The Great Central Railway Class 8H (LNER Class S1) was a class of 0-8-4T steam tank locomotives designed by John G. Robinson for hump shunting at Wath marshalling yard.

Great Central Railway class 8H
69901 at Dunford Bridge on the Woodhead Line in 1950
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerJohn G. Robinson
Build date1907 (4), 1932 (2)
Total produced6
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte0-8-4T
 • UICD2′ n3t, later D2′ h3t
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Driver dia.4 ft 8 in (1.422 m)
Trailing dia.3 ft 2 in (0.965 m)
Loco weightS1/1: 99 long tons 6 cwt (222,400 lb or 100.9 t)
S1/2: 99 long tons 2 cwt (222,000 lb or 100.7 t)
S1/3: 99 long tons 1 cwt (221,900 lb or 100.6 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Boiler pressure180 psi (1.24 MPa)
CylindersThree
Cylinder size18 in × 26 in (457 mm × 660 mm)
Valve gearStephenson
Valve typeSlide valves
Performance figures
Tractive effort34,525 lbf (153.6 kN)
Career
Operators
Class
  • GCR: 8H
  • LNER: S1
Numbers
  • GCR: 1170–1173
  • LNER: 6170–6173; later 9900–9905
  • BR: 69900–69905
Withdrawn1955–1957
DispositionAll scrapped

Overview

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Four locomotives were built in 1907/1908 for the Great Central Railway. They were fitted with three cylinders. This gave a more even torque than with a 2-cylinder locomotive and reduced the risk of wheelslip under heavy load. All four passed into London and North Eastern Railway ownership at the 1923 grouping. At the time all four locomotives were allocated to Mexborough engine shed.[1]

These were powerful locomotives but even more power was required so, in 1930, one locomotive was fitted with a superheater and a booster engine and classified S1/2. Two new locomotives (with superheaters and boosters) were built by the LNER in 1932 and classified S1/3. The remaining (non-booster) locomotives were classified S1/1 and were also fitted with superheaters. All the boosters were removed in 1943.

All six locomotives passed into British Railways ownership in 1948 and were numbered 69900-69905.

Dimensions

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  • Locomotive weight:
    • S1/1, 99 tons 6 cwt
    • S1/2, 99 tons 2 cwt
    • S1/3, 99 tons 1 cwt
  • Superheater:
    • S1/1, No, but fitted later
    • S1/2, Yes
    • S1/3, Yes
  • Tractive effort, 34,525 lbf (153.6 kN)
    • Booster tractive effort, 12,373 lbf (55.0 kN)
      • Combined tractive effort, 46,896 lbf (208.6 kN)

For terminology, see Steam locomotive components

References

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  1. ^ Yeadon, W B (1996). LNER Locomotive allocations 1 January 1923. Oldham: Challenger Publications. p. 10. ISBN 1-899624-19-8.
  • Ian Allan ABC of British Railways Locomotives, part 4 (1948 ed.). p. 56.
  • Casserley, H.C.; S. W. Johnston (1974) [1966]. Locomotives at the Grouping 2: London & North Eastern Railway. Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allan Limited. ISBN 0-7110-0553-2.
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