GCR Class 11E

The GCR Class 11E was a type of 4-4-0 steam locomotive used by the Great Central Railway for express passenger services. Ten were built in the railway's own workshops at Gorton, Manchester during 1913; they remained in service until the mid-1950s.

GCR Class 11E
LNER Class D10
No. 2652 Edwin A. Beazley at Northwich MPD in 1947
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerJohn G. Robinson
BuilderGCR, at Gorton Works
Build date1913
Total produced10
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte4-4-0
 • UIC2'Bh2
Gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Leading dia.3 ft 6 in (1,070 mm)
Driver dia.6 ft 9 in (2,060 mm)
Wheelbase48 ft 8 1⁄2 in (14,846 mm)
Length58 ft 11 1⁄2 in (17,970 mm)
Axle load19.8 long tons (20.1 t)
Adhesive weight39.6 long tons (40.2 t)
Loco weight61 long tons (62 t)
Tender weight48.3 long tons (49.1 t)
Total weight109.3 long tons (111.1 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity6 long tons (6.1 t)
Water cap4,000 imp gal (18,000 l)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		26.5 sq ft (2.46 m2)
Boiler:
​
 • Diameter5 ft 0.5 in (1,537 mm) to 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)
Boiler pressure180 psi (1.2 MPa)
Heating surface1,543 sq ft (143.3 m2)
 • Tubes972 sq ft (90.3 m2)
 • Flues416 sq ft (38.6 m2)
 • Firebox155 sq ft (14.4 m2)
Superheater:
​
 • TypeRobinson, 24 elements
 • Heating area209 sq ft (19.4 m2)
CylindersTwo, inside
Cylinder size20 in × 26 in (508 mm × 660 mm)
Valve gearStephenson
Valve type10 inches (250 mm) piston valves (outside admission)
Train heatingSteam
Loco brakeSteam
Train brakesVacuum
Performance figures
Tractive effort19,644 lbf (87.38 kN)
Career
Operators
Class
  • GCR: 11E
  • LNER: D10
Power classBR: 3P
Number in class10
Numbers
  • GCR: 429–438
  • LNER: 5429–38
  • then 2650–59
  • BR: 62650–59
NicknamesDirectors
Axle load classLNER/BR: RA 6
Withdrawn1953–55
DispositionAll scrapped

History

In the early part of the 20th century, the Great Central Railway (GCR) had favoured the 4-4-0 wheel arrangement for express passenger services. They had bought 40 such locomotives to the design of their Locomotive Engineer, John G. Robinson (Robinson became Chief Mechanical Engineer in 1902), between 1901 and 1904, and these formed class 11B. These were found to be too small, and subsequently several classes of 4-4-2 and 4-6-0 locomotive were introduced for express passenger trains, with the 4-4-2 type predominating. After the class 1 4-6-0, which were larger than any of the others, proved disappointing, Robinson decided to reduce the size of these and designed a 4-4-0 which became Class 11E. Ten were built in 1913,[1] and were immediately successful.

Compared to the class 1 4-6-0, the omission of one coupled axle allowed a longer wheelbase between two adjacent axles of a 4-4-0 than with the 4-6-0, so the firebox could be positioned between the axles instead of on top of one of them; thus it could be deeper, giving better draughting which aided steaming. The shorter overall length meant that the boiler tubes were shorter, which also improved draughting.[2]

Unusually, outside admission was used for the piston valves of the cylinders.[3] Conventionally, piston valve locomotives had inside admission, whereas outside admission was used with slide valve locomotives. Outside admission gives a shorter exhaust passage, with the consequent advantages of a lower back pressure and sharper blast, but with the disadvantage that the valve spindle glands must be made to withstand much higher pressures and temperatures. Robinson had previously used outside admission for his class 11D rebuilds from class 11B, and the new class 11E used the same cylinder casting as those rebuilds.[4] When further 4-4-0s of similar capability to class 11E were required after World War I, these were given normal cylinders with inside admission for the piston valves, and so were placed in class 11F.[5]

Withdrawal occurred between March 1953 and November 1955.[5]

Accidents and incidents

On 27 February 1927, locomotive No. 5437 Prince George was hauling an express passenger train that was involved in a collision with a light engine at Penistone Yorkshire.[6]

Numbers and names
NumberBuiltNameWithdrawn
429August 1913Sir Alexander HendersonFebruary 1954
430September 1913Purdon ViccarsMarch 1953
431October 1913Edwin A. BeazleyMay 1954
432October 1913Sir Edward FraserOctober 1955
433October 1913Walter Burgh GairAugust 1953
434November 1913The Earl of KerryAugust 1953
435November 1913Sir Clement RoydsJanuary 1955
436November 1913Sir Berkeley SheffieldMarch 1953
437November 1913Charles Stuart WortleyAugust 1955
438December 1913Worsley TaylorNovember 1954

The original names were those of directors of the GCR; Sir Alexander Henderson was the Chairman of the Board, and William Purdon Viccars was Deputy Chairman. At the time, there were twelve members of the GCR Board; of these, two (Viscount Cross and Sir Alexander Henderson) already had locomotives named after them. However, the latter's name was removed from class 11B no. 1014 and used on class 11E no. 429, so one director was not honoured at this stage;[7] this was rectified the following year when class 1A 4-6-0 no. 439 was named Sutton Nelthorpe.[8]

Two locomotives had their names altered subsequently, one of them twice. Sir Alexander Henderson was created Baron Faringdon in 1916, but his new name was used on a class 9P 4-6-0, so in 1917 no. 429 was renamed Sir Douglas Haig after the Commander-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force. In turn, Sir Douglas was created Earl Haig in 1919 and his new name used on another class 9P 4-6-0, so no. 429 was renamed a second time, becoming Prince Henry c. 1920 after the fourth child of King George V. When Charles Stuart-Wortley was raised to the peerage as Baron Stuart of Wortley in 1917, his name was used on a further class 9P, so no. 437 was renamed Prince George c. 1920 after the fifth child of King George V.[9]

After the 1923 Grouping, the LNER increased the GCR numbers by 5000, this occurring in 1924–5. Under the 1946 renumbering, they became 2650–9 in the same order. During 1948–50, British Railways increased these numbers by 60000.[10]

Notes
  1. Stuart Black (23 February 2017). Loco Spotter’s Guide. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 38–. ISBN 978-1-4728-2049-5.
  2. Boddy et al. 1981, p. 76.
  3. Marsden, Richard. "The Robinson Class D10 (GCR Class 11E) 'Directors' 4-4-0 Locomotives". www.lner.info. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  4. Boddy et al. 1981, pp. 65,76–77.
  5. Boddy et al. 1981, p. 84.
  6. Hoole 1982, p. 26.
  7. Boddy et al. 1981, p. 80.
  8. Boddy et al. 1975, pp. 44,46.
  9. Boddy et al. 1981, pp. 80,84.
  10. Boddy et al. 1981, pp. 77,81,84.

References
  • Boddy, M. G.; Brown, W. A.; Fry, E. V.; Hennigan, W.; Hoole, Ken; Manners, F.; Neve, E.; Platt, E. N. T.; Proud, P.; Yeadon, W. B. (March 1975). Fry, E. V. (ed.). Locomotives of the L.N.E.R., Part 2B: Tender Engines—Classes B1 to B19. Lincoln: RCTS. ISBN 0-901115-73-8.
  • Boddy, M. G.; Brown, W. A.; Hennigan, W.; Neve, E.; Platt, E. N. T.; Russell, O.; Yeadon, W. B. (January 1981). Fry, E. V. (ed.). Locomotives of the L.N.E.R., Part 3B: Tender Engines—Classes D1 to D12. Kenilworth: RCTS. ISBN 0-901115-46-0.
  • Hoole, Ken (1982). Trains in Trouble: Vol. 3. Redruth: Atlantic Books. ISBN 0-906899-05-2.
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