| LNER Class V1/V3 | |
|---|---|
| V1 2-6-2T No. 67639 at Middlesbrough Locomotive Depot 1954 | |
| Power type | Steam |
| Builder | London and North Eastern Railway, Doncaster Works |
| Build date | V1: 1930–39 V3: 1939–40 |
| Total produced | (V1) 82 (V3) 10 |
| Configuration | 2-6-2T |
| UIC classification | 1C1'h3t |
| Trucks | (front) double swing link; (rear) radial |
| Leading wheel diameter |
3 ft 2 in (0.965 m) |
| Driver diameter | 5 ft 8 in (1.727 m) |
| Trailing wheel diameter |
3 ft 8 in (1.118 m) |
| Wheelbase | 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m) |
| Axle load | V1: 19.25 long tons (19,560 kg) V3: 20 long tons (20,000 kg) |
| Locomotive weight | V1: 57.05 long tons (57,970 kg) V3: 58.1 long tons (59,000 kg) |
| Fuel type | coal |
| Fuel capacity | 4 long tons (4,100 kg) (4.5 long tons (4,600 kg) with hopper-type bunker) |
| Water capacity | 2,000 imp gal (9,100 l) |
| Boiler | 5 ft (1.52 m) diameter |
| Boiler pressure | V1: 180 psi (1.24 MPa) V3: 200 psi (1 MPa) |
| Firegrate area | 22.08 sq ft (2.051 m2) |
| Heating surface: Tubes |
830 sq ft (77 m2) |
| Heating surface: Flues |
368 sq ft (34.2 m2) |
| Heating surface: Firebox |
127 sq ft (11.8 m2) |
| Heating surface: Total |
1,609 sq ft (149.5 m2) |
| Superheater type | Robinson |
| Superheater area | 284 sq ft (26.4 m2) |
| Cylinders | Three |
| Cylinder size | 16 × 26 in (406 × 660 mm) |
| Valve gear | Outside: Walschaerts valve gear; inside: Gresley derived motion |
| Tractive effort | V1: 22,464 lbf (99.9 kN) V3: 24,960 lbf (111.0 kN) |
| Locomotive brakes | Steam |
| Train brakes | Vacuum |
| Power class | BR: 4MT |
| Axle load class | V3: Route Availability 7 |
The London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) Class V1 and Class V3 were two classes of related 2-6-2T steam locomotive designed by Sir Nigel Gresley.[1] A total of 82 V1s were built with 71 being rebuilt into the higher pressure V3s with an additional ten being built as V3s from the final batch of V1s. The V3 was a development of the V1 with increased boiler pressure and a resultant increase in tractive effort.
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The development of large tank engines was somewhat delayed by problems on the Southern Railway following the Sevenoaks derailment thought to have been caused by the instability of the large K class 2-6-4 tanks. Gresley carried out stability tests on one of these locomotives and finding no trouble and without further delay produced his sophisticated VI class suburban tank in 1930. This incorporated his 3-cylinder system and was the first example of all three cylinders and valve chests being incorporated into a single steel casting;[2] this arrangement was used for the P2 Cock o' the North and the subsequent V2, K4 and V4 types.
A total of 71 V1s were built at Doncaster from 1930.
They were first used in Scotland on the Glasgow-Edinburgh - Helensburgh services. One, no 2911, was also tried in 1931 with excellent results on the Hitchin-London trains before returning to Scotland.
From 1939, with working pressure increased to 200 psi gave higher power and better acceleration. A number of V1s were rebuilt to conform.[3] French-style hopper type coal bunker were also fitted. By 1956 there were 57 V1 and 35 V3 types in service,[4] many on Newcastle-Middlesbrough services.
During World War II a number were transferred to help with the heavy wartime loads from the ROF factory at Thorp Arch until the end of the war.
In all the V1 and V3s were hard working engines suited to the suburban workings. Some of the class were displaced from their sheds by the newer Thompson L1 class, a 2-cylinder 2-6-4T design based on the V1 and V3.
Withdrawal of the V1 and V3 began in 1960 with the V1s being disposed of by 1962 and the V3s by 1964 as they were replaced by DMUs and the new line of diesels that were becoming ever more common as the modernisation plan came into effect.
None of either class survived to be preserved.
They were used on Glasgow north bank of the Clyde and Edinburgh suburban services – the Glasgow ones were replaced by the north Clyde electric blue train MUs while the Edinburgh ones were replaced by 1st generation DMUs.
Bachmann produce models of both the V1 and V3 in 00 gauge in LNER green, BR Apple green and BR lined black.
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