LNWR Greater Britain Class

The London and North Western Railway (LNWR) Greater Britain class was a class of ten 2-2-2-2 steam locomotives designed for express passenger work by F. W. Webb.

LNWR Greater Britain class
LNWR No. 2053 Greater Britain
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerF. W. Webb
BuilderCrewe Works
Serial number3292, 3435, 3472–3479
Build date1892–1894
Total produced10
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-2-2-2
 • UIC1AA1 n3v
Gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Leading dia.3 ft 10 1⁄2 in (1,181 mm), plus 3 in (76 mm) tyres
Driver dia.6 ft 10 in (2.083 m)
Trailing dia.3 ft 10 1⁄2 in (1,181 mm), plus 3 in (76 mm) tyres
Wheelbase
  • 8 ft 5 in (2.565 m) +
  • 8 ft 3 in (2.515 m) +
  • 7 ft 3 in (2.210 m)
Loco weight52 long tons (53 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Water cap2,000 imp gal (9,100 l; 2,400 US gal)
Boiler:
​
 • Diameter4 ft 3 in (1.295 m)
 • Tube plates18 ft 6 in (5.639 m)
Heating surface1,505.7 sq ft (139.88 m2)
CylindersThree, compound: two outside high pressure for trailing drivers, one inside low pressure for leading drivers
High-pressure cylinder15 in × 24 in (381 mm × 610 mm)
Low-pressure cylinder30 in × 24 in (762 mm × 610 mm)
Valve gearStephenson
Career
OperatorsLondon and North Western Railway
ScrappedMarch 1906 – July 1907
DispositionAll scrapped

History

The first of the ten locomotives was built in October 1891, and a second followed in May 1893; the remaining eight came from Crewe Works in April and May 1894.

They were three-cylinder compound locomotives: the two outside high pressure cylinders drove the trailing drivers via Howe-Stephenson valve gear, the one inside low pressure cylinder drive the leading drivers via a slip eccentric. There was no connection between the two sets of drivers.

All the locomotives were named; one unusual feature (shared with the John Hick class) was that the names were split over two nameplates, one on each driving wheel splasher. This necessitated the use of two-word names, rather than some of the abbreviated names the LNWR had previously used.

They continued in service until Webb's retirement. His successor, George Whale preferred simple superheated locomotives; consequently they were all scrapped between 1906 and 1907.

Fleet list

References
  1. Baxter 1979, p. 196.
  • Baxter, Bertram (1979). Baxter, David (ed.). British Locomotive Catalogue 1825–1923, Volume 2B: London and North Western Railway and its constituent companies. Ashbourne, Derbyshire: Moorland Publishing Company. ISBN 0-903485-84-2.
  • LNWR Society Photographs of the Webb 2-2-2-2 Greater Britain class steam locomotives.
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