| LNWR G Class | |
|---|---|
| LMS no. 9376 fresh from repair at Crewe Works | |
| Power type | Steam |
| Designer | Charles Bowen-Cooke |
| Builder | Crewe Works |
| Build date | G: 1910 G1: 1912–18 G2: 1921–22 |
| Total produced | G: 60 G1: 170 G2: 60 |
| Rebuilder | Crewe |
| Rebuild date | G: 1906–17 G1: 1917–38 |
| Number rebuilt | G: 32 G1: 187 |
| Configuration | 0-8-0 |
| Locomotive weight | 60 tons 15 cwt |
| Fuel type | coal |
| Boiler pressure | 160 psi |
| Cylinders | 2 |
| Cylinder size | 20½"x24" |
| Tractive effort | 25,640 lb |
| Power class | (to 1928) G/G1: 4F; G2: 5F (from 1928) G: 5F; G1: 6F; G2/G2a: 7F |
| Number in class | 509 |
| Number | LMS 8892–8967 (with gaps), 9002–9454 |
The London and North Western Railway (LNWR) G Class along with modifications that made them into G1, G2 and G2a classes, is a class of 0-8-0 steam locomotives designed for heavy freight work. They are known to railway enthusiasts as "Super Ds". This is because a large number of G1 class engines were rebuilt from George Whale class D 0-8-0s. They were Super Ds - super for superheated. The D class existed as such between 1906 and 1937. All this is explained by Willie Yeadon's book.[1]
Contents |
The LNWR built eight-coupled locomotives under Webb, Whale, Bowen-Cooke and Beames between 1892 and 1922. The G class were originally introduced in 1906 as modifications of the 4-cylinder compound B Class 0-8-0s by removing their outside cylinders to give a simpler two cylinder layout. From 1912 superheating was introduced and most of the B class were converted into G1 Class, not G Class. The G2 class were new builds with increased boiler pressure from 160lbf/in² to 175psi. Some G1s were converted to G2a classes after their boiler pressure was increased.
After grouping in 1923, they were acquired by the LMS who gave them the power classifications 6F for G1 and 7F for G2 and G2a locomotives. The design of the LMS 7F 0-8-0 (known as the "Austin 7") was derived from the G2 but the former was a poor engine in comparison and the "Super Ds" outlived the "Austin 7s".
Many of the G1, G2 and G2a Class locomotives passed into British Railways (BR) ownership in 1948 and were numbered as follows:
The final four engines in traffic were 48895, 49361, 49407 and 49430. They were withdrawn in December 1964. It is interesting to note that at least two of these engines, 49361 and 49430, were allocated to Northampton shed (2E). There was a farewell railtour 12 December 1964.[2] The G1 and G2a numbers are intermingled (probably because the G2a is a rebuild of the G1) and there are some gaps in numbering.[3]
One G2a, LMS 9395, BR number 49395, has survived as part of the National Railway Collection and has been returned to working order thanks to a lot of money from Pete Waterman.[4] It is currently on loan to the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) where it runs in BR livery as 49395.[5]
G1 Class
G2 and G2a Classes
For terminology, see Steam locomotive components
As of 2008, Bachmann produce a 00 Gauge/4 mm model of the G2A, available in LMS and BR Liveries.