10, 1950 and finally British Railways brunswick green on June 13, 1952. Advanced Warning System (AWS) was fitted on February 25, 1953 and a Smith-Stone speed recorder was fitted on June 8, 1961.As with all 35 of the Gresley A4 pacific steam locomotives, Seagull was fitted with streamlined valances, or side skirting, when she was built. This was removed to ease maintenance in wartime, as it was on her sister engines. 4902 lost her valances during a works visit 27 May 1942.
Seagull was fitted with eleven boilers during her twenty-four year career. These boilers were: 9030 (from construction), 8947 (from 4484 Falcon, September 24, 1943), 8949 (from 60018 Sparrow Hawk, May 6, 1949), 29278 (from 60025 Falcon, November 10, 1950), 29313 (new-build, June 13, 1952), 29296 (from 60006 Sir Ralph Wedgewood, December 3, 1953), 29301 (from 60022 Mallard
LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard
Number 4468 Mallard is a London and North Eastern Railway Class A4 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive built at Doncaster, England in 1938. While in other respects a relatively typical member of its class, it is historically significant for being the holder of the official world speed record for steam...
, May 14, 1955), 29290 (from 60029 Woodcock, June 13, 1956), 29301 (from 60027 Merlin, March 5, 1958), 29302 (from 60004 William Whitelaw, July 4, 1959) and 27967 (new-build, June 8, 1961).
Seagull was fitted with three tenders during her career: 5636 (June 28, 1938 - March 30, 1948), 5325 (April 9, 1948 - May 28, 1954) and 5332 (May 28, 1954 - December 29, 1962).
Seagull was only allocated to two depots during her career: Kings Cross Top Shed from new, Grantham from April 23, 1944 and returning to Top Shed March 21, 1948.