Metropolitan Railway K Class

The Metropolitan Railway K Class consisted of six 2-6-4T steam locomotives, numbered 111 to 116.[1]

Metropolitan Railway K Class
LNER Class L2
No. 114, circa 1928
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderArmstrong Whitworth
Build date1925
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-6-4T
 • UIC1'C2'ht
Leading dia.37 in (940 mm)
Driver dia.5 ft 6 in (1,680 mm)
Trailing dia.37 in (940 mm)
Wheelbase36 ft 7 in (11,150 mm)
Axle load18.45 long tons (18.75 t; 20.66 short tons)
Loco weight87.35 long tons (88.75 t; 97.83 short tons)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity4.00 long tons (4.06 t; 4.48 short tons)
Water cap2,000 imp gal (9,100 L; 2,400 US gal)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		25 sq ft (2.3 m2)
Boiler pressure200 psi (1.38 MPa) superheated
Heating surface:
 • Tubes		1,017 sq ft (94.5 m2)
 • Flues356 sq ft (33.1 m2)
 • Firebox135 sq ft (12.5 m2)
Superheater:
​
 • Heating area285 sq ft (26.5 m2)
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size19 in × 28 in (483 mm × 711 mm)
Valve gearWalschaerts
Valve type10 in (254 mm) piston valves
Performance figures
Tractive effort26,036 lbf (115.81 kN)
Career
OperatorsMetropolitan Railway
London and North Eastern Railway
ClassMET: K
LNER L2
Number in class6
NumbersMET:111–116
LNER 6158–6163
Retired1943–1948
DispositionAll scrapped

Construction

They were built by Armstrong Whitworth in 1925, using parts manufactured at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, to the design of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway N Class 2-6-0 locomotives and part of a family of 200 or so "mogul" engines designed by R.E.L. Maunsell.[2] Final design was by the Metropolitan Railway's George Hally.[3] The boilers had been made by Robert Stephenson and Company of Darlington.[4] Some unusual variations included footsteps below the buffer beam and curved handrails at the front either side of the smokebox.[2]

Service

The K Class were used on heavy freight trains along London's Metropolitan Railway mainline, including coal to the power station at Neasden,[1] although there were used on occasional passenger trains. In 1937, all six were transferred to the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) where they were based at Neasden (LNER) Shed. The LNER numbered them 6158–6163, and classified them as L2 Class.[1] They were used for passenger services for a short stint in 1938 and 1942 when H2 4-4-4T's were unavailable for maintenance or transferred elsewhere.[3]

Withdrawal

All were withdrawn and scrapped between 1943 and 1948.[2]

References
  1. Casserley, H.C. (1977). The Later Years of Metropolitan Steam. Truro: D.Bradford Barton. pp. 7, 34–39. ISBN 0-85153-327-2.
  2. Swift, Peter (2012). Maunsell Moguls. Ian Allan. pp. 86–90. ISBN 9780711034006.
  3. "The Maunsell / Hally Class L2 (Metropolitan Class K) 2-6-4T Tank Locomotives". The London & North Eastern Railway Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 26 August 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  4. 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 1977). Fry, E.V. (ed.). Locomotives of the L.N.E.R., part 9A: Tank Engines - Classes L1 to N19. Kenilworth: RCTS. p. 10. ISBN 0-901115-40-1.
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