| GNR J4 & J5 Classes LNER Classes J3 and J4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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 LNER J3 No. 4142. at Immingham Locomotive Depot 1947 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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The Great Northern Railway J4 Class was a class of 322 0-6-0 steam locomotives, introduced in 1882 designed by Patrick Stirling for goods traffic. Just over half of these were rebuilt by Nigel Gresley to a design by Henry Ivatt between 1912 and 1929.
The GNR Class J5 was based on the GNR Class J7 0-6-0 tender engines designed by Patrick Stirling, thirty-five of which were built at Doncaster between 1867 and 1873, these had cylinders of 24 in (610 mm) stroke and domeless boilers of 4 ft 0+1⁄2 in (1.232 m) diameter.
In 1873, Stirling decided to make a new design, later known as GNR Class J6, based on the J7s but with the cylinder stroke increased to 26 in (660 mm). Between 1873 and 1879, 28 of these were built, after which the boiler was enlarged to 4 ft 2+1⁄2 in (1.283 m) diameter, and 132 more were built down to 1896. That year, Stirling introduced the GNR Class J5, with the boiler diameter increased to 4 ft 5 in (1.35 m) but still domeless, and ten were built. After Stirling's death, Ivatt amended this design to use a domed boiler of the same size and produced a further 145 between 1897 and 1901, of which twelve were supplied to the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway (M&GN) in 1900 as their Class DA.
As older locomotives became due for boiler renewals, they were normally given the latest type; in this way, 145 of the 160 J6s were rebuilt to GNR Class J5; similarly, 153 of the J5s (including some former J6s) were rebuilt to GNR Class J4.
The GNR Class J6 and J5 locomotives were given numbers 101/2, 133/5, 141/3/7, 150/4, 160/3/5/8, 170/1/3/5–83/7, 191–6/8/9, 300–4/6–310/2–324, 327–332/4/6–354, 359–365/7/8, 370–3/5/8/9/81–94/6/8/9, 640–51, 716–50, 791–800, 831–50, 1011/2, 1031–45, 1081–1173. Those numbered below 400 took the numbers of older locomotives that had been withdrawn. The twelve M&GN locomotives were numbered 81–92.
In 1912, Gresley produced a new boiler with a 4-foot 8-inch diameter and a total firebox area of 105 square feet. This was designed to be used on the D2 Class 4-4-0s and the J5s. The first member to be rebuilt was No. 1163 in May, being reclassified as J4. The GNR rebuilt 70 more to this specification. Upon the Groupings of 1923, the class became the LNER J3s. The LNER also rebuilt 82 locomotives, with the last rebuild occurring in 1929. By this point, there were only 157 J4s left in service. From 1926 onwards, the J3s were refitted with Ross pop safety valves, as was standard on the LNER. In service, the J3s handled the same duties as the J4s. However, they could also be found on Sunday school excursions from London to Southend-on-Sea, as well as many other excursions.
Twenty-six J5s were loaned to the ROD during the First World War, being sent to France alongside many other locomotives from other companies. Before going to France, the J4s were given boiler feed pumps and condensing gear. However, this was removed upon their return in 1918.
None of the J4s survived into preservation.
Sir Herbert Nigel Gresley was a British railway engineer. He was one of Britain's most famous steam locomotive engineers, who rose to become Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER). He was the designer of some of the most famous steam locomotives in Britain, including the LNER Class A1 and LNER Class A4 4-6-2 Pacific engines. An A1 Pacific, Flying Scotsman, was the first steam locomotive officially recorded over 100 mph in passenger service, and an A4, number 4468 Mallard, still holds the record for being the fastest steam locomotive in the world (126 mph).
Henry Alfred Ivatt was an English railway engineer, and was the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Great Northern Railway from 1896 to 1911.
The London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) produced several classes of locomotive, mostly to the designs of Nigel Gresley, characterised by a three-cylinder layout with a parallel boiler and round-topped firebox. It produced the most famous locomotive of its day, 4468 'Mallard', the holder of the world steam locomotive speed record. It also built the world-famous 4472 'Flying Scotsman'. However, its locomotive inheritance was much greater than just the 'A4 Class', it also produced highly successful mixed-traffic and freight designs.
The Great Northern Railway (GNR) Small Boiler Class C1 is a class of steam locomotive, the first 4-4-2 or Atlantic type in Great Britain. They were designed by Henry Ivatt in 1897. In total 22 were built between 1898 and 1903 at Doncaster Works. The class were commonly known as 'Klondykes' [sic], after the 1897 Klondike gold rush. They could reach speeds of up to 90 mph. They were also known as Small Atlantics.
