LNER Class V4

The London and North Eastern Railway Class V4 was a class of 2-6-2 steam locomotive designed by Sir Nigel Gresley for mixed-traffic use. It was Gresley's last design for the LNER before he died in 1941. The V4s had similarities in their appearance and mechanical layout to the V2 "Green Arrow" class. The V2s, introduced some years before, were large and heavy locomotives, with very limited route availability. The V4 was a lightweight alternative, suitable for use over the whole of the LNER network.

LNER Class V4
V4 No. 1700 Bantam Cock in August 1948
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Nigel Gresley Builder Doncaster Works Order number 355 Serial number 1919-1920 Build date 1941 Total produced 2
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-6-2  • UIC 1′C1′ h3 Leading dia. 3 ft 2 in (0.97 m) Driver dia. 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Trailing dia. 3 ft 2 in (0.97 m) Wheelbase 29 ft 4 in (8.94 m) engine 13 ft 0 in (3.96 m) tender 50 ft 2+1⁄4 in (15.297 m) total Axle load 17 long tons (17 t) Loco weight 70.4 long tons (71.5 t) Tender weight 42.75 long tons (43.44 t) Total weight 113.15 long tons (114.97 t) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 28.5 sq ft (2.65 m2) Boiler 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) diameter Boiler pressure 250 psi (1.7 MPa) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 151.6 sq ft (14.08 m2)  • Tubes 884.3 sq ft (82.15 m2)  • Flues 408.2 sq ft (37.92 m2)  • Total surface 1,799.9 sq ft (167.22 m2) Superheater: ​  • Heating area 355.8 sq ft (33.05 m2) Cylinders 3 Cylinder size 15 in × 26 in (380 mm × 660 mm) Valve gear Outside: Walschaerts Inside: Gresley conjugated
Performance figures Tractive effort 27,420 lbf (122.0 kN)
Career Operators London and North Eastern Railway, British Railways Power class 6P5F Numbers 3401–3402 (prior to 1946), 1700–1701 (1946–1948), 61700-61701 (1948 onwards) Locale Scottish Region, Eastern Region Retired 1957 Disposition Both scrapped, one new-build in planning

Features

Two locomotives were built at the LNER's Doncaster Works in 1941. The first engine, 3401 Bantam Cock, had a scaled-down version of the Gresley Pacific boiler with a grate area of 28.5 sq ft. Its tractive effort of 27,000 lbs was produced by boiler pressure of 250 psi and three cylinders of 15-inch diameter. The second locomotive, 3402, incorporated a fully welded steel firebox and a single thermic syphon for water circulation. It was not named, but was known unofficially as "Bantam Hen".

Performance

The type had more power than the existing B17s and better riding qualities. It was anticipated that many more would be produced, but after the death of Gresley and his succession by Edward Thompson, no more were built. Instead, the LNER Thompson Class B1 was adopted as the LNER's standard mixed-traffic locomotive.

Service in Scotland

The two locomotives were sent to Scotland for use on the West Highland Line, although their wheel arrangement was not particularly suitable for the steep gradients on the line. They were renumbered 1700 and 1701 in 1946, and later became British Railways 61700 and 61701.

Withdrawal

Both were scrapped in 1957 when their boilers became due for renewal.

New Build V4

At the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust Silver Jubilee Convention, it was announced that after the completion of no. 2007 "Prince of Wales", they would begin construction on a new V4 which will be number 3403 (61702) Anon. On the 6th of September, 2018, the A1 Trust officially announced that it had started the pre-launch stage for project, with a projected cost of £3 million, and an estimated starting date of 2021. The project is estimated to take around 5 years. There are already parts for the V4 at Darlington Locomotive Works, including a complete set of tyres (originally made for a group in the 1990s who planned to build a V4), a chimney, and the speedometer drives from a British Rail Class 08. In October of 2022, the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust announced that No. 3403 will be named Highlander.

The chimney of 3403 inside a set of complete tyres for the locomotive.

Further reading

• Longworth, Hugh (2005). British Railway Steam Locomotives 1948-1968. Hersham: Ian Allan. ISBN 978-0-86093-593-3.
• Yeadon, Willie (1992). Yeadon's Register of LNER Locomotives. Vol. 4, Gresley V2 and V4 classes. Irwell Press.
• "The Gresley V4 2-6-2 'Bantam Cock' Class Locomotives". LNER Encyclopedia.