LB&SCR G class
Encyclopedia
The LB&SCR G class, were powerful 2-2-2
locomotives, designed by William Stroudley
of the London Brighton and South Coast Railway in 1874.
and produced by Brighton railway works
in December 1874. This was extensively tested before a second, scaled down locomotive No. 325 Abergavenny, was ordered in June 1876 and completed in January 1877. Both locomotives performed adequately, but Abergavenny was significantly less powerful than Grosvenor. A modified design was developed and twelve further locomotives were built between December 1880 and November 1881.
The members of this class worked express trains between London
and South Coast towns such as Portsmouth
, Brighton
and Eastbourne
, and covered large mileages. The introduction of the Billinton B2 class
made the singles redundant on the Portsmouth line and so several were transferred to Tunbridge Wells.
Withdrawals began in May 1905 and the last locomotive survived until May 1914. No examples have been preserved, but there is a model of No.331 Fairlight in the museum at Sheffield Park on the Bluebell Railway
.
2-2-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-2-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle two powered driving wheels on one axle, and two trailing wheels on one axle. The wheel arrangement both provided more stability and enabled a larger firebox...
locomotives, designed by William Stroudley
William Stroudley
William Stroudley was one of Britain's most famous steam locomotive engineers of the nineteenth century, working principally for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway...
of the London Brighton and South Coast Railway in 1874.
History
A prototype single locomotive, No. 151 Grosvenