LNER Class V4

Specifications
Specifications
Configuration:;
• Whyte	2-6-2
• UIC	1′C1′ h3
Leading dia.	3 ft 2 in (0.97 m)
Driver dia.	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Trailing dia.	3 ft 2 in (0.97 m)
Wheelbase	29 ft 4 in (8.94 m) engine ; 13 ft 0 in (3.96 m) tender ; 50 ft 2+1⁄4 in (15.297 m) total
Axle load	17 long tons (17 t)
Loco weight	70.4 long tons (71.5 t)
Tender weight	42.75 long tons (43.44 t)
Total weight	113.15 long tons (114.97 t)
Firebox:
• Grate area	28.5 sq ft (2.65 m2)
Boiler	5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) diameter
Boiler pressure	250 psi (1.7 MPa)
Heating surface	1,799.9 sq ft (167.22 m2)
• Tubes	884.3 sq ft (82.15 m2)
• Flues	408.2 sq ft (37.92 m2)
• Firebox	151.6 sq ft (14.08 m2)
Superheater:;
• Heating area	355.8 sq ft (33.05 m2)
Cylinders	3
Cylinder size	15 in × 26 in (380 mm × 660 mm)
Valve gear	Walschaerts outside, Gresley conjugation for inside

Type and origin
Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Designer	Nigel Gresley
Builder	Doncaster Works
Order number	355
Serial number	1919-1920
Build date	1941
Total produced	2

LNER Class V4
LNER Class V4
	V4 No. 1700 Bantam Cock in August 1948
Power type
Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Designer	Nigel Gresley
Builder	Doncaster Works
Order number	355
Serial number	1919-1920
Build date	1941
Total produced	2
Configuration:;
Specifications
Configuration:;
• Whyte	2-6-2
• UIC	1′C1′ h3
Leading dia.	3 ft 2 in (0.97 m)
Driver dia.	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Trailing dia.	3 ft 2 in (0.97 m)
Wheelbase	29 ft 4 in (8.94 m) engine ; 13 ft 0 in (3.96 m) tender ; 50 ft 2+1⁄4 in (15.297 m) total
Axle load	17 long tons (17 t)
Loco weight	70.4 long tons (71.5 t)
Tender weight	42.75 long tons (43.44 t)
Total weight	113.15 long tons (114.97 t)
Firebox:
• Grate area	28.5 sq ft (2.65 m2)
Boiler	5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) diameter
Boiler pressure	250 psi (1.7 MPa)
Heating surface	1,799.9 sq ft (167.22 m2)
• Tubes	884.3 sq ft (82.15 m2)
• Flues	408.2 sq ft (37.92 m2)
• Firebox	151.6 sq ft (14.08 m2)
Superheater:;
• Heating area	355.8 sq ft (33.05 m2)
Cylinders	3
Cylinder size	15 in × 26 in (380 mm × 660 mm)
Valve gear	Walschaerts outside, Gresley conjugation for inside
Tractive effort
Performance figures
Tractive effort	27,420 lbf (122.0 kN)
Operators
Career
Operators	London and North Eastern Railway, British Railways
Power class	6P5F
Numbers	3401-3402 (prior to 1946), 1700-1701 (1946-1948), 61700-61701 (1948 onwards)
Locale	Scottish Region, Eastern Region
Retired	1957
Disposition	Both scrapped, one new-build in planning

Last updated February 11, 2024

The London and North Eastern Railway Class V4 was a class of 2-6-2 steam locomotive designed by Sir Nigel Gresley for mixed-traffic use. It was Gresley's last design for the LNER before he died in 1941. The V4s had similarities in their appearance and mechanical layout to the V2 "Green Arrow" class. The V2s, introduced some years before, were large and heavy locomotives, with very limited route availability. The V4 was a lightweight alternative, suitable for use over the whole of the LNER network.

Features

Two locomotives were built at the LNER's Doncaster Works in 1941. The first engine, 3401 Bantam Cock, had a scaled-down version of the Gresley Pacific boiler with a grate area of 28.5 sq ft.^[1] Its tractive effort of 27,000 lbs was produced by boiler pressure of 250 psi and three cylinders of 15-inch diameter. The second locomotive, 3402, incorporated a fully welded steel firebox and a single thermic syphon for water circulation. It was not named, but was known unofficially as "Bantam Hen".

Performance

The type had more power than the existing B17s and better riding qualities. It was anticipated that many more would be produced, but after the death of Gresley and his succession by Edward Thompson, no more were built. Instead, the LNER Thompson Class B1 was adopted as the LNER's standard mixed-traffic locomotive.

Service in Scotland

The two locomotives were sent to Scotland for use on the West Highland Line, although their wheel arrangement was not particularly suitable for the steep gradients on the line. They were renumbered 1700 and 1701 in 1946, and later became British Railways 61700 and 61701.

Withdrawal

Both were scrapped in 1957 when their boilers became due for renewal.

New Build V4

At the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust Silver Jubilee Convention, it was announced that after the completion of no. 2007 "Prince of Wales", they would begin construction on a new V4 which will be number 3403 (61702) Anon.^[2] On the 6th of September, 2018, the A1 Trust officially announced that it had started the pre-launch stage for project, with a projected cost of £3 million, and an estimated starting date of 2021. The project is estimated to take around 5 years.^[3] There are already parts for the V4 at Darlington Locomotive Works, including a complete set of tyres (originally made for a group in the 1990s who planned to build a V4), a chimney, and the speedometer drives from a British Rail Class 08.^{[ citation needed ]} In October of 2022, the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust announced that No. 3403 will be named Highlander.^[4]^[5]

Related Research Articles

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References

↑ Boddy, M.G.; Brown, W.A.; Hennigan, W.; Hoole, Ken; Neve, E.; Yeadon, W.B. (September 1984). Fry, E.V. (ed.). Locomotives of the L.N.E.R., part 6C: Tender Engines - Classes Q1 to Y10. Kenilworth: RCTS. pp. 124, 126. ISBN 0-901115-55-X.
↑ "News Archives - The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust". The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust. Archived from the original on 14 October 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
↑ "V4 design reaches pre-launch stage". 6 September 2018. Archived from the original on 7 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
↑ Thompson, Victoria (27 October 2022). "A1 Steam Locomotive Trust announce name for V4 locomotive – RailAdvent". www.railadvent.co.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
↑ "The new V4, No. 3403, will be named Highlander". A1 Locomotives. Retrieved 30 October 2022.