LNER Class B17

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LNER Class B17
March railway Ely - Birmingham express geograph-2315649-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg
B17/6 No. 61642 Kilverstone Hall.
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
Designer Nigel Gresley
Builder North British Locomotive Co. (10)
Darlington Works (52)
R. Stephenson & Co. (11)
Serial numberNBL: 23803–23812
RS: 4124–4134
Build date1928–1937
Total produced73
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 •  Whyte 4-6-0
 •  UIC 2′C h3
Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia. 3 ft 2 in (0.965 m)
Driver dia.6 ft 8 in (2.032 m)
Length62 ft 2 in (18.95 m) [1]
Width8 ft 11 in (2.72 m) [2]
Height12 ft 11 in (3.94 m) [2]
Axle load 18 tons
Loco weight77.25–80.5 long tons (78.49–81.79 t; 86.52–90.16 short tons)
Fuel type Coal
Boiler:
​
 • Diameter5 ft 4.75 in (1,644.6 mm) to 5 ft 6 in (1,680 mm) outside
Boiler pressureB17/1 to B17/5: 200 psi (1.38 MPa)
B17/6: 225 psi (1.55 MPa)
Heating surface1,676 sq ft (155.7 m2) [1]
 • Firebox168 sq ft (15.6 m2) [1]
Superheater:
​
 • Heating area344 sq ft (32.0 m2) [1]
Cylinders Three
Cylinder size 17+1⁄2 in × 26 in (444 mm × 660 mm)
Valve gear Outside: Walschaerts
Inside: Gresley conjugated
Valve type8-inch (203 mm) piston valves
Performance figures
Tractive effort B17/1 to B17/5: 25,380 lbf (112.9 kN)
B17/6: 28,553 lbf (127.0 kN)
Career
Operators London and North Eastern Railway  » British Railways
Power classBR: B17/1 to B17/5: 4MT; B17/6: 5P4F
NicknamesFootballers, Sandringhams
Axle load class Route Availability 5
Withdrawn1952–1960
DispositionAll original locomotives scrapped but tender of one is preserved; one new-build under construction

The London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) Class B17, also known as "Sandringham" or "Footballer" class was a class of 4-6-0 steam locomotive designed by Nigel Gresley for hauling passenger services on the Great Eastern Main Line. In total 73 were built.

Contents

Background

By 1926, the former GER B12 class locomotives were no longer able to cope with the heaviest express passenger trains on the Great Eastern Main Line between London and Cambridge, Ipswich and Norwich. Yet Gresley was unable to use his larger classes due to severe weight restrictions on the line. The requirement for a lightweight yet powerful 4-6-0 proved to be difficult to achieve. [3]

Design

After several unsuccessful attempts by Doncaster Works to satisfy Gresley's specification, the contract for the detailed design and building of the class was given to the North British Locomotive Company in 1927. They used several features from a batch of A1 Pacifics they had built in 1924. The cab, cylinders, and motion had all been copied directly or slightly modified. Most of the boiler design was taken from the LNER Class K3 2-6-0 and LNER Class O2 2-8-0 designs. Darlington Works provided drawings for the bogies, and Stratford Works designs for the GE-type 3,700-imperial-gallon (17,000 L; 4,400 US gal), 4-long-ton (4.1 t) tender. [4] However, the two designs presented by the NB Loco Co. had an axle loading of 18 tons and 19 tons, respectively. The 18 ton design, being lighter, was chosen. Since it had an axle loading of 18 tons, 1 ton higher than the initial requirement of 17 tons, this meant that the B17’s route availability was “certain GER main lines” instead of the full range which was intended, although the LNER did accept the restriction.

