LD&ECR Class D

The LD&ECR Class D was a class of nine 0-6-4T steam locomotives supplied to the Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway in 1904 and 1906 by Kitson & Co. of Leeds. They later became the property of the Great Central Railway and finally the London and North Eastern Railway, upon which they were known as Class M1.

LD&ECR Class D LNER Class M1
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Robert Absalom Thom Builder Kitson & Co. Serial number 4246–51, 4435–7 Build date 1904, 1906 Total produced 9
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-6-4T Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Driver dia. 4 ft 9 in (1.45 m) Trailing dia. 3 ft 0 in (0.91 m) Wheelbase 29 ft 6 in (8.99 m) Length 41 ft 10+3⁄4 in (12.770 m) Axle load 17 long tons 13 cwt (39,500 lb or 17.9 t) Adhesive weight 52 long tons 8 cwt (117,400 lb or 53.2 t) Loco weight 77 long tons 11 cwt (173,700 lb or 78.8 t) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 4 long tons 0 cwt (9,000 lb or 4.1 t) Water cap. 3,000 imp gal (14,000 L) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 21.75 sq ft (2.021 m2) Boiler pressure 180 psi (1,200 kPa) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 124 sq ft (11.5 m2)  • Tubes 1,340 sq ft (124 m2)  • Total surface 1,464 sq ft (136.0 m2) Cylinders Two, inside Cylinder size 19 by 26 inches (480 mm × 660 mm) Valve gear Allan straight link Valve type Balanced slide valves Loco brake Steam Train brakes Vacuum
Performance figures Tractive effort 24,850 lbf (110.5 kN)
Career Operators Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway → Great Central Railway → London and North Eastern Railway Class LD&ECR: D LNER: M1 Power class LNER: 3 Numbers LD&ECR: 29–34, A1–A3 GCR: 1148–53, 1145–47 LNER: 6148–53, 6145–47 Axle load class LNER: RA 5 Withdrawn 1939–47 Disposition All scrapped

History

The Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway (LD&ECR) was a line whose primary business was carrying coal from the mines in northern Derbyshire and northern Nottinghamshire to places such as Lincoln for onward shipment by other railways.^[1] Accordingly, the LD&ECR needed powerful locomotives capable of hauling these heavy trains. Since the line opened in 1895, the coal trains had been in the hands of the capable 0-6-2T locomotives of LD&ECR Class A, which eventually totalled 18;^[2][3] but after 1902, when the LD&ECR began to run their trains over the Great Central Railway (GCR) to Grimsby Docks, it became apparent that the Class A locomotives were too small for the long-distance trains;^[4] in particular, they needed to stop at Market Rasen for additional water.^[5]

In March 1903, Kitson & Co., the Leeds locomotive builders, were asked to quote for three 0-8-0 tender locomotives; at the time, they were building the first three of the Class 8A 0-8-0s for the GCR. This order was cancelled in April 1903 because the Grimsby line was unsuitable for such locomotives.^[6][7] The LD&ECR Locomotive Superintendent, Robert A. Thom, therefore prepared a design for a tank locomotive larger than Class A,^[8] and as with all previous LD&ECR locomotives, they were built by Kitson & Co.^[7] They were not much more powerful than Class A, the main differences being an increased coal and water capacity.^[5] This necessitated the use of an additional carrying axle at the rear, giving the 0-6-4T wheel arrangement.^[5] The initial order comprised six locomotives, which were delivered in May and June 1904, and they formed Class D on the LD&ECR.^[7] Proving satisfactory, a further three were ordered, again from Kitsons; but by the time that they were delivered in December 1906, the LD&ECR was in the middle of negotiations with the GCR which would lead to the LD&ECR being taken over by the GCR at the start of 1907; these three were paid for by the GCR.^[9] There were some detail differences between these and the first six: in particular, they were fitted with water scoops so that, on suitably equipped routes, the tanks could be replenished without stopping.^[10] On the GCR, watertroughs were at Eckington, between Sheffield and Staveley;^[11][12] and at Charwelton, between Leicester and Woodford.^[11][13]

