LNWR G Class
Encyclopedia
The London and North Western Railway
(LNWR) G Class along with modifications that made them into G1, G2 and G2a classes, is a class of 0-8-0
steam locomotive
s designed for heavy freight work. They are known to railway enthusiasts as "Super Ds". This is because a large number of G1 class engines were rebuilt from George Whale
class D 0-8-0s. They were Super Ds - super for superheated. The D class existed as such between 1906 and 1937. All this is explained by Willie Yeadon's book.Willie Yeadon A Compendium of LNWR Locomotives 1912-1964 Part Two Goods Tender Engines, Challenger Publications, April 1996, p69.
, Whale
, Bowen-Cooke
and Beames
between 1892 and 1922. The G class were originally introduced in 1906 as modifications of the 4-cylinder compound
B Class 0-8-0s by removing their outside cylinders to give a simpler two cylinder layout. From 1912 superheating
was introduced and most of the B class were converted into G1 Class, not G Class. The G2 class were new builds with increased boiler pressure from 160lbf/in² to 175psi. Some G1s were converted to G2a classes after their boiler pressure was increased.
After grouping
in 1923, they were acquired by the LMS
who gave them the power classifications 6F for G1 and 7F for G2 and G2a locomotives. The design of the LMS 7F 0-8-0 (known as the "Austin 7") was derived from the G2 but the former was a poor engine in comparison and the "Super Ds" outlived the "Austin 7s".
Many of the G1, G2 and G2a Class locomotives passed into British Railways (BR) ownership in 1948 and were numbered as follows:
The final four engines in traffic were 48895, 49361, 49407 and 49430. They were withdrawn in December 1964. It is interesting to note that at least two of these engines, 49361 and 49430, were allocated to Northampton shed (2E). There was a farewell railtour 12 December 1964. The G1 and G2a numbers are intermingled (probably because the G2a is a rebuild
of the G1) and there are some gaps in numbering.
.
It is currently on loan to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway where it runs in BR livery as 49395.
G2 and G2a Classes
For terminology, see Steam locomotive components
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
(LNWR) G Class along with modifications that made them into G1, G2 and G2a classes, is a class of 0-8-0
0-8-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-8-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and no trailing wheels...
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 designed for heavy freight work. They are known to railway enthusiasts as "Super Ds". This is because a large number of G1 class engines were rebuilt from George Whale
George Whale
George Whale was a British locomotive engineer who worked for the London and North Western Railway .Whale was born in Bocking, Essex. In 1858 he entered Wolverton Works under James Edward McConnell, and from 1862 under John Ramsbottom. In 1865 he entered the drawing office at Crewe Works, and in...
class D 0-8-0s. They were Super Ds - super for superheated. The D class existed as such between 1906 and 1937. All this is explained by Willie Yeadon's book.Willie Yeadon A Compendium of LNWR Locomotives 1912-1964 Part Two Goods Tender Engines, Challenger Publications, April 1996, p69.
Overview
The LNWR built eight-coupled locomotives under WebbFrancis Webb (engineer)
Francis William Webb was a British engineer responsible for the design and manufacture of locomotives for the London and North Western Railway .- Biography :...
, Whale
George Whale
George Whale was a British locomotive engineer who worked for the London and North Western Railway .Whale was born in Bocking, Essex. In 1858 he entered Wolverton Works under James Edward McConnell, and from 1862 under John Ramsbottom. In 1865 he entered the drawing office at Crewe Works, and in...
, Bowen-Cooke
Charles Bowen-Cooke
Charles John Bowen Cooke was Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London and North Western Railway . He was the first to add superheating to the locomotives of the railway. He wrote a book called British locomotives: their history, construction; and modern development which was published in 1893,...
and Beames
H.P.M. Beames
Hewitt Pearson Montague Beames was Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London and North Western Railway 1920-1922.- Biography :...
between 1892 and 1922. The G class were originally introduced in 1906 as modifications of the 4-cylinder compound
Compound locomotive
A compound engine unit is a type of steam engine where steam is expanded in two or more stages.A typical arrangement for a compound engine is that the steam is first expanded in a high-pressure cylinder, then having given up heat and losing pressure, it exhausts directly into one or more larger...
B Class 0-8-0s by removing their outside cylinders to give a simpler two cylinder layout. From 1912 superheating
Superheating
In physics, superheating is the phenomenon in which a liquid is heated to a temperature higher than its boiling point, without boiling...
was introduced and most of the B class were converted into G1 Class, not G Class. The G2 class were new builds with increased boiler pressure from 160lbf/in² to 175psi. Some G1s were converted to G2a classes after their boiler pressure was increased.
After grouping
Railways 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...
in 1923, they were acquired by the LMS
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
who gave them the power classifications 6F for G1 and 7F for G2 and G2a locomotives. The design of the LMS 7F 0-8-0 (known as the "Austin 7") was derived from the G2 but the former was a poor engine in comparison and the "Super Ds" outlived the "Austin 7s".
Many of the G1, G2 and G2a Class locomotives passed into British Railways (BR) ownership in 1948 and were numbered as follows:
- G1 Class, (98 locos), BR numbers 48892-49384
- G2 Class, (60 locos), BR numbers 49395-49454
- G2a Class, (320 locos), BR numbers 48893-49394
The final four engines in traffic were 48895, 49361, 49407 and 49430. They were withdrawn in December 1964. It is interesting to note that at least two of these engines, 49361 and 49430, were allocated to Northampton shed (2E). There was a farewell railtour 12 December 1964. The G1 and G2a numbers are intermingled (probably because the G2a is a rebuild
Remanufacturing
Remanufacturing is the process of disassembly and recovery at the module level and, eventually, at the component level. It requires the repair or replacement of worn out or obsolete components and modules. Parts subject to degradation affecting the performance or the expected life of the whole are...
of the G1) and there are some gaps in numbering.
Preservation
One G2a, LMS 9395, BR number 49395, has survived as part of the National Railway Collection and has been returned to working order thanks to a lot of money from Pete WatermanPete Waterman
Peter Alan Waterman OBE is an English record producer, occasional songwriter, radio and club DJ, television presenter, president of Coventry Bears rugby league club and a keen railway enthusiast. As a member of the Stock Aitken Waterman songwriting team he wrote and produced many hit singles...
.
It is currently on loan to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway where it runs in BR livery as 49395.
Dimensions
G1 Class- LMS/BR Power classification, 6F
- Locomotive weight, 60 tons 15 cwt
- Tender weight, Not known
- Boiler pressure, 160 psi
- Superheater, Yes
- Cylinders, 20½"x24"
- Driving wheel diameter, 4' 5½"
- Tractive effort, 25,640 lb
- Valve gear, Joy (piston valves)
G2 and G2a Classes
- LMS/BR Power classification, 7F
- Locomotive weight, 62 tons 0 cwt
- Tender weight, Not known
- Boiler pressure, 175 psi
- Superheater, Yes
- Cylinders, 20½"x24"
- Driving wheel diameter, 4' 5½"
- Tractive effort, 28,045 lb
- Valve gear, Joy (piston valves)
For terminology, see Steam locomotive components
Steam locomotive components
A listing of the components found on typical steam locomotives.center|720px|Schematic steam locomotiveGuide to steam locomotive components .A listing of the components found on typical steam...