The Great Northern Railway (GNR) Class J13, classified J52 by the LNER is a class of 0-6-0ST steam locomotive intended primarily for shunting.
The London and North Eastern Railway LNER Gresley Classes A1 and A3 locomotives represented two distinct stages in the history of the British 4-6-2 "Pacific" steam locomotives designed by Nigel Gresley. They were designed for main line passenger services and later express passenger services, initially on the Great Northern Railway (GNR), a constituent company of the London and North Eastern Railway after the amalgamation of 1923, for which they became a standard design. The change in class designation to A3 reflected the fitting to the same chassis of a higher pressure boiler with a greater superheating surface and a small reduction in cylinder diameter, leading to an increase in locomotive weight. Eventually all of the A1 locomotives were rebuilt, most to A3 specifications, but no. 4470 was completely rebuilt as Class A1/1.
The London and North Eastern Railway Class J38 was a class of steam locomotive designed for freight transport. They were designed by Nigel Gresley and introduced in 1926. A total of 35 were built at the LNER's Darlington Works in 1926 and they were used in Scotland. All passed into British Railways ownership in 1948 and they were renumbered from 5900–5934 to 65900–65934.
The Great Northern Railway 521 Class was a class of 0-6-0 steam locomotives, introduced in 1911. They were designed by Henry Ivatt for goods traffic. From 1912 to 1922 further examples, slightly modified by Nigel Gresley, were built and designated 536 Class. The most obvious difference was in the front sandboxes. These were below the running plate on the 521 but above it, and merged with the front splashers, on the 536. The boiler and firebox were also moved back, thus resulting in a shortened cab. The London and North Eastern Railway classified them both as J6.
The Great Northern Railway Class H4 was a class of 2-6-0 steam locomotive designed for mixed-traffic work.
Edward Thompson was an English railway engineer, and was Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London and North Eastern Railway between 1941 and 1946. Edward Thompson was born at Marlborough, Wiltshire on 25 June 1881. He was the son of an assistant master at Marlborough College. He was educated at Marlborough before taking the Mechanical Science Tripos at Pembroke College, Cambridge, earning a third class degree. Thompson's academic background contrasts with that of his predecessor Nigel Gresley, who had also attended Marlborough, but then gained practical experience as a pupil at Horwich Works.
The Great Northern Railway Class J23 was a class of 0-6-0T steam locomotive. They had long side tanks that came to the front of the smokebox, which sloped forwards to improve visibility and had a recess cut in to aid maintenance. Forty were built by the Great Northern Railway (GNR) between 1913 and 1922, with a further 62 being added by the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) between 1924 and 1939. They were given the nickname "Submarines" due to their long tanks.
The Great Northern Railway (GNR) Class C1 is a type of 4-4-2 steam locomotive. One, ex GNR 251, later LNER 2800, survives in preservation. Much like their small boiler cousins, they were capable of reaching speeds of up to 90 mph (145 km/h). They were also known as Large Atlantics.
The Great Northern Railway (GNR) Class O2 was a class of three-cylinder 2-8-0 steam locomotives designed by Nigel Gresley for freight work and built by the GNR from 1921. Further examples were built by the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) from 1924.
The Great Northern Railway Class H2 and H3 was a class of 2-6-0 steam locomotive designed for mixed-traffic work.
GNR No. 533 was a locomotive of the British Great Northern Railway, built by Patrick Stirling in 1876. A larger boiler was fitted in 1891 making the locomotive a member of the GNR G2 class. Withdrawn from rolling service in June 1905, a crane was fitted to the locomotive and it was released for work at the Doncaster Works in March 1906. It carried no number but was lettered "DONCASTER WORKS". Duties at Doncaster included both heavy lifting and general shunting.
The following is a list of locomotives built for the Great Northern Railway. As is customary, engine classes are organized according to the man who was locomotive superintendent when the class was introduced, and to whom the design is often attributed. Six men held this post during the existence of the Great Northern Railway.
The GNR Class J9 was a class of two-cylinder steam locomotives of the 0-6-0 wheel arrangement, built in 1896 for the Great Northern Railway.
The GNR Classes D2 and D3 were two classes of 51 4-4-0 steam locomotives designed by Henry Ivatt for the Great Northern Railway (GNR). They were the first 4-4-0s to be introduced by the GNR, and Ivatt's first original design for the railway as well.
The GNR Ivatt Class 1 0-6-0 was a class of fifteen inside-cylinder 0-6-0s designed for express goods work. They were Henry Ivatt's first original class of 0-6-0. Ivatt had previously designed a modified version of Patrick Stirling's J5 Class of 1873.
The Great Northern Railway J14 later Classified as J53 under LNER service was a 0-6-0 saddle tank steam locomotive class of 52 built between 1892 and 1897