GCR Class 1A

The Great Central Railway Class 1A, classified B8 by the LNER, was a class of 4-6-0 mixed-traffic locomotives designed by John G. Robinson for fast goods, relief passenger and excursion services. They were known as the ‘Glenalmond Class’ and were a smaller wheeled version of Robinson's earlier Sir Sam Fay express passenger class (LNER Class B2), which they closely resembled.

GCR Class 1A LNER Class B8
No. 1349 at Retford (GC) Locomotive Depot 13 April 1947
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer John G. Robinson Builder Gorton Works Build date 1913–1915 Total produced 11
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-0  • UIC 2'Ch2 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Leading dia. 3 ft 6 in (1.067 m) Driver dia. 5 ft 7 in (1.702 m) Length 63 ft 0.3 in (19.210 m) Loco weight 122 long tons (124 t) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 6 long tons (6.1 t) Water cap. 4,000 imperial gallons (18,000 L; 4,800 US gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 26 sq ft (2.4 m2) Boiler: ​  • Diameter 5 ft 6 in (1,680 mm) Boiler pressure 180 psi (1.24 MPa) Heating surface 2,183 sq ft (202.8 m2) Superheater: ​  • Heating area 294 sq ft (27.3 m2) Cylinders Two, inside Cylinder size 21.5 in × 26 in (546 mm × 660 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 27,445 lbf (122.1 kN)
Career Operators Great Central Railway → London and North Eastern Railway → British Railways Withdrawn 1947–1949 Disposition All scrapped

History

GCR locomotives

The prototype was built at Gorton Locomotive Works, during 1913 and the remaining ten, one year later. They had the same design problems associated with the Sir Sam Fay class and were mainly used on secondary passenger and freight services.

Numbering

Table of numbers

Built	GCR Nos.	LNER Nos.	LNER 1946 Nos.	Name	Withdrawn
June 1913	4	5004	1349	Glenalmond	November 1947
July 1914	439	5439	1350	Sutton Nelthorpe	August 1947
August 1914	440	5440	1351	—	October 1947
September 1914	441	5441	1352	—	May 1947
September 1914	442	5442	1353	—	March 1949
October 1914	443	5443	1354	—	March 1948
October 1914	444	5444	1355	—	September 1948
November 1914	445	5445	1356	—	August 1947
November 1914	446	5446	1357	Earl Roberts of Kandahar	April 1949
December 1914	279	5279	1358	Earl Kitchener of Khartoum	August 1948
January 1915	280	5280	1359	—	March 1947

Preservation

None have been preserved.

References

• Boddy, M. G.; Brown, W. A.; Fry, E. V.; Hennigan, W.; Hoole, Ken; Manners, F.; Neve, E.; Platt, E. N. T.; Proud, P.; Yeadon, W. B. (March 1975). Fry, E. V. (ed.). Locomotives of the L.N.E.R., Part 2B: Tender Engines—Classes B1 to B19. Lincoln: RCTS. ISBN 0-901115-73-8.