Due to weight restrictions it proved to be impossible for all three cylinders to drive the middle coupled axle. Therefore, the design used divided drive with the middle cylinder driving the leading axle and was positioned forward above the front bogie. [5] The LNER also ordered some modifications, including an increase in cylinder size from 17 in (432 mm) to 17+1⁄2 in (444 mm), and a lengthening of the firebox by 5 in (127.0 mm) with longer frames, and lighter springs. The design continued to prove problematic and the LNER eventually cancelled a penalty clause in the original contract. The first locomotive, No. 2802 Walsingham was delivered 30 November 1928, thirteen weeks late. [6]

Construction

Ten locomotives were built by the North British Locomotive Company (works nos. 23803-12) during November and December, which were allocated the running numbers 2800-9. Five further orders were placed with Darlington Works between December 1928 and March 1935 for a further fifty-two locomotives to be delivered between August 1930 and June 1936. A final batch of eleven were ordered from Robert Stephenson and Company in February 1936 (works nos. 4124-34) for delivery between January and July 1937; resulting in a total of 73 B17s built.

Sub-classes

B17/2 class 4-6-0 No. 2842 'Kilverstone Hall' leaving Cambridge 1939 Pre-war Garden Cities Express leaving Cambridge for London Kings Cross, 1939 (geograph 4976667).jpg
B17/2 class 4-6-0 No. 2842 'Kilverstone Hall' leaving Cambridge 1939
B17/4 No. 61661 'Sheffield Wednesday' at Stratford 12 June 1948 Stratford Gresley B17-4 'Footballer'geograph-2848722-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg
B17/4 No. 61661 'Sheffield Wednesday' at Stratford 12 June 1948
Streamlined B17/5 No. 2870 entering Stowmarket in 1940 Down express entering Stowmarket, 1940 - Wartime (geograph 4956058).jpg
Streamlined B17/5 No. 2870 entering Stowmarket in 1940
B17/6 No. 61623 'Lambton Castle' at Cambridge 28 February 1951 Cambridge with Gresley 'Sandringham' 4-6-0 geograph-2899291-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg
B17/6 No. 61623 'Lambton Castle' at Cambridge 28 February 1951

The first ten by the North British Locomotive Company were designated B17, later B17/1. The second and third batches had boilers supplied by Armstrong Whitworth and different springing and became B17/2. The next two batches had different springing and were designated B17/3. However, as the locomotives passed through the works the original springs were replaced by those of the later design and in 1937 the three sub-classes were merged into B17/1. The final Darlington batch introduced in 1936, and those built by Robert Stephenson and Company had 4,200-imperial-gallon (19,000 L; 5,000 US gal), 7.5-long-ton (7.6 t) tenders and were intended for use in the North Eastern area of the LNER: these were designated B17/4. [6]

In September 1937 two locomotives (Nos. 2859 Norwich City and 2870 Tottenham Hotspur) were streamlined in the manner of the LNER Class A4s, renamed East Anglian and City of London and intended for use on the East Anglian train. They were designated B17/5. However, the streamlining was cladding for publicity purposes only and had little effect on the overall speed of the locomotive. By 1951 both engines had been stripped of the streamlining altogether. [7]

Between 1943 and 1957 most of the surviving members of the class were rebuilt with a LNER 100A boiler with increased pressure and were designated B17/6.

Rebuilding

Ten B17s were rebuilt by Edward Thompson as 2-cylinder locomotives with a LNER 100A boiler, between 1945 and 1949, becoming the Class B2. No more were rebuilt because of the success of the Thompson's B1 class.