Initially they were based at Tuxford,^[5][14] but by 1921, four of them had been sent to the LD&ECR's other depot at Langwith Junction.^[15] They performed well on the coal trains for which they had been designed;^[16] a typical load from Langwith Junction to Grimsby was 45 coal wagons and a brake van, totalling 744 long tons (756 t).^[17] After the GCR takeover, more were required; and the opportunity was taken to update the design. Thom assisted John G. Robinson, the GCR's Locomotive Superintendent, in preparing the design of a new 2-6-4T which appeared in 1914 as GCR Class 1B.^[18]

Numbering

The first six locomotives, delivered in May and June 1904, were given LD&ECR numbers 29–34. The last three, delivered in December 1906, were numbered A1 to A3.^[7] After the LD&ECR was absorbed by the Great Central Railway (GCR) on 1 January 1907,^[19] they were given GCR numbers 1148–53 and 1145–47 respectively.^[9] During 1924 and 1925, the LNER increased the GCR numbers by 5000.^[20] Five survived to be allotted new numbers in 1943, but only one was actually renumbered; 6151 became 9082 in May 1946.^[20]

Withdrawal

Withdrawal commenced in 1939 when no. 6152 was withdrawn in February, followed by 6149 in December. The others followed at intervals, the last to be withdrawn being 9082 in July 1947.^[21] None have been preserved.

Notes

1. Cupit & Taylor 1984, pp. 1, 24.
2. Boddy et al. 1977, p. 97.
3. Cupit & Taylor 1984, pp. 24, 25–26.
4. Boddy et al. 1977, p. 100.
5. Cupit & Taylor 1984, p. 30.
6. Dow 1965, p. 179.
7. Boddy et al. 1977, p. 33.
8. Cupit & Taylor 1984, p. 27.
9. Boddy et al. 1977, p. 34.
10. Cupit & Taylor 1984, p. 31.
11. Boddy et al. 1963, p. 68.
12. Conolly 1976, p. 41, section B3.
13. Conolly 1976, p. 10, section B4.
14. Stewart-Smith 2016, p. 33.
15. Boddy et al. 1977, p. 36.
16. Nock 1983, p. 120.
17. Dow 1965, p. 181.
18. Boddy et al. 1977, p. 4.
19. Dow 1965, p. 184.
20. Boddy et al. 1977, pp. 35, 37.
21. Boddy et al. 1977, p. 37.

References

• Boddy, M.G.; Fry, E.V.; Hennigan, W.; Proud, P.; Yeadon, W.B. (July 1963). Fry, E.V. (ed.). Locomotives of the L.N.E.R., part 1: Preliminary Survey. Potters Bar: RCTS.
• 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.
• Conolly, W. Philip (January 1976). British Railways Pre-Grouping Atlas and Gazetteer (5th ed.). Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0320-3. EX/0176.
• Cupit, J.; Taylor, W. (1984) [1966]. The Lancashire, Derbyshire & East Coast Railway. Oakwood Library of Railway History (2nd ed.). Headington: Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-85361-302-8. OL19.
• Dow, George (1965). Great Central, Volume Three: Fay Sets the Pace, 1900–1922. Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 978-0-7110-0263-0. OCLC 500447049.
• Nock, O.S. (1983). British Locomotives of the 20th Century: Volume 1 1900-1930. London: Book Club Associates. CN5096.
• Stewart-Smith, Robin (October 2016). Milner, Chris (ed.). "Tuxford: The growth and decline of a railway centre". The Railway Magazine. Vol. 162, no. 1387. Horncastle, Lincs: Mortons Media Group Ltd. ISSN 0033-8923.

Further reading

• Baxter, Bertram (1988). Baxter, David (ed.). British Locomotive Catalogue 1825–1923, Volume 5B: Great Northern Railway and Great Central Railway. Ashbourne, Derbyshire: Moorland Publishing Company. pp. 170–171. ISBN 978-0-903485-86-9.