NER Class B1

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NER B1 Class
LNER Class N8
Hull Dairycotes Locomotive Depot geograph-2886987-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg
LNER N8 class No. 9375 at Hull Dairycotes Locomotive Depot 21 September 1947.
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
Designer Thomas William Worsdell
Builder Darlington Works
Build date1886-1890
Total produced62
Specifications
Configuration:
   Whyte 0-6-2
Gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Driver dia.5 ft 1.25 in (1.556 m)
Loco weightoriginally 56 LT 5 cwt (57.2 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Boiler pressure160 lbf/in2 (1.10 MPa)
Cylinders Two, inside
Cylinder size originally 18 in × 24 in (457 mm × 610 mm)
Valve gear originally Joy
Performance figures
Tractive effort 17,265 lbf (76.80 kN)
Career
Withdrawn1929-1956
DispositionAll scrapped

The NER B and B1 Classes (later London and North Eastern Railway [LNER] Classes N8) were two classes of 0-6-2 tank locomotives designed by Thomas William Worsdell for heavy freight and mineral on the North Eastern Railway, introduced in 1886. They were tank engine versions of the NER C1 Class 0-6-0, using both simple expansion (Class B1) and also the von Borries configuration for two-cylinder compound locomotives (Class B). Both types were later rebuilt using superheated steam and the compounds were also rebuilt as simple expansion locomotives, and eventually formed a single class (albeit with variations in dimensions). Many of the superheated locomotives were also later returned to saturated steam as their original boilers wore out. As a result the classes have had a very complex mechanical history.

Contents

B1 Class

The first batch of ten locomotives were built at Darlington Works between June and November 1886. [1] They had Joy valve gear and slide valves. They were originally designated Class B, but after 1888 were designated B1 class to differentiate them from the compound locomotives. They were given numbers which filled gaps in the sequence between 14 and 1165. An eleventh locomotive of the same design (No. 74) was built at Gateshead Railway Works in March 1888 for the purposes of comparison with a compound version built two months earlier (see below under B class). [1]

All of these locomotives were rebuilt (sometimes on more than one occasion) by Wilson Worsdell and/or Vincent Raven between 1893 and 1924. Seven of the eleven were fitted with larger 19 in × 24 in (483 mm × 610 mm) cylinders, Stephenson valve gear and piston valves, raising the weight to 57 LT 18 cwt (58.8 t). Six out of these seven were also fitted with superheating between 1919 and 1930, raising the weight to 59 LT 10 cwt (60.5 t), although in two of these cases they were returned to saturated steam in 1941 and 1944. [1]

B Class

One similar locomotive (No. 9) was constructed at Gateshead in January 1888, but fitted with the Von Borries compounding system. Its performance was tested against another new-built member of the B1 class (No.74) . As a result of these trials a further fifty were ordered., eleven of which were built at Gateshead between October and December 1888, and the remainder at Darlington between December 188 and May 1890. [2] They were given numbers which filled gaps in the sequence between 136 and 1168.

All of these locomotives were rebuilt (sometimes on more than one occasion) by Wilson Worsdell and/or Vincent Raven between 1904 and 1911, when they were returned to simple locomotives and reclassified B1. Some members of the class retained their original 18 in × 24 in (457 mm × 610 mm) cylinders and Joy valve gear, whilst other were fitted with larger 19 in × 24 in (483 mm × 610 mm) cylinders, or 19 in × 26 in (483 mm × 660 mm) cylinders with Stephenson valve gear and piston valves. As with the other members of the B1 class many of the locomotives were with superheating between 1916 and 1927, although in several cases they were returned to saturated steam between 1941 and 1950. [2]

All members of the B and B1 classes were reclassified as one single class N8 by the LNER (despite the variations in dimensions and valve gear. They were withdrawn between 1929 and 1956.

Related Research Articles

A superheater is a device used to convert saturated steam or wet steam into superheated steam or dry steam. Superheated steam is used in steam turbines for electricity generation, steam engines, and in processes such as steam reforming. There are three types of superheaters: radiant, convection, and separately fired. A superheater can vary in size from a few tens of feet to several hundred feet.

Caprotti valve gear

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NER 66 Aerolite

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NBR C Class

The NBR C Class is a class of 0-6-0 steam locomotive designed by Matthew Holmes for freight work on the North British Railway. They were introduced in 1888 and had inside cylinders and Stephenson valve gear. A total of 168 locomotives was built, of which 123 came into British Railways ownership at nationalisation in 1948. This was the last class of steam engine in service in Scotland.

NER Class C1

The North Eastern Railway (NER) Class C1, was a class of 0-6-0 freight locomotives designed by T.W. Worsdell. They were used throughout the NER system, although particularly in Teesside between 1886 and 1962.

NER Class S3

The North Eastern Railway Class S3, classified B16 by the LNER, was a class of 4-6-0 steam locomotive designed for mixed traffic work. It was designed by Vincent Raven and introduced in 1920. The earlier members of this class were fitted with Westinghouse Brakes - all of this equipment was removed during the 1930s.

GNR Class C1 (large boiler)

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. They were also known as Large Atlantics.

Thomas William Worsdell

Thomas William Worsdell was an English locomotive engineer. He was born in Liverpool into a Quaker family.

NER Class H

The North Eastern Railway (NER) Class H, classified as Class Y7 by the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) is a class of 0-4-0T steam locomotives designed for shunting.

NER Class E Class of 0-6-0T locomotives designed by Thomas Worsdell

The North Eastern Railway (NER) Class E, classified as Class J71 by the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER), was a class of small 0-6-0T steam locomotive designed by T.W. Worsdell. They had inside cylinders and Stephenson valve gear and were the basis for the later NER Class E1.

NER Class Y

The North Eastern Railway (NER) Class Y 4-6-2T tank locomotives were designed whilst Wilson Worsdell was Chief Mechanical Engineer, but none were built until 1910 by which time Vincent Raven had taken over.

The NER Class 3CC was a 4-4-0 steam locomotive designed by Wilson Worsdell for the North Eastern Railway and built in 1893. Only one was built and it was a compound expansion version of the simple expansion NER Class M1. The 3CC was originally classified M but was re-classified 3CC in 1914, at the same time as the M1 was re-classified M.

A compound locomotive is a steam locomotive which is powered by a compound engine, a type of steam engine where steam is expanded in two or more stages. The locomotive was only one application of compounding. Two and three stages were used in ships, for example.

NER Class S

The North Eastern Railway Class S was a 4-6-0 type of steam locomotive designed for express passenger workings. The first example was built in 1899. They were very similar to the NER Class S1, except for the smaller wheels of the former.

The NER Class P was a class of 0-6-0 steam locomotives of the North Eastern Railway. They were designed by Wilson Worsdell for mineral traffic.

The NER Class L was a class of 0-6-0T steam locomotives of the North Eastern Railway. They were a specialised design, intended for use on the Redheugh and Quayside banks on either side of the River Tyne. They were replaced on the Quayside branch by NER Class ES1 electric locomotives in 1905 but were re-allocated to other duties.

The NER Class A was a class of 2-4-2 tank locomotives designed by Thomas William Worsdell and built at Gateshead works for the North Eastern Railway (NER). Sixty locomotives were built between 1886 and 1892. At this time the class was designated class A by the NER and was the first class in the company to be given an alphabetical letter classification.

The GCR Class 8C was a class of a pair of 4-6-0 locomotives built for the Great Central Railway in 1903–1904 by Beyer, Peacock and Company. They passed to the London and North Eastern Railway at the 1923 grouping and received the classification B1 They were reclassified B18 in 1943 and both were retired in 1947.

The NER Class F was a class of 4-4-0 steam locomotives of the North Eastern Railway. It was designed by Thomas William Worsdell and introduced in 1887.

The NER Class G was a class of 4-4-0 steam locomotives of the North Eastern Railway. It was designed by Thomas William Worsdell and introduced in 1887.

References