GNR Class O2

Specifications
Specifications
Configuration:;
• Whyte	2-8-0
• UIC	1'Dh3
Gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Leading dia.	2 ft 8 in (1 m)
Coupled dia.	4 ft 8 in (1 m)
Length	63 ft 3 in (19.28 m)
Width	8 ft 9 in (2.67 m)
Height	12 ft 11.25 in (3.9434 m)
Loco weight	74.1–78.65 long tons (75.29–79.91 t)
Tender weight	43.1–52 long tons (43.8–52.8 t)
Fuel type	Coal
Firebox:
• Grate area	27.5 sq ft (2.55 m2)
Boiler:;
• Diameter	5 ft 4.75 in (1,644.6 mm) or 5 ft 6 in (1,680 mm)
Boiler pressure	180 lbf/in2 (1.24 MPa)
Heating surface	2,032 sq ft (188.8 m2)
Superheater:;
• Heating area	430.5 sq ft (39.99 m2)
Cylinders	Three
Cylinder size	18+1⁄2 in × 26 in (470 mm × 660 mm)
Valve gear	Outside: Walschaerts; Inside: Gresley conjugated;
Valve type	8-inch (203 mm) piston valves

Type and origin
Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Designer	Nigel Gresley
Builder	Doncaster Works (57); North British Locomotive Co. (10);
Build date	1918, 1921 – 1943
Total produced	67

GNR Class O2
GNR Class O2
	O2/3 2-8-0 No. 3963 at Doncaster 1947
Power type
Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Designer	Nigel Gresley
Builder	Doncaster Works (57); North British Locomotive Co. (10);
Build date	1918, 1921 – 1943
Total produced	67
Configuration:;
Specifications
Configuration:;
• Whyte	2-8-0
• UIC	1'Dh3
Gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Leading dia.	2 ft 8 in (1 m)
Coupled dia.	4 ft 8 in (1 m)
Length	63 ft 3 in (19.28 m)
Width	8 ft 9 in (2.67 m)
Height	12 ft 11.25 in (3.9434 m)
Loco weight	74.1–78.65 long tons (75.29–79.91 t)
Tender weight	43.1–52 long tons (43.8–52.8 t)
Fuel type	Coal
Firebox:
• Grate area	27.5 sq ft (2.55 m2)
Boiler:;
• Diameter	5 ft 4.75 in (1,644.6 mm) or 5 ft 6 in (1,680 mm)
Boiler pressure	180 lbf/in2 (1.24 MPa)
Heating surface	2,032 sq ft (188.8 m2)
Superheater:;
• Heating area	430.5 sq ft (39.99 m2)
Cylinders	Three
Cylinder size	18+1⁄2 in × 26 in (470 mm × 660 mm)
Valve gear	Outside: Walschaerts; Inside: Gresley conjugated;
Valve type	8-inch (203 mm) piston valves
Tractive effort
Performance figures
Tractive effort	36,740 lbf (163.4 kN)
Operators
Career
Operators	Great Northern Railway; London and North Eastern Railway; British Railways;
Power class	BR: 8F
Numbers	GNR: 461, LNER: 3921-3987, BR: 63921-63987
Locale	Eastern Region
Withdrawn	1948, 1960 – 1963
Disposition	All scrapped

The Great Northern Railway (GNR) Class O2 was a class of three-cylinder 2-8-0 steam locomotives designed by Nigel Gresley for freight work and built by the GNR from 1921. Further examples were built by the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) from 1924.

Sub-classes

The LNER created four subclasses: ^[1]

O2/1, Introduced 1921. Development of experimental Gresley GNR 3-cylinder locomotive (LNER 3921). Subsequently rebuilt with side-window cab and reduced boiler mountings.
O2/2, Introduced 1924. Development of O2/1 with detail differences.
O2/3, Introduced 1932. Development of O2/2 with side-window cab and reduced boiler mountings.
O2/4, Introduced 1943. Rebuilt with 100A (B1 type) boiler and smokebox extended backwards.

GNR

The first models of this class were designed and built under GNR ownership, the first locomotive, 461, was built in May 1918. A batch of ten further O2s was built by the North British Locomotive Co. in 1921.

LNER

Fifteen more O2s were built immediately after the Grouping in 1923. Sixteen more were delivered in 1932 and 1933. Wartime requirements led to the construction of 25 from 1942 to 43 in three batches.

British Railways

All 67 locomotives passed to British Railways (BR) in 1948 and were given BR Numbers 63921–63987, but 63921 (which was the prototype 461, LNER 3921) was quickly scrapped. They served all across the former LNER from Stratford through East Anglia into the East Midlands, primarily hauling coal and iron ore trains. By winter 1955/56, they had all gravitated to Doncaster (36A - 35 locomotives), Grantham (35B - 14 locomotives) and Retford (36E - 17 locomotives). By winter 1962, they were down to 52 locomotives still in much the same locations, the following having been scrapped: 63929/34/44/47/50-55/57-59/70.

By the end of 1963, all members of the class had been scrapped.

Gallery

References

^ Ian Allan ABC of British Railways Locomotives, summer 1961 edition, part 4, pp 37–38

British Railways Locomotives Combined Volume Winter 1955/56, part 4, p. 32, and the locoshed section, p. 71.
British Railways Locomotives Combined Volume 11/62, p. 144
Boddy, M. G.; Brown, W. A.; Neve, E.; Yeadon, W. B. (November 1983). Fry, E. V. (ed.). Locomotives of the L.N.E.R., Part 6B: Tender Engines—Classes O1 to P2. Kenilworth: RCTS. ISBN 0-901115-54-1.

External links

LNER encyclopedia

[1] Ian Allan ABC of British Railways Locomotives, summer 1961 edition, part 4, pp 37–38

[1]

Epstein Files Full PDF