| LNER Thompson Class L1 | |
|---|---|
| No. 67781 at Neasden Shed 1957 | |
| Power type | Steam |
| Build date | 1945-1950 |
| Total produced | 100 |
| Configuration | 2-6-4T |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Driver diameter | 5 ft 2 in (1.575 m) |
| Locomotive weight | 89.45 long tons (90.89 t) |
| Boiler pressure | 225 psi (1.55 MPa) |
| Cylinders | Two outside |
| Cylinder size | 20 × 26 in (508 × 660 mm) |
| Tractive effort | 32,080 lbf (142.70 kN) |
| Career | London and North Eastern Railway British Railways |
| Class | L1 |
| Power class | 4MT |
| Number | BR 67701-67800 |
| Retired | 1960-1962 |
| Preserved | None |
The London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) Thompson Class L1 was a class of 2-6-4T steam locomotives designed by Edward Thompson. The prototype no. 9000 was built in 1945, but the remaining 99 were built under British Railways jurisdiction in the period 1948-1950. The information in the infobox (right) is taken from Ian Allan ABC.[1]
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The class, at least on paper, should have been very free steaming and powerful engines but, in practice, they were not suited to the work to which they were assigned. The engines had 5' 2" wheels, which would give them excellent power at low speed, such as that required for freight work, but these engines were intended for passenger use. The speeds required for suburban passenger work wore the engines out in a remarkably short time. Axleboxes, crosshead slides and crank bearings all suffered due to the high speeds.
In an attempt to reduce wear, two experiments were tried.[2] In May 1951, five locomotives had liners fitted to their cylinders to reduce the cylinder bore from 20 in to 18¾ in. In March 1953, five locomotives had their boiler pressure reduced from 225 psi to 200 psi. Neither experiment was a success.
Sources [3][4] were used to compile the following table:
| Build date | Builder | LNER number | Original BR number | New BR number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | LNER | 9000 | 69000 | 67701 |
| 1948 | BR Darlington Works | - | 69001-69015 | 67702-67716 |
| 1948 | BR Darlington Works | - | - | 67717-67730 |
| 1948-1950 | NBL and RSH | - | - | 67731-67800 |
Withdrawals were between 1960 and 1962. None survived to preservation.
Hornby produce the L1 class in 00 gauge with a number of different liveries, both green with LNER or BR running numbers,[5][6] and black with BR running numbers.[7]
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