The NER Class X (LNER Class T1) was a class of 4-8-0T tank locomotive designed by Wilson Worsdell for the North Eastern Railway.[1] They were intended for use as powerful shunting engines to arrange and move coal wagons for loading into ships.[1] In total 15 were built, 10 by the NER between 1909 and 1910, and a further five in 1925 by the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER).[1] They had three cylinders with divided drive: the inside cylinder driving the leading axle, the outside cylinders driving the centre.[2]

NER Class X LNER Class T1
No. 69919 at Stockton Locomotive Depot 1954
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Wilson Worsdell Builder NER Gatehead Works (10) Darlington Works (5) Build date 1909–1910 (10) and 1925 (5) Total produced 15
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-8-0T  • UIC 2′D n2t Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Leading dia. 3 ft 1+1⁄4 in (0.946 m) Coupled dia. 4 ft 7+1⁄4 in (1.403 m) Wheelbase 29 ft 0 in (8.839 m) Length 42 ft 1 in (12.827 m) Axle load 18.00 long tons (18.29 t) Adhesive weight 67.60 long tons (68.68 t) Loco weight 85.40 long tons (86.77 t) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 4.25 long tons (4.32 t) Water cap. 2,500 imp gal (11,000 l; 3,000 US gal) Firebox:  • Firegrate area 23 sq ft (2.1 m2) Boiler pressure 175 lbf/in2 (1.21 MPa) Heating surface 1,295 sq ft (120.3 m2)  • Tubes 1,168 sq ft (108.5 m2)  • Firebox 127 sq ft (11.8 m2) Cylinders Three Cylinder size 18 in × 26 in (457 mm × 660 mm) Valve gear Stephenson Valve type 8+3⁄4-inch (222 mm) piston valves
Performance figures Tractive effort 34,080 lbf (151.6 kN)
Career Operators North Eastern Railway London and North Eastern Railway British Railways Power class BR: 7F, 5F from May 1953 Axle load class LNER/BR: Route availability 8 Withdrawn 1937, 1955–1961 Disposition All scrapped

Overview

The reversing gear was originally mechanical, but was replaced on all but two of the locomotives (nos. 1355/8) by steam-operated reversing gear between 1932 and 1934.[3] The steam reversing gear was removed again between 1941 and 1947.[3] In 1929, No. 1656 was moved to the newly built Whitemoor Yard at March, Cambridgeshire.[4] In 1932, this locomotive was replaced by Nos. 1355 and 1358.[4] Whitemoor preferred the ex-GCR 0-8-4T (LNER Class S1) for hump shunting, so in 1934 No 1358 was moved to Doncaster, and No. 1355 to Mexborough.[4] In 1936, No. 1355 moved to King's Cross to shunt the engine shed for seven weeks, before joining No. 1358 in Doncaster.[4] These two locomotives were scrapped at Doncaster in 1937.[4] The remaining T1s continued to work coal trains at various docks and marshalling yards throughout North East England.[4] After World War II, coal exports never returned to their pre-war levels.[5] Hence, many of the T1s moved to other sheds for heavy shunting duties.[5]

Numbering

On the North Eastern Railway the first ten locomotives were numbered 1350–9; these numbers were retained following the formation of the LNER on 1 January 1923. The five built in 1925 were given LNER numbers 1656–60.[6] In 1946, the thirteen remaining locomotives were renumbered 9910–22; these all passed to British Railways in 1948, being renumbered 69910-69922 between 1948 and 1951.[7]

Withdrawal

Two T1s were withdrawn in 1937, and the remainder were withdrawn between 1955 and 1961. No examples have been preserved.[5]

Notes

Sources

• Ahrons, E. L. (1927). The British Steam Railway Locomotive 1825-1925. Amen Corner, London: Locomotive Publishing Co.
• 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. (June 1977). Fry, E. V. (ed.). Locomotives of the L.N.E.R., Part 9B: Tank Engines—Classes Q1 to Z5. Kenilworth: RCTS. ISBN 0-901115-41-X.
• Ian Allan ABC of British Railways Locomotives, 1948 edition, part 4, page 56

External links

• LNER Encyclopedia