LNER Class V2

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60876 on no.9 road at Annesley MPD, 6 May 1962.

60828 leaves Annesley yard 8 May 1964 with a freight train.

60975 at Newstead.

The London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) Class V2 2-6-2 steam locomotives were designed by Sir Nigel Gresley for mixed traffic work. 184 of these locomotives were built between 1936-1944. The most famous of these is the first of the class 4771 (later 800 and 60800) Green Arrow, which is the only one to survive to preservation.

[edit] Construction

The V2 was derived from the Class A1/A3 pacifics with smaller driving wheels of 6'2" compared to 6'5" and a shortened boiler. It retained Gresley's favourite 3-cylinder arrangement in a monobloc casing.

The V2s were the first major class of 2-6-2 tender locomotives in Britain — only the unsuccessful experimental Midland Railway Paget locomotive of 1908 had preceded them. This wheel arrangement allowed the fitting of a large firebox.

184 were built in 11 batches between 1936 and 1944, construction continuing through the Second World War as they proved their usefulness.

[edit] Names

Eight V2s were named. The first of the class was named after the express freight train Green Arrow. Five more were named after Regiments and two after public schools.

[edit] Service

Under the LNER 1946 renumbering scheme the V2s were renumbered 800-983. After nationalisation in 1948, British Railways added 60000 to their numbers so they became 60800-983. BR also gave them the power classification 6MT.

[edit] Preservation

60800 Green Arrow at Crewe Works open day on 1 June 2003. This locomotive is the sole survivor of its class, and is seen in its British Railways guise.

4771 Green Arrow, in LNER apple green livery, departs Derby with a mainline railtour.

Only one Class V2 survived into preservation. The first of the class 60800 Green Arrow has been preserved by the National Railway Museum at York.

[edit] References

• Michael Rutherford and Michael Blakemore Green Arrow and the LNER V2 Class ISBN 0-906899-77-X

[edit] External links

• LNER encyclopedia
• Railuk database

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