LNWR John Hick Class

The London and North Western Railway (LNWR) John Hick class was a class of ten 2-2-2-2 steam locomotives designed for express passenger work by F. W. Webb.

LNWR John Hick class
LNWR No. 20 John Hick
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerF. W. Webb
BuilderCrewe Works
Serial number3505, 3858–3866
Build date1894–1898
Total produced10
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-2-2-2
 • UIC1AA1 n3v
Gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Leading dia.3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm), plus 3 in (76 mm) tyres
Driver dia.6 ft 0 in (1.829 m)
Trailing dia.3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm), plus 3 in (76 mm) tyres
Wheelbase
  • 8 ft 5 in (2.565 m) +
  • 8 ft 3 in (2.515 m) +
  • 7 ft 3 in (2.210 m)
Loco weight52 long tons (53 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Water cap2,000 imp gal (9,100 l; 2,400 US gal)
Boiler:
​
 • Pitch7 ft 8 1⁄4 in (2.343 m)
 • Diameter4 ft 3 in (1.295 m)
 • Tube plates18 ft 6 in (5.639 m)
Heating surface1,505.7 sq ft (139.88 m2)
CylindersThree, compound: two outside high pressure for trailing drivers, one inside low pressure for leading drivers
High-pressure cylinder15 in × 24 in (381 mm × 610 mm)
Low-pressure cylinder30 in × 24 in (762 mm × 610 mm)
Valve gearStephenson
Career
OperatorsLondon and North Western Railway
ScrappedOctober 1907 – May 1912
DispositionAll scrapped

History

They were broadly similar to the earlier Greater Britain class, the principal difference being smaller driving wheels, as their intended use was on the more-steeply graded Northern Section.

The first of the ten locomotives was built in February 1894, and the remaining nine came from Crewe Works between January and April 1898.

They were three-cylinder compound locomotives: the two outside high-pressure cylinders drove the trailing drivers via Howe-Stephenson valve gear, the one inside low-pressure cylinder drive the leading drivers via a slip eccentric. There was no connection between the two sets of drivers.

All the locomotives were named; one unusual feature (shared with the Greater Britain class) was that the names were split over two nameplates, one on each driving wheel splasher. This necessitated the use of two-word names, rather than some of the abbreviated names the LNWR had previously used. The names chosen continued the Greater Britain theme.

They continued in service until Webb's retirement. His successor, George Whale, preferred simple superheated locomotives; consequently they were all scrapped between 1907 and 1912.

Fleet list

See also

References
  1. Baxter 1979, p. 196.
  • Baxter, Bertram (1979). Baxter, David (ed.). British Locomotive Catalogue 1825–1923, Volume 2B: London and North Western Railway and its constituent companies. Ashbourne, Derbyshire: Moorland Publishing Company. ISBN 0-903485-84-2.
  • LNWR Society Photographs of the Webb 2-2-2-2 John Hick class steam locomotives.
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