Accidents and incidents

Summary table

LNER
No.		BR
No.		Original Name (Rename(s))Date builtDate rebuiltRebuilt
as		Date
withdrawn		Notes
280061600 Sandringham December 1928June 1950B17/6July 1958
280161601 Holkham December 1928——January 1958
280261602 Walsingham November 1928October 1951B17/6January 1958
280361603 Framlingham December 1928October 1946 B2 September 1958
280461604 Elveden December 1928November 1951B17/6August 1953
280561605 Burnham Thorpe
( Lincolnshire Regiment from April 1938)		December 1928January 1948B17/6May 1958
280661606 Audley End December 1928March 1950B17/6September 1958
280761607 Blickling December 1928May 1947 B2 December 1959
280861608 Gunton December 1928October 1950B17/6March 1960
280961609 Quidenham December 1928January 1952B17/6June 1958
281061610 Honingham Hall August 1930October 1953B17/6January 1960
281161611 Raynham Hall August 1930February 1956B17/6October 1959
281261612 Houghton Hall October 1930March 1950B17/6September 1959
281361613 Woodbastwick Hall October 1930December 1951B17/6December 1959
281461614 Castle Hedingham October 1930November 1946 B2 June 1959
281561615 Culford Hall October 1930April 1946 B2 February 1959
281661616 Fallodon October 1930November 1945 B2 September 1959
281761617 Ford Castle November 1930December 1946 B2 August 1958
281861618 Wynyard Park November 1930April 1958B17/6January 1960
281961619 Welbeck Abbey November 1930January 1953B17/6September 1958
282061620 Clumber November 1930December 1951B17/6January 1960
282161621 Hatfield House November 1930January 1955B17/6November 1958
282261622 Alnwick Castle January 1931October 1943B17/6September 1958
282361623 Lambton Castle February 1931April 1948B17/6July 1959
282461624 Lumley Castle February 1931——March 1953
282561625 Raby Castle February 1931——December 1959
282661626 Brancepeth Castle March 1931April 1955B17/6January 1960
282761627 Aske Hall March 1931November 1948B17/6July 1959
282861628 Harewood House March 1931December 1948B17/6September 1952First to be withdrawn
282961629 Naworth Castle April 1931——September 1959
283061630 Thoresby Park
( Tottenham Hotspur from January 1938)		April 1931December 1948B17/6August 1958
283161631 Serlby Hall May 1931October 1957B17/6April 1959
2832 Belvoir Castle
(Royal Sovereign from September 1958)		May 1931June 1947 B2 February 1959
283361633 Kimbolton Castle May 1931August 1948B17/6September 1959
283461634 Hinchingbrooke June 1931January 1957B17/6August 1958
283561635 Milton July 1931January 1949B17/6January 1959
283661636 Harlaxton Manor July 1931May 1950B17/6October 1959
283761637 Thorpe Hall March 1933November 1957B17/6September 1959
283861638 Melton Hall March 1933December 1948B17/6March 1958
283961639 Rendlesham Hall
( Norwich City from January 1938)		May 1933January 1946 B2 May 1959
284061640 Somerleyton Hall May 1933May 1955B17/6November 1958
284161641 Gayton Hall May 1933February 1949B17/6January 1960
284261642 Kilverstone Hall May 1933January 1949B17/6September 1958
284361643 Champion Lodge May 1935October 1954B17/6July 1958
284461644 Earlham Hall May 1935March 1949 B2 February 1959
284561645 The Suffolk Regiment June 1935December 1952B17/6February 1959
284661646 Gilwell Park August 1935February 1951B17/6January 1959
284761647 Helmingham Hall September 1935February 1958B17/6November 1959Hauled the funeral train of King George V from Wolferton to King's Cross on 23 January 1936. [13]
284861648 Arsenal March 1936October 1957B17/6December 1958
284961649 Sheffield United March 1936March 1954B17/6February 1959
285061650 Grimsby Town March 1936February 1955B17/6September 1958
285161651 Derby County March 1936June 1953B17/6August 1959
285261652 Darlington April 1936March 1948B17/6September 1959
285361653 Huddersfield Town April 1936May 1954B17/6January 1960
285461654 Sunderland April 1936April 1948B17/6November 1959
285561655 Middlesbrough April 1936July 1950B17/6April 1959
285661656 Leeds United May 1936November 1953B17/6January 1960
285761657 Doncaster Rovers May 1936October 1950B17/6June 1960
285861658 Newcastle United
( The Essex Regiment from June 1936)		May 1936September 1950B17/6December 1959
285961659 Norwich City
( East Anglian from September 1937)		June 1936July 1949B17/6March 1960
286061660 Hull City June 1936——June 1960
286161661 Sheffield Wednesday June 1936August 1955B17/6July 1959
286261662 Manchester United January 1937March 1955B17/6December 1959
286361663 Everton February 1937November 1951B17/6February 1960
286461664 Liverpool January 1937October 1943B17/6June 1960
286561665 Leicester City January 1937August 1949B17/6April 1959
286661666 Nottingham Forest February 1937December 1947B17/6March 1960
286761667 Bradford April 1937——June 1958
286861668 Bradford City April 1937June 1949B17/6August 1960Last to be withdrawn
286961669 Barnsley May 1937September 1949B17/6September 1958
287061670 Manchester City
( Tottenham Hotspur from May 1937)
( City of London from September 1937)		May 1937April 1951B17/6April 1960
287161671 Manchester City
(Royal Sovereign from April 1946)		June 1937August 1948 B2 September 1958
287261672 West Ham United July 1937September 1950B17/6March 1960
*2873 61673 Spirit of Sandringham----Newbuild member of the class.

