| GER Class S69 LNER Class B12 |
|
|---|---|
| Preserved B12/3 (minus wheels) in BR lined black livery. | |
| Power type | Steam |
| Designer | S. D. Holden |
| Builder | GER Stratford Works (51), Wm. Beardmore & Co. (20), Beyer, Peacock & Co. (10) |
| Serial number | WB 135–154, BP 6487–6496 |
| Build date | 1911–1928 |
| Total produced | 81 |
| Configuration | 4-6-0 |
| UIC classification | 2′C h2t |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Leading wheel diameter |
3 ft 3 in (0.991 m) |
| Driver diameter | 6 ft 6 in (1.981 m) |
| Wheelbase | 48 ft 3 in (14.71 m) |
| Length | 57 ft 7 in (17.55 m) over buffers |
| Weight on drivers | B12/1&2: 43 tons 8 cwt (97,200 lb or 44.1 t) B12/3: 48 tons 2 cwt (107,700 lb or 48.9 t) |
| Locomotive weight | B12/1&2: 62 tons 19.5 cwt (141,100 lb or 64.0 t) B12/3: 69 tons 5 cwt (155,100 lb or 70.4 t) |
| Tender weight | 38 tons 6 cwt (85,800 lb or 38.9 t) |
| Fuel type | Coal |
| Fuel capacity | 4 tons 0 cwt (9,000 lb or 4.1 t) |
| Water capacity | 3,700 imp gal (16,800 l; 4,440 US gal) |
| Boiler pressure | 180 psi (1.24 MPa) |
| Firegrate area | 26.5 sq ft (2.46 m2) |
| Heating surface: Firebox |
154 sq ft (14.3 m2) |
| Heating surface: Total |
1,919 sq ft (178.3 m2) |
| Cylinders | Two, inside |
| Cylinder size | 20 × 28 in (510 × 710 mm) |
| Tractive effort | 21,969 lbf (97.72 kN) |
| Career | GER · LNER · BR |
| Class | GER: S69, LNER: B12 |
| Power class | BR: 4P3F |
| Axle load class | LNER/BR: RA 4 |
| Withdrawn | 1913 (1), 1945–1961 |
| Disposition | One preserved, remainder scrapped |
Great Eastern Railway (GER) Class S69, also known as 1500 Class, and later classified B12 by the LNER is a class of 4-6-0 steam locomotive designed for passenger work. Originally they were designed by S. D. Holden, but were much rebuilt, resulting in several subclasses.
Seventy-one S69 locomotives were built by the GER between 1911 and 1921 and numbered 1500–1570. A further 10 locomotives were built by Beyer, Peacock & Co for the LNER in 1928 and numbered 8571-8580.[1] From 1948 the British Railways numbers were 61500–61580 (with gaps).
These locomotives are considered by some as the finest steam locomotives to haul express passenger trains out of London's Liverpool Street station.[2]
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At the time of their introduction, the "Claud Hamilton" 4-4-0s were becoming outclassed on the heaviest express. Although an enlarged 4-4-0 design was mooted,[3] it was realised that any such design would have too high an axle load for the tracks of the Great Eastern Railway, which had a relatively low restriction. Another design constraint was the short turntables used at the time. This meant that a 4-6-0 design was decided upon, although the design was relatively short compared to similar designs introduced at the same time.
| Year | Order | Manufacturer | Quantity | GER Nos. | LNER Nos. | LNER 1944 Nos. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1911–12 | S69 | Stratford Works | 5 | 1500–1504 | 8500–8504 | 1500–1504 | |
| 1913 | A73 | Stratford Works | 10 | 1505–1514 | 8505, —, 8507–8514 | 1505, —, 1507–1514 | 1506 withdrawn after accident at Colchester, 12 July 1913 |
| 1913 | E75 | Stratford Works | 5 | 1515–1519 | 8515–8519 | 1515–1519 | |
| 1914 | R75 | Stratford Works | 10 | 1520–1529 | 8520–8529 | 1520–1529 | |
| 1914–15 | M77 | Stratford Works | 6 | 1530–1535 | 8530–8535 | 1530–1535 | |
| 1915–17 | B78 | Stratford Works | 5 | 1536–1540 | 8536–8540 | 1536–1540 | |
| 1920–21 | — | Wm. Beardmore & Co. 135–154 | 20 | 1541–1560 | 8541–8560 | 1541–1560 | |
| 1920 | H82 | Stratford Works | 10 | 1561–1570 | 8561–8570 | 1561–1570 | |
| 1928 | — | Beyer, Peacock & Co. 6487–6496 | 10 | — | 8571–8580 | 1571–1580 |
The poppet valves were not a great success and all the B12/2s were converted to piston valve engines between 1931 and 1934.
One B12/3, LNER number 8572 (BR 61572), has survived to preservation on the North Norfolk Railway, the only British inside cylinder 4-6-0 to be preserved.
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