LNER Class V2

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LNER Class V2
60975 at Newstead.jpg
60975 at Newstead
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
Designer Sir Nigel Gresley
BuilderLNER Doncaster and Darlington Works
Build date1936–1944
Total produced184
Specifications
Configuration:
   Whyte 2-6-2
   UIC 1′C1′ h3
Gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia. 3 ft 2 in (0.965 m)
Driver dia.6 ft 2 in (1.880 m)
Trailing dia. 3 ft 8 in (1.118 m)
Length66 ft 5.125 in (20.24698 m)
Axle load 22 long tons (22 t; 25 short tons)
Loco weight93 long tons 2 cwt (208,500 lb or 94.6 t)
Tender weight52 long tons 0 cwt (116,500 lb or 52.8 t)
Fuel type Coal
Fuel capacity7 long tons 10 cwt (16,800 lb or 7.6 t)
Water cap.4,200 imp gal (19,000 L; 5,000 US gal)
Firebox:
  Grate area41.25 sq ft (3.832 m2)
Boiler:
  Diameter5 ft 9.2 in (1,758 mm) outside
Boiler pressure220 psi (1.52 MPa)
Heating surface2,431.07 sq ft (225.854 m2)
Superheater:
  Heating area679.67 sq ft (63.143 m2)
Cylinders Three
Cylinder size 18.5 in × 26 in (470 mm × 660 mm)
Valve gear
Performance figures
Tractive effort 33,730 lbf (150.0 kN)
Career
Operators London and North Eastern Railway, British Railways
Class LNER: V2
Power classBR: 6MT
Retired1962–1966
DispositionOne preserved, remainder scrapped

The London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) Class V2 2-6-2 steam locomotives were designed by Sir Nigel Gresley for express mixed traffic work, and built at the LNER shops at Doncaster and Darlington between 1936 and 1944. The best known is the first of the class, 4771 (later 800 and 60800) Green Arrow, which is the sole survivor of the class. [1]

Contents

Construction

The V2s were the only major class of 2-6-2 tender locomotives used in Britain. Whilst 2-6-2T tank locomotives were common in the UK, the only other 2-6-2 tender locomotives were the unsuccessful experimental Midland Railway Paget locomotive of 1908, and the two examples of Gresley's LNER Class V4 of 1941. The wheel arrangement allowed the fitting of a large firebox uninhibited by the rear driving wheel, and the front pony truck improved stability at high speeds.

The V2 was derived from the Class A1/A3 pacifics with smaller driving wheels (of 6 ft 2 in or 1.880 m compared to 6 ft 8 in or 2.032 m) and a shortened boiler. It retained Gresley's favoured 3-cylinder arrangement. Unusually all 3 cylinders were part of a single 'monobloc' casting.

184 locomotives were built in 14 batches between 1936 and 1944 at Doncaster and Darlington Works, construction continuing through the Second World War as they proved their usefulness. A further four locomotives, ordered as V2s, were redesigned by Gresley's successor Edward Thompson and completed as Pacifics (LNER Thompson Class A2/1).

The V2 was a versatile locomotive, capable of hauling fast fitted freights and express passenger trains. Their relatively heavy 22 ton axle load meant their use was restricted to around 40% of the LNER's route miles. For example, they were barred from all of the former Great Eastern Railway main lines. Gresley recognised that a lighter mixed-traffic locomotive was required, and the V4 class was designed to this end. However, it was to be the versatile LNER Thompson Class B1 4-6-0 which succeeded the V2 as the LNER's standard mixed traffic locomotive, although the B1 never matched the V2's power output. [2]

Working life

A V2, 60952, working. Croxdale railway geograph-2338898-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg
A V2, 60952, working.

First of the initial batch for five Doncaster-built V2s was number 4771, which emerged in June 1936 and was promptly named "Green Arrow", after the express freight service for which the locomotives had been built. Successful trials with this quintet led to both Doncaster and Darlington works producing further batches. The final locomotive, number 3695, was delivered from Darlington in July 1944.

The V2 had the free steaming qualities that the LNER's operating department required. Not only were they capable of working vacuum braked freights at up to 60 mph (97 km/h), they could deputise for Pacifics on express passenger schedules. In peak condition a V2 could almost match the Pacifics for sustained high speed running. One locomotive was reliably timed at 93 mph (150 km/h) on the Yorkshire Pullman while another attained 101.5 mph (163 km/h) on a test train.

The V2s were recognised as versatile and powerful locomotives by 1939, but their reputation was more firmly established by their remarkable feats of haulage during World War II. Trains of over 20 carriages loaded to 700 long tons (710 t) proved within their abilities. On at least one occasion a single V2 hauled 26 coaches from Peterborough to London. Given this capacity for work it was not surprising that construction was allowed to continue through the war years. The V2s performed equally competently for British Railways, leaving their mark on the East Coast Main Line, the Waverley Route between Carlisle and Edinburgh and on the ex-Great Central main line between London Marylebone and Sheffield.

