NER 38 Class
Encyclopedia
The NER 38 Class was a class of 4-4-0
steam locomotives designed by Alexander McDonnell
for the North Eastern Railway
. Twenty-eight were built in 1884–5, and remained in service until 1915–23.
's appointment as Locomotive Superintendent of the North Eastern Railway
(NER), the most modern express passenger locomotives were the 2-4-0
s of Edward Fletcher
's '901' class
, 55 of which had been built between 1872 and 1882, and which were giving good service. However, like most of Fletcher's designs, there was a lack of standardisation; three different builders had been involved in their construction, each being given freedom to vary the design as they saw fit.
McDonnell set about designing a new class of express passenger locomotives, which incorporated a number of departures from established NER practice. Some of these were significant, such as the use of a leading bogie on an express locomotive; others were purely cosmetic, such as the shape of the chimney. The biggest change was that the driving position was placed on the left-hand side of the cab, instead of the right – the drivers did not like this change at all, and found fault with most of the other unfamiliar features. So much pressure was put on McDonnell that he resigned in September 1884. Despite this, uncompleted orders were allowed to stand, apart from the last batch of eight which were cancelled; components which had already been manufactured for these were incorporated into some 0-6-0
T locomotives which Henry Tennant
's locomotive committee designed; these became the '8' class (LNER J74).
Like other NER classes introduced prior to 1885, these locomotives were not given a classification at first; but T.W. Worsdell, having placed his own designs in lettered classes, organised the others into classes which were given an identification based upon the number of one of the class members; these accordingly became the '38' class, no. 38 being one of the Gateshead-built locos.
Initially placed in service on main line duties, they were soon relegated to less important jobs. These included the Newcastle and Carlisle line
, which had several of the Hawthorn engines, and secondary services from , , and .
and '1440' classes, Class L
, Class O
and Class P
. The new boilers had slightly smaller fireboxes, but had increased heating surface and water circulation space compared to the originals.
(LNER); it was withdrawn from service in February 1923, and was never allocated a LNER classification.
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 designed by Alexander McDonnell
Alexander McDonnell (engineer)
Alexander McDonnell was an Irish locomotive engineer and civil engineer. He was born in Dublin on 18 December 1829 and died in Holyhead on 14 December 1904. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, where he graduated with an Honours degree in Mathematics...
for the North Eastern Railway
North Eastern Railway (UK)
The North Eastern Railway , was an English railway company. It was incorporated in 1854, when four existing companies were combined, and was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway at the Grouping in 1923...
. Twenty-eight were built in 1884–5, and remained in service until 1915–23.
History
At the time of Alexander McDonnellAlexander McDonnell (engineer)
Alexander McDonnell was an Irish locomotive engineer and civil engineer. He was born in Dublin on 18 December 1829 and died in Holyhead on 14 December 1904. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, where he graduated with an Honours degree in Mathematics...
's appointment as Locomotive Superintendent of the North Eastern Railway
North Eastern Railway (UK)
The North Eastern Railway , was an English railway company. It was incorporated in 1854, when four existing companies were combined, and was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway at the Grouping in 1923...
(NER), the most modern express passenger locomotives were the 2-4-0
2-4-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-4-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and no trailing wheels....
s of Edward Fletcher
Edward Fletcher (engineer)
Edward Fletcher was a British engineer, and locomotive superintendent of the North Eastern Railway . He was born in Northumberland.-Career:...
's '901' class
NER 901 Class
The NER 901 Class was a class of 2-4-0 steam locomotive of the North Eastern Railway. Between 1872-1882 55 of the class were built for the NER....
, 55 of which had been built between 1872 and 1882, and which were giving good service. However, like most of Fletcher's designs, there was a lack of standardisation; three different builders had been involved in their construction, each being given freedom to vary the design as they saw fit.
McDonnell set about designing a new class of express passenger locomotives, which incorporated a number of departures from established NER practice. Some of these were significant, such as the use of a leading bogie on an express locomotive; others were purely cosmetic, such as the shape of the chimney. The biggest change was that the driving position was placed on the left-hand side of the cab, instead of the right – the drivers did not like this change at all, and found fault with most of the other unfamiliar features. So much pressure was put on McDonnell that he resigned in September 1884. Despite this, uncompleted orders were allowed to stand, apart from the last batch of eight which were cancelled; components which had already been manufactured for these were incorporated into some 0-6-0
0-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels...
T locomotives which Henry Tennant
Henry Tennant
Henry Tennant was a British railway administrator. He served as General Manager of the North Eastern Railway from 1870 to 1891. He was chairman of the Central London Railway from 1895 to 1898 and a director of the company after that....
's locomotive committee designed; these became the '8' class (LNER J74).
Construction
| Dates | Builder | Quantity | NER numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February–September 1884 | NER, Gateshead | 8 | 1318, 186, 180, 426, 664, 576, 385, 500 | |
| September–December 1884 | NER, Gateshead | 8 | 1331, 38, 112, 231, 126, 158, 234, 281 | |
| October 1884–April 1885 | R & W Hawthorn (works nos. 1996–2007) |
12 | 1492–1503 | |
| NER, Gateshead | 8 | — | cancelled |
Like other NER classes introduced prior to 1885, these locomotives were not given a classification at first; but T.W. Worsdell, having placed his own designs in lettered classes, organised the others into classes which were given an identification based upon the number of one of the class members; these accordingly became the '38' class, no. 38 being one of the Gateshead-built locos.
Initially placed in service on main line duties, they were soon relegated to less important jobs. These included the Newcastle and Carlisle line
Newcastle and Carlisle Railway
The Newcastle and Carlisle Railway, occasionally referred to as the Tyne Valley Line, is a railway line in northern England. The line was built in the 1830s, and links the city of Newcastle upon Tyne in Tyne and Wear with in Cumbria. Formal opening took place on 18 June 1838.The line follows the...
, which had several of the Hawthorn engines, and secondary services from , , and .
Rebuilding
Between August 1895 and August 1900, the locomotives had their original boilers replaced by standard boilers of Worsdell design, of a type also used on several other NER locomotives, such as the '901'NER 901 Class
The NER 901 Class was a class of 2-4-0 steam locomotive of the North Eastern Railway. Between 1872-1882 55 of the class were built for the NER....
and '1440' classes, Class L
NER Class L
The NER Class L was a class of 0-6-0T steam locomotives of the North Eastern Railway. They were a specialised design, intended for use on the Redheugh and Quayside banks on either side of the River Tyne...
, Class O
NER Class O
The NER Class O was a class of 0-4-4T steam locomotives of the North Eastern Railway,Ian Allan ABC of British Railways Locomotives, 1948 edition, part 4, page 44http://www.lner.info/locos/G/g5.shtml designed by the company's Chief Engineer, Wilson Worsdell. They all survived into British Railways...
and Class P
NER Class P
The NER Class P was a class of 0-6-0 steam locomotives of the North Eastern Railway. They were designed by Wilson Worsdell for mineral traffic.-Modifications:...
. The new boilers had slightly smaller fireboxes, but had increased heating surface and water circulation space compared to the originals.
Withdrawal
In January 1915, nos. 231, 1495/8 were withdrawn from service; by the end of the year, a further ten had been withdrawn. The remainder followed at intervals between 1917 and 1921, leaving just one locomotive, no. 281, still in service at the start of 1923, when the NER became a constituent of the newly formed London and North Eastern RailwayLondon and North Eastern Railway
The London and North Eastern Railway was the second-largest of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain...
(LNER); it was withdrawn from service in February 1923, and was never allocated a LNER classification.