Preservation and revival

Among enthusiasts, the class was referred to as "footballers" as several members were named after football clubs. None of the class have survived into preservation but a few of the football clubs the locomotives were named after were presented with the nameplates after the locomotives themselves were cut up.

An operational locomotive being developed by the B17 Steam Locomotive Trust will become the newest member of the class, 61673 Spirit of Sandringham. [14] The frames of a Great Eastern Railway tender, fitted with an original axle from 61602 'Walsingham', and a LNER tender have been secured for the project. A static chassis for the locomotive has been constructed at Llangollen Railway Engineering Services. [15] Fundraising for the driving wheels is ongoing with three fully funded through the 'Put a Spoke in My Wheel' campaign. In October 2020 the project relocated to CTL Seal's premises in Sheffield, with the chassis moving from Llangollen and the tenders from the Mid-Norfolk Railway. [16]

The North British Locomotive Preservation Group were engaged in a project to build a non-operational LNER Class B17 4-6-0 replica, named after a football club, 61662 Manchester United. [17] By May 2019, many parts of the locomotive were being fixed together for display at the groups Mizens Railway base. [18] In time, they intended to develop the replica into an operational locomotive, [19] but in November 2020 they announced that the project was being terminated, with re-usable components, including the original tender, being donated to the B17 Steam Locomotive Trust. [20]

Modelling

Having previously produced tender drive OO gauge models of the "Footballer"-spec B17s, Hornby Railways released an all-new locomotive drive model of the B17 in 2013, available in both B17/1 and B17/6 subclasses with either the small GER-region tender or the larger LNER group standard 4200 gallon tender. [21]

Dapol manufacture a model of a B17 in N scale, which was awarded Steam Model Railway Locomotive of the year for N gauge. [22]

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Boddy et al. 1975, p. 96.
  2. 1 2 Haresnape 1981, p. 96.
  3. ↑ Boddy et al. 1975 , pp. 93–94
  4. ↑ Boddy et al. 1975 , p. 94
  5. ↑ Boddy et al. 1975 , pp. 95, 122
  6. 1 2 Boddy et al. 1975 , pp. 94–95, 122
  7. ↑ Boddy et al. 1975 , pp. 95, 123
  8. ↑ Earnshaw 1990, p. 16.
  9. ↑ Earnshaw 1991, p. 26.
  10. ↑ Earnshaw 1991, p. 28.
  11. ↑ "Report on the Accident at Ilford on 16th January 1944" (PDF). Ministry of War Transport. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  12. ↑ Earnshaw 1991, p. 30.
  13. ↑ "Workings of Royal Special Trains in connection with the Funeral of the late King". The Locomotive Magazine and Railway Carriage and Wagon Review. 42 (522): 42–43. 15 February 1936. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  14. ↑ B17 Steam Locomotive Trust, accessed 13 December 2013
  15. ↑ 61673 Design and Manufacturing Progress Report Autumn 2018
  16. ↑ THE BIG MOVE – relocating 61673 ‘Spirit of Sandringham’ - 27th August 2020
  17. ↑ "Engine 61662 Appeal - Home Page". www.engine61662appeal.co.uk. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  18. ↑ http://www.engine61662appeal.co.uk/news_updates/2019/may_19.pdf May 2019 News, 61662
  19. ↑ http://www.engine61662appeal.co.uk/mainline.html Main Line Steam Today, 61662
  20. ↑ "End of the line for Manchester United steam locomotive". RailAdvent. 11 November 2020.
  21. ↑ "Reviews: Hornby's Gresley 'B17' 4-6-0 arrives!". Hornby Magazine. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  22. ↑ "B17 N gauge steam loco of the year". Dapol. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
Sources
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