L&YR Class 5
Encyclopedia
The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
Class 5 and Class 6 were two related classes of 2-4-2T steam locomotive
s.
design of 1889. The first locomotives had 18"×26" cylinders for a tractive effort of 18,955 lb and power class 2P. Some later-built locomotives from 1893 had smaller diameter cylinders of 17" for a tractive effort of 18,360 lb. The original coal bunker capacity was of 2 tons. From 1898, some were rebuilt with increased capacity for both water and now 4 tons of coal. 270 were built in total.
In 1905, Hughes
introduced a Belpaire firebox
to replace the original round-topped boiler
. 40 were built. From 1910, this boiler was also fitted to rebuilt locomotives.
110 eventually came into British Railways hands in 1948. By 1961, all but three had been scrapped.
Some of these locomotives were also fitted for push-pull working
, being coupled to a driving trailer coach that contained a driver's cab and allowed the train to be driven in reverse, without running the locomotive around the train at the terminus.
at The Oaks
station, north of . The firebox crown sheet broke free of its rod stays and burst downwards, although without splitting. 57 of the 150 one inch rod stays failed, the steam escaping through the remaining holes scalding the driver, although both footplate crew survived their injuries. The cause of the accident, which was the L&YR's second major boiler explosion in five years, was put down to poor washing out of the firebox water spaces when at shed. Afterwards, 72 lb of scale was collected. Although boilers were supposed to be washed out every eight days, this quantity suggests that it was up to three weeks since this had last been done thoroughly, either through omission or by inadequate washing.
(WR) acquired one of these locomotives from the L&YR in June 1921: no. 1041 became WR no. 6. After the Grouping
of 1923, this re-joined its original stablemates as part of the newly-created London, Midland and Scottish Railway
. Although the L&YR locomotives were numbered in a block from No. 10621 upwards, which included the allocation of no. 10638 to the original L&YR number of the Wirral locomotive, the former Wirral locomotive stock was included in the LMS Western Division. The largest constituent of the Western Division was the LNWR
, and so WR no. 6 was numbered 6762 by the LMS, at the end of a block starting at 6515 which was allocated to former LNWR 2-4-2T locomotives; this locomotive followed on from nos. 6758–61, four former LNWR 2-4-2T which the WR had acquired from the LNWR.
No. 6762 survived into British Railways ownership (as 46762) and worked as station pilot at Preston
, until being withdrawn and scrapped in 1952. It was the only Wirral Railway engine to last until Nationalisation; it also retained the original round-topped boiler throughout.
.
of the Class 5, some were rebuilt as conversions and others built new. 20 new locomotives were built in 1911. Of the conversions, 26 were of the Aspinall engines, 18 of Hughes' own Belpaire version.
14 of this class came into British Railways hands, although all were scrapped by 1952.
Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway was a major British railway company before the 1923 Grouping. It was incorporated in 1847 from an amalgamation of several existing railways...
Class 5 and Class 6 were two related classes of 2-4-2T steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s.
Class 5
The class began as a John AspinallJohn Aspinall (engineer)
Sir John Audley Frederick Aspinall was a British mechanical engineer who served as Locomotive Superintendent of the Great Southern and Western and Lancashire and Yorkshire Railways. He introduced vacuum brakes to his locomotives in Ireland, a trend which was followed in Britain, and designed...
design of 1889. The first locomotives had 18"×26" cylinders for a tractive effort of 18,955 lb and power class 2P. Some later-built locomotives from 1893 had smaller diameter cylinders of 17" for a tractive effort of 18,360 lb. The original coal bunker capacity was of 2 tons. From 1898, some were rebuilt with increased capacity for both water and now 4 tons of coal. 270 were built in total.
In 1905, Hughes
George Hughes (engineer)
George Hughes was a locomotive engineer, and Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway and the London, Midland and Scottish Railway.-L&YR:...
introduced a Belpaire firebox
Belpaire firebox
The Belpaire firebox is a type of firebox used on steam locomotives. It was invented by Alfred Belpaire of Belgium. It has a greater surface area at the top of the firebox, improving heat transfer and steam production...
to replace the original round-topped boiler
Round-topped boiler
A round-topped boiler is a type of boiler used for some designs of steam locomotive and portable engine. It was an early form of locomotive boiler, although continuing to be used for new locomotives through to the end of steam locomotive manufacture in the 1960s.They use the early form of firebox,...
. 40 were built. From 1910, this boiler was also fitted to rebuilt locomotives.
110 eventually came into British Railways hands in 1948. By 1961, all but three had been scrapped.
Some of these locomotives were also fitted for push-pull working
Push-pull train
Push–pull is a mode of operation for locomotive-hauled trains allowing them to be driven from either end.A push–pull train has a locomotive at one end of the train, connected via some form of remote control, such as multiple-unit train control, to a vehicle equipped with a control cab at the other...
, being coupled to a driving trailer coach that contained a driver's cab and allowed the train to be driven in reverse, without running the locomotive around the train at the terminus.
1906 boiler explosion
In 1906, class 5 no. 869 suffered a boiler explosionBoiler explosion
A boiler explosion is a catastrophic failure of a boiler. As seen today, boiler explosions are of two kinds. One kind is over-pressure in the pressure parts of the steam and water sides. The second kind is explosion in the furnace. Boiler explosions of pressure parts are particularly associated...
at The Oaks
The Oaks railway station
The Oaks railway station was a railway station that served the community of The Oaks, Greater Manchester, England.-History:The station was opened by the Bolton, Blackburn, Clitheroe and West Yorkshire Railway in January 1850, and was from...
station, north of . The firebox crown sheet broke free of its rod stays and burst downwards, although without splitting. 57 of the 150 one inch rod stays failed, the steam escaping through the remaining holes scalding the driver, although both footplate crew survived their injuries. The cause of the accident, which was the L&YR's second major boiler explosion in five years, was put down to poor washing out of the firebox water spaces when at shed. Afterwards, 72 lb of scale was collected. Although boilers were supposed to be washed out every eight days, this quantity suggests that it was up to three weeks since this had last been done thoroughly, either through omission or by inadequate washing.
Wirral Railway
The Wirral RailwayWirral Railway
The Wirral Railway was incorporated in 1863 as the Hoylake Railway , with powers to build lines from Birkenhead to New Brighton, and to Parkgate on the western side of the Wirral Peninsula; the latter line was not built. Between 1872 and 1882 the HR was renamed twice, and extensions of the line...
(WR) acquired one of these locomotives from the L&YR in June 1921: no. 1041 became WR no. 6. After the Grouping
Railways Act 1921
The Railways Act 1921, also known as the Grouping Act, was an enactment by the British government of David Lloyd George intended to stem the losses being made by many of the country's 120 railway companies, move the railways away from internal competition, and to retain some of the benefits which...
of 1923, this re-joined its original stablemates as part of the newly-created London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
. Although the L&YR locomotives were numbered in a block from No. 10621 upwards, which included the allocation of no. 10638 to the original L&YR number of the Wirral locomotive, the former Wirral locomotive stock was included in the LMS Western Division. The largest constituent of the Western Division was the LNWR
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
, and so WR no. 6 was numbered 6762 by the LMS, at the end of a block starting at 6515 which was allocated to former LNWR 2-4-2T locomotives; this locomotive followed on from nos. 6758–61, four former LNWR 2-4-2T which the WR had acquired from the LNWR.
No. 6762 survived into British Railways ownership (as 46762) and worked as station pilot at Preston
Preston railway station
Preston railway station serves the city of Preston in Lancashire, England and is a major station on the West Coast Main Line.It is served by Northern Rail, Virgin Trains, and TransPennine Express services, plus First ScotRail overnight sleeper services between London and Scotland.-Station layout...
, until being withdrawn and scrapped in 1952. It was the only Wirral Railway engine to last until Nationalisation; it also retained the original round-topped boiler throughout.
Preservation
The first of the class, No. 1008 is preserved as a static exhibit in the National Railway MuseumNational Railway Museum
The National Railway Museum is a museum in York forming part of the British National Museum of Science and Industry and telling the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. It has won many awards, including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001...
.
Class 6
A superheated development by George HughesGeorge Hughes (engineer)
George Hughes was a locomotive engineer, and Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway and the London, Midland and Scottish Railway.-L&YR:...
of the Class 5, some were rebuilt as conversions and others built new. 20 new locomotives were built in 1911. Of the conversions, 26 were of the Aspinall engines, 18 of Hughes' own Belpaire version.
14 of this class came into British Railways hands, although all were scrapped by 1952.