GNR Class C1

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The Great Northern Railway (GNR) Class C1 is a type of 4-4-2 steam locomotive. One, No. 2800, survives to preservation.

The C1 Class, as it was known under the LNER classification (I hope someone can provide the Great Northern version) was designed by Henry A. Ivatt as an enlarged version of what became the C2 Class. The principle of the design was to produce a powerful, free-steaming engine to haul the fastest and heaviest express trains on the Great Northern. They could thus be seen as the start of the East Coast 'Big Engine' policy. None were ever named.

The first engine, No. 251, was introduced in 1898, with eighty more being built at Doncaster Works between 1904 and 1908. Although they suffered from a number of teething troubles, the Atlantics were generally very successful. They were originally fitted with slide valves, but later gained piston valves, which produced a notable improvement in performance. The Atlantics remained in front-line service for many years, sometimes being called upon to haul trains of over 500 tons. They were eventually superseded on the heaviest trains by Gresley A1 Pacifics in the early 1920s. They continued to haul lighter expresses up until the 1950s, although this did include the Harrogate Pullman for a period during the 1920s and 1930s. They were often called upon to take over trains from failed Pacifics and put up some remarkable performances with loads far in excess of those they were designed to haul. One once took over the Flying Scotsman from a failed A3 at Peterborough and not only made up time but arrived early.

Seventeen C1s survived into British Railways ownership, but they did not last long. The last one was withdrawn from service in 1950, leaving only the pioneer, No.251 (later renumbered 2800) to survive into preservation. She is currently at the National Railway Museum in York, although she is unlikely to ever steam again.

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