60862 fitted with a double chimney Peterborough North railway station geograph-2334606-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg
60862 fitted with a double chimney

Significant modifications were made to the V2 class during its service life. In 1946 a series of derailments was traced to the design of the leading pony truck, which was unduly sensitive to the often poor track conditions, a legacy of heavy wartime use and lack of maintenance. Modifications to the suspension cured the problem. During the 1950s cracks in the 3 cylinder monoblocs became increasingly frequent, but replacing them was expensive and in 1956 the decision was taken to replace the monobloc with separate cylinder castings. Seventy-one engines were thus modified: they can be identified by the presence of external steam pipes from smokebox to cylinders. Finally, around 1960 experiments were made with fitting double chimneys to two V2s. This yielded no significant performance gain, but eight engines were subsequently fitted with Kylchap exhausts. These so-called 'Super V2s' were reckoned to be fully equal in performance to the larger Pacifics. However, plans to fit Kylchap chimneys to the remainder of the class were abandoned once it became clear that replacement with diesel locomotives was imminent.

The V2s' swansong came on the Edinburgh—Aberdeen run, working alongside the last LNER A2s and A4s. The entire class was withdrawn from service between 1962 and 1966.

Accidents and incidents

Names

Named V2 60964 The Durham Light Infantry at York in 1958. It had only been named the previous month. York Locomotive Yard geograph-2339063-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg
Named V2 60964 The Durham Light Infantry at York in 1958. It had only been named the previous month.

Only eight V2s were named; seven by the LNER and one by BR. The first of the class was named after the express freight train Green Arrow . Five more were named after Regiments and two after public schools. It is probable that more would have been named had the outbreak of war not intervened. [9]

Original No.LNER 1946 No.BR No.NameNotes
4771 800 60800 Green Arrow Preserved
478080960809The Snapper, The East Yorkshire Regiment, The Duke of York's Own
480683560835 The Green Howard, Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment
481884760847 St Peter's School York AD627
483186060860 Durham School
484387260872 King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
484487360873 Coldstreamer
367696460964 The Durham Light Infantry Named in April 1958

Numbering

When built, the V2s were numbered 3641–3695 and 4771–4899. Under the LNER 1946 renumbering scheme they were to be renumbered 700-883 but the range 800–983 was allocated before renumbering was completed (19 locomotives briefly carried numbers in the original range). [10] After nationalisation in 1948, British Railways added 60000 to their numbers so they became 60800–60983. BR also gave them the power classification 6MT.

Withdrawal

All 184 V2s were withdrawn from stock between February 1962 and December 1966. The last ones in service were No. 60831 and No. 60836 had the distinction of being Gresley's last big engines to be in service. No. 60831 and No. 60836 were withdrawn on 6 December 1966 and 31 December 1966 respectively. Both of them were scrapped the following year. [11] The surviving V2 no 4771/60800 Green Arrow was withdrawn in August 1962 from Kings Cross shed. [12] [13]

Summary of withdrawals
YearQuantity in
service at
start of year
No. WithdrawnQuantity WithdrawnLocomotive Numbers
1962184696960800–01/07/11/15/19–21/23/26–27/29/32/39–40/42/45/48–51/57/60/63/66–67/73–75/78–79/88/90/93–94/96,
60907–09/11/14–15/17–18/20/26–28/30/33–34/36–38/43/47/49/51/53/56/58/60/65/71/77–80/83
19631164311260803–05/14/17/30/41/52–54/58/61–62/69–72/80–81/83/89/92/97–99,
60900/02–03/05–06/12/21/24/35/48/50/54/59/66/68/72/74/81
1964723214460802/08–09/12/22/25/33–34/38/55–56/64/82/87/91,
60904/10/13/16/22/25/32/39/41–42/45/57/64/67/69/75/82
1965402617060810/16/28/35/37/43–44/46–47/59/65/76/84–85/95,
60901/23/29/31/40/44/46/52/61–63
1966141418460806/13/18/24/31/36/68/77/86,
60919/55/70/73/76

Preservation

60800 Green Arrow at Crewe Works open day on 1 June 2003. This locomotive is the sole survivor of its class, and is seen in its British Railways guise. LNER V2 60800 'Green Arrow' at Crewe Works.jpg
60800 Green Arrow at Crewe Works open day on 1 June 2003. This locomotive is the sole survivor of its class, and is seen in its British Railways guise.

One Class V2 survives. The first of the class 4771 Green Arrow has been preserved as part of the National Collection, and was in use on preserved lines around Britain. On 1 April 2008, it suffered a boiler failure on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and has since been a static exhibit at the National Railway Museum. Its boiler repairs have been determined as achievable, however the NRM are not currently willing to meet the cost involved in replacing the 'monobloc' cylinder casting. A crack in this means the casting now needs to be replaced before the locomotive can work again. It is unfortunate that 60800 was not one of the V2 class that were modified to incorporate separate cylinder blocks, when a lot of the class were modified in the 1940s and 1950s.

Modelling

Bachmann are currently producing a new 'OO gauge' model including an updated DCC ready chassis:

35-200 Class V2 Gresley 2-6-2 4791 LNER Lined Green (Original).

35-201 Class V2 Gresley 2-6-2 60845 in BR lined black with early emblem.

35-202 Class V2 Gresley 2-6-2 60847 "St Peters School" in BR lined green with late crest.

Older (pre 2012) Bachmann models had a split chassis design which required a lot of modification to convert to DCC.

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References

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  12. "LNER Gresley "V2" Class 2-6-2". Brdatabase.info. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
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Sources

Literature