GCR Class 9A

Specifications
Specifications
Configuration:;
• Whyte	0-6-2T
• UIC	C1 n2t
Gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Driver dia.	5 ft 1 in (1.549 m)
Trailing dia.	3 ft 6 in (1.067 m)
Wheelbase	22 ft 6 in (6.86 m)
Length	9A: 36 ft 2+1⁄8 in (11.03 m); 9A Alt: 36 ft 8+1⁄8 in (11.18 m);
Axle load	16.75 long tons (17.02 t)
Adhesive weight	48.15–48.40 long tons (48.92–49.18 t)
Loco weight	61.50–61.95 long tons (62.49–62.94 t)
Fuel type	Coal
Fuel capacity	9A: 2.75 long tons (2.79 t); 9A Alt: 3.00 long tons (3.05 t);
Water cap.	9A: 1,300 imp gal (5,910 L; 1,560 US gal); 9A Alt: 1,360 imp gal (6,180 L; 1,630 US gal);
Firebox:
• Grate area	18.3 sq ft (1.70 m2)
Boiler	LNER diagram 21
Boiler pressure	160 lbf/in2 (1.10 MPa)
Heating surface:
• Firebox	99 sq ft (9.2 m2)
• Tubes	964 sq ft (89.6 m2)
• Total surface	1,063 sq ft (98.8 m2)
Superheater	None
Cylinders	Two, inside
Cylinder size	18 in × 26 in (457 mm × 660 mm)
Valve gear	Joy
Valve type	Slide valves

Type and origin
Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Designer	Thomas Parker
Builder	Gorton Works (6); Neilson & Co. (49);
Build date	1889–1892
Total produced	55

GCR Classes 9A and 9A Alt.
LNER Class N4^[1]
GCR Classes 9A and 9A Alt.; LNER Class N4
	N4/2 No. 69239 at Barnsley Locomotive Depot 10 April 1949
Power type
Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Designer	Thomas Parker
Builder	Gorton Works (6); Neilson & Co. (49);
Build date	1889–1892
Total produced	55
Configuration:;
Specifications
Configuration:;
• Whyte	0-6-2T
• UIC	C1 n2t
Gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Driver dia.	5 ft 1 in (1.549 m)
Trailing dia.	3 ft 6 in (1.067 m)
Wheelbase	22 ft 6 in (6.86 m)
Length	9A: 36 ft 2+1⁄8 in (11.03 m); 9A Alt: 36 ft 8+1⁄8 in (11.18 m);
Axle load	16.75 long tons (17.02 t)
Adhesive weight	48.15–48.40 long tons (48.92–49.18 t)
Loco weight	61.50–61.95 long tons (62.49–62.94 t)
Fuel type	Coal
Fuel capacity	9A: 2.75 long tons (2.79 t); 9A Alt: 3.00 long tons (3.05 t);
Water cap.	9A: 1,300 imp gal (5,910 L; 1,560 US gal); 9A Alt: 1,360 imp gal (6,180 L; 1,630 US gal);
Firebox:
• Grate area	18.3 sq ft (1.70 m2)
Boiler	LNER diagram 21
Boiler pressure	160 lbf/in2 (1.10 MPa)
Heating surface:
• Firebox	99 sq ft (9.2 m2)
• Tubes	964 sq ft (89.6 m2)
• Total surface	1,063 sq ft (98.8 m2)
Superheater	None
Cylinders	Two, inside
Cylinder size	18 in × 26 in (457 mm × 660 mm)
Valve gear	Joy
Valve type	Slide valves
Tractive effort
Performance figures
Tractive effort	18,780 lbf (83.54 kN)
Operators
Career
Operators	Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway; → Great Central Railway; → London and North Eastern Railway; → British Railways;
Class	GCR: 9A; LNER: N4;
Power class	LNER: 2; BR: 2MT;
Axle load class	LNER/BR: Route availability 4
Withdrawn	1932–1954
Disposition	All scrapped

The Great Central Railway (GCR) Class 9A was a class of 0-6-2T steam locomotive built between 1889 and 1892. From 1923 the locomotives were redesignated Class N4.

Design and construction

Designed by Thomas Parker for the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway (MS&LR), a total of 55 locomotives were constructed up to 1892.^[2] The MS&LR changed its name to the GCR in 1897. In 1892 the final fourteen locomotives were built with a larger coal bunker, increasing their weight to 61.95 long tons (62.94 t). This last batch was classified as Class 9A Altered, sometimes abbreviated as 9A Alt.

The GCR 9A locos were reclassified as N4 under the LNER locomotive numbering and classification system when the GCR was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway after the 1923 grouping. The original design were N4/1 and those with extended bunkers N4/2.^[3]

In 1925, shorter chimneys began to be fitted to bring the N4s within the LNER composite loading gauge, creating two further variants N4/2 (short bunker) – the existing N4/2s being recoded as N4/3s – and N4/4 (long bunker).^[3]

Locomotive numbering

They were built in three batches and numbered 161, 165, 173 (later renumbered 512–514), 601–638, and 712–725. GCR locos had 5000 added to their original numbers when the line was absorbed by the LNER in 1923, resulting in numbers ranging between 5512 and 5725. As part of the LNER's numbering rationalisation scheme introduced in 1946, the surviving 22 N4s were renumbered between 9225 and 9247^[4] with the earliest built receiving the lowest number, and so on. British Railways, formed on 1 January 1948, added 60000 to all LNER loco numbers.

References

^ Boddy et al. 1977, pp. 79, 83–84.
^ Casserley & Johnston 1974, p. 74
^ ^a ^b Boddy et al. 1977, p. 81.
^ Allan 1947, pp. 52

Boddy, M. G.; Brown, W. A.; Fry, E. V.; Hennigan, W.; Hoole, Ken; Manners, F.; Neve, E.; Platt, E. N. T.; Proud, P.; Yeadon, W. B. (March 1977). Fry, E. V. (ed.). Locomotives of the L.N.E.R., Part 9A: Tank Engines—Classes L1 to N19. Kenilworth: RCTS. ISBN 0-901115-40-1.
Casserley, H.C. & Johnston, Stuart W. (1974) [1966]. Locomotives at the Grouping 2: London & North Eastern Railway. Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allan Limited. ISBN 0-7110-0553-2.
Allan, Ian (1947). ABC of LNER Locomotives 1947. Ian Allan Ltd.

External links

LNER encyclopedia

[FOOTNOTEBoddyBrownFryHennigan197779,_83–84-1] Boddy et al. 1977, pp. 79, 83–84.

[2] Casserley & Johnston 1974, p. 74

[FOOTNOTEBoddyBrownFryHennigan197781-3] Boddy et al. 1977, p. 81.

[4] Allan 1947, pp. 52

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[2]

[3]

[4]

Epstein Files Full PDF

Design and construction

Locomotive numbering

References

External links