LNER Class V1/V3

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.

LNER Classes V1 and V3
V1 2-6-2T No. 67639 at Middlesbrough Locomotive Depot 1954
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerNigel Gresley
BuilderDoncaster Works
Build dateV1: 1930–39
V3: 1939–40
Total producedV1: 82
V3: 10
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-6-2T
 • UIC1′C1 h3t
TrucksFront: double swing link;
Rear: radial
Leading dia.3 ft 2 in (0.965 m)
Driver dia.5 ft 8 in (1.727 m)
Trailing dia.3 ft 8 in (1.118 m)
Wheelbase32 ft 3 in (9.83 m)
Axle loadV1: 19.25 long tons (19,560 kg)
V3: 20.00 long tons (20,320 kg)
Loco weightV1: 57.05 long tons (57,970 kg)
V3: 58.10 long tons (59,030 kg)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacityOriginal: 4 long tons (4,100 kg)
With hopper-type bunker: 4.5 long tons (4,600 kg)
Water cap2,000 imp gal (9,100 l)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		22.08 sq ft (2.051 m2)
Boiler5 ft (1.52 m) diameter; Diagram 102
Boiler pressureV1: 180 psi (1.24 MPa)
V3: 200 psi (1.38 MPa)
Heating surface1,609 sq ft (149.5 m2)
 • Tubes830 sq ft (77 m2)
 • Flues368 sq ft (34.2 m2)
 • Firebox127 sq ft (11.8 m2)
Superheater:
​
 • TypeRobinson
 • Heating area284 sq ft (26.4 m2)
CylindersThree
Cylinder size16 in × 26 in (406 mm × 660 mm)
Valve gearOutside: Walschaerts valve gear;
inside: Gresley derived motion
Loco brakeSteam
Train brakesVacuum
Performance figures
Tractive effortV1: 22,464 lbf (99.9 kN)
V3: 24,960 lbf (111.0 kN)
Career
OperatorsLondon and North Eastern Railway
British Railways
Power classBR: 4MT; V1 downgraded to 3MT in May 1953
Axle load classV1: Route Availability 6
V3: Route Availability 7
Withdrawn1953 (1), 1960–1964
DispositionAll scrapped

Development history

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 V1 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.

Construction history

A total of 82 V1s were built at Doncaster from 1930 to 1939. The last batch of 10 engines ordered were built as V3s. By 1948, 4 V1s were rebuilt as V3s, and a further 67 would be rebuilt to V3 specification under British Railways ownership.

Operational history
V3 tank on 'pilot' duty at Newcastle Central station

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.

Later development of the V3

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 Royal Ordnance Factory at Thorp Arch until the end of the war.

The V1 and V3s were comparatively powerful engines suited to heavy and tightly-timed suburban workings. As such they saw service on suburban services around Glasgow and Edinburgh. Several were also maintained at Hull for hauling suburban and branch-line workings in the area.

Some of the class were displaced by newer and more powerful Thompson L1 class. Withdrawals began in 1960, with the V1s being disposed of by 1962 and the V3s by 1964, as diesel multiple units took over increasing numbers of suburban services, and branch line workings became fewer as lines closed or were dieselised.

None of either class survived into preservation. However the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust announced in September 2018 that following on from the LNER Class V4 3403 project, a new V3 is planned to be built.[5]

Accidents and incidents
  • On 8 September 1933, locomotive No. 2902 was hauling a passenger train that collided with wagons on the line at Bowling, West Dunbartonshire due to a signalman's error. Five people were injured.[6]
  • On 3 August 1942, No. 7669 was damaged during a bombing raid at Middlesbrough railway station.[7][8]
  • In December 1951, BR No. 67630 was involved in a collision at Craigentinny near Edinburgh, doing severe damage to its front and derailing the first coach. The engine stayed on the rails and no one was injured.[9]

Models

Bachmann produce models of both the V1 and V3 in 00 gauge in LNER green, BR Apple green and BR lined black.

References
  1. Marsden, Richard. "The Gresley V1 and V3 2-6-2T Prairie Tank Locomotives". The LNER Encyclopedia. Retrieved 8 April 2007.
  2. Brown, F.A.S: Nigel Gresley, Locomotive Engineer (Ian Allan, London, UK, 1961), pp.107-108
  3. Brown, F.A.S: Nigel Gresley, Locomotive Engineer (Ian Allan, London, UK, 1961), pp.186-187
  4. Ian Allan ABC of British Railways Locomotives
  5. "News Archives - The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust". The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
  6. Hoole, Ken (1983). Trains in Trouble: Vol. 4. Truro: Atlantic Books. p. 19. ISBN 0-906899-07-9.
  7. Rostron, Lara. "World War 2 bomb survivor recalls Middlesbrough train station explosion". BBC News. BBC News. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  8. Cain, James. "How 10-year-old boy survived bombing of Middlesbrough Railway Station". Teesside Live. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  9. Atterbury, Paul. (2012). Paul Atterbury's railway collection. Newton Abbot, United Kingdom: David & Charles / F & W Media. ISBN 978-1-4463-0202-6. OCLC 794708326.
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