GCR Class 9Q

GCR Class 9Q
LNER Class B7
LNER 1386, (formerly 5034), at Darnall Locomotive Depot in 1949
Power type Steam
Designer John G. Robinson
Builder Gorton locomotive works, Vulcan Foundry, Beyer, Peacock and Company
Build date 1921–1924
Total produced 38
Configuration 4-6-0
Gauge 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm)
Leading wheel
diameter
3 ft 6 in (1.067 m)
Driver diameter 5 ft 8 in (1.727 m)
Length 63 ft 0 in (19.202 m)
Locomotive weight 127 long tons (129 t)
Fuel type Coal
Boiler pressure 180 psi (1.24 MPa)
Cylinders Four
Cylinder size 16 × 26 in (406 × 660 mm)
Tractive effort 29,953 lbf (133.2 kN)
Career Great Central Railway, London & North Eastern Railway, British Railways
Retired 1948–1950
Disposition All scrapped

The Great Central Railway Class 9Q, classified B7 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 a smaller wheeled version of Robinson’s earlier Lord Faringdon express passenger class (LNER Class B3).

History

The GCR built two batches at Gorton locomotive works, during 1921 and 1922, and they also ordered batches from Vulcan Foundry and the Beyer, Peacock and Company. Twenty eight locomotives had been delivered by Grouping in 1923. The London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) ordered a fifth batch of ten locomotives from Gorton works and these were delivered between August 1923 and March 1924.[1] The last batch had reduced boiler mountings and detail differences to the cab to conform to the new LNER loading gauge. These were classified B7/2. The earlier batches were classified B7/1. Thirty-eight locomotives passed to British Railways in 1948, but withdrawal began soon afterwards. None have been preserved.

Some locomotives surviving in 1949 were renumbered between 61702 and 61713.

Numbering

Year Maker GCR Nos. LNER Nos. LNER 1942 Nos. BR Nos. BR 1949 No.
1921 Gorton 72-3, 78 5072-3, 5078 1360-2 61360-2
1921 Vulcan 36-8, 458-64 5036-8, 5458-64 1363-72 61363-72 61702-3
1921/2 Gorton 465-474 5465-5474 1373-82 61373-82 61704-7
1922 Beyer, Peacock 31-5 5031-5 1373-82 61383-87 61708-9
1923/4 Gorton 475-82 - - 5475-84 1388-97 61388-97 61710-13

References

  1. ^ ’’Locomotives of the LNER Part 2b’’, Railway Correspondence and Travel Society (1975), p.42.