GCR Class 9J

The GCR Class 9J (LNER Class J11) was a class of 174 0-6-0 steam locomotives designed by John G. Robinson for freight work on the Great Central Railway (GCR) in 1901. They were a part of the Railway Operating Division during World War 1. The class acquired the nickname "Pom-Poms" due to the similarity of their exhaust noise to that of the "Pom-Pom" quick-firing gun used in the South African War.

GCR Class 9J LNER Class J11
No. 4401 at Manchester London Road Station in 1948
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer John G. Robinson Builder Neilson, Reid & Co. (49) Beyer, Peacock & Co. (25) Gorton Works (70) Vulcan Foundry (15) Yorkshire Engine Co. (15) Build date 1901–1910 Total produced 174
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-6-0  • UIC C n2t Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Driver dia. 5 ft 2 in (1.575 m) Length 53 ft 1+3⁄4 in (16.20 m) Height 13 ft 2 in (4.01 m) Axle load 18 long tons 0 cwt (40,300 lb or 18.3 t) Loco weight 52 long tons 0 cwt (116,500 lb or 52.8 t) Tender weight 48 long tons 6 cwt (108,200 lb or 49.1 t) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 6 long tons 0 cwt (13,400 lb or 6.1 t) Water cap. 4,000 imp gal (18,000 L; 4,800 US gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 19 sq ft (1.8 m2) Boiler pressure 180 psi (1.24 MPa) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 130 sq ft (12 m2)  • Total surface Original 1,426 sq ft (132.5 m2) Superheated 1,258 sq ft (116.9 m2) Superheater: ​  • Heating area 139 sq ft (12.9 m2) Cylinders Two, inside Cylinder size 18.5 in × 26 in (470 mm × 660 mm) Valve gear Stephenson
Performance figures Tractive effort 21,960 lbf (97.68 kN)
Career Operators Great Central Railway → London and North Eastern Railway → British Railways Class GCR: 9J LNER: J11 Power class BR: 3F Number in class 174 Nicknames Pom-Poms Axle load class LNER/BR: Route Availability: 5 Withdrawn 1954–1962 Disposition All scrapped

Career

London and North Eastern Railway

They passed to the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) in 1923. The LNER classified them as J11 with sub-classes J11/1 to J11/5 because of detail differences.

British Railways

The whole class survived into British Railways (BR) ownership in 1948 and their BR numbers were 64280–64453. All had been withdrawn and scrapped by 1962 and none have been preserved.

References

• Fry, E. V., ed. (September 1966). Locomotives of the L.N.E.R., Part 5: Tender Engines—Classes J1 to J37. Kenilworth: RCTS. pp. 63–75. ISBN 0-901115-12-6.