NER Class T3
Encyclopedia
North Eastern Railway
Class T3, classified Q7 by the LNER is a class of 0-8-0
steam locomotive
designed for heavy freight. Five were built by the NER in 1919 and a further 10 by the London and North Eastern Railway
(LNER) in 1924.
in November 1919. A month later the NER organised a test train, over the Newcastle
to Carlisle
line, including a brake van
and the company's dynamometer car
to record the locomotive's performance. No.901 had 1,402 tons in tow but handled the load with ease, registering both high power and steady acceleration. There were no problems starting on a 1 in 298 grade and on the return, with a reduced load of 787 tons, the engine was untroubled by gradients as severe as 1 in 107.
and maintain the centre cylinder and valve gear. Instead the enlargement of the class came under LNER. it authorised the construction of ten additional T3s and these emerged from Darlington Works during 1924.
Of the new engines two were allocated to York
and a further four went to Hull
. The remaining four gravitated to their natural habitat, Tyne Dock
depot near South Shields
. It was there eventually that all 15 T3s/Q7s congregated. Here they performed the role they were designed for. This was to haul 700 ton rakes of iron ore hoppers
to the steelworks at Consett
1000ft above sea level. On the steepest section, as severe as 1 in 35 in places, one 0-8-0 pulled while another pushed
.
2-10-0
s in the 1950s. With the loss of their bread and butter work British Railways retired all 15 of the Q7s in November and December 1962.
. It is the newest exhibit at the museum.
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...
Class T3, classified Q7 by the LNER 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...
designed for heavy freight. Five were built by the NER in 1919 and a further 10 by the London and North Eastern Railway
London 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) in 1924.
Performance
The first of the T3s, No.901 was outshopped from Darlington WorksDarlington Works
Darlington railway works, known in the town as North Road Shops, was built in 1863 by the Stockton and Darlington Railway in the town of Darlington in the north east of England.-NER History:The first new locomotive was built at the works in 1864...
in November 1919. A month later the NER organised a test train, over the Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
to Carlisle
Carlisle railway station
Carlisle railway station, also known as Carlisle Citadel station, is a railway station whichserves the Cumbrian City of Carlisle, England, and is a major station on the West Coast Main Line, lying south of Glasgow Central, and north of London Euston...
line, including a brake van
Brake van
Brake van and guard's van are terms used mainly in the UK, Australia and India for a railway vehicle equipped with a hand brake which can be applied by the guard...
and the company's dynamometer car
Dynamometer car
A dynamometer car is a railroad maintenance of way car used for measuring various aspects of a locomotive's performance. Measurements include tractive effort , power, top speed, etc.-History:...
to record the locomotive's performance. No.901 had 1,402 tons in tow but handled the load with ease, registering both high power and steady acceleration. There were no problems starting on a 1 in 298 grade and on the return, with a reduced load of 787 tons, the engine was untroubled by gradients as severe as 1 in 107.
LNER
Despite their prowess, the original quintet of T3s was not augmented by the North Eastern Railway, a move that would have pleased footplate crews who disliked having to lubricateLubrication
Lubrication is the process, or technique employed to reduce wear of one or both surfaces in close proximity, and moving relative to each another, by interposing a substance called lubricant between the surfaces to carry or to help carry the load between the opposing surfaces. The interposed...
and maintain the centre cylinder and valve gear. Instead the enlargement of the class came under LNER. it authorised the construction of ten additional T3s and these emerged from Darlington Works during 1924.
Of the new engines two were allocated to 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...
and a further four went to Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
. The remaining four gravitated to their natural habitat, Tyne Dock
Tyne Dock
Tyne Dock is a neighbourhood within the town of South Shields, North East England, on the south bank of the River Tyne. It takes its name from the large dock on the river which was opened in 1859 by the Tyne Improvement Commission to handle Tyneside's coal exports...
depot near South Shields
South Shields
South Shields is a coastal town in Tyne and Wear, England, located at the mouth of the River Tyne to Tyne Dock, and about downstream from Newcastle upon Tyne...
. It was there eventually that all 15 T3s/Q7s congregated. Here they performed the role they were designed for. This was to haul 700 ton rakes of iron ore hoppers
Hopper car
A hopper car is a type of railroad freight car used to transport loose bulk commodities such as coal, ore, grain, track ballast, and the like. The name originated from the coke manufacturing industry which is part of the steel industry ....
to the steelworks at Consett
Consett
Consett is a town in the northwest of County Durham, England, about southwest of Newcastle upon Tyne. It is home to 27,394 .Consett sits high on the edge of the Pennines. In 1841, it was a village community of only 145, but it was about to become a boom town: below the ground was coking coal and...
1000ft above sea level. On the steepest section, as severe as 1 in 35 in places, one 0-8-0 pulled while another pushed
Bank engine
A bank engine or helper engine or pusher engine is a railway locomotive that temporarily assists a train that requires additional power or traction to climb a grade...
.
British Railways
All 15 passed into British Railways ownership in 1948 and they were numbered 63460-63474. They remained master of their task till the arrival of BR Standard Class 9FBR standard class 9F
The British Railways BR Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 is a class of steam locomotive designed for British Railways by Robert Riddles. The Class 9F was the last in a series of standardised locomotive classes designed for British Railways during the 1950s, and was intended for use on fast, heavy freight...
2-10-0
2-10-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-10-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, ten powered and coupled driving wheels on five axles, and no trailing wheels...
s in the 1950s. With the loss of their bread and butter work British Railways retired all 15 of the Q7s in November and December 1962.
Preservation
One, NER 901 (BR 63460) has survived and is currently on display at Darlington Railway Centre and MuseumDarlington Railway Centre and Museum
Darlington Railway Centre and Museum, also known as Head of Steam, is located on the 1825 route of the Stockton and Darlington Railway which was the world's first steam powered passenger railway. Run by Darlington Borough Council the museum is located in the northern suburbs of Darlington in the...
. It is the newest exhibit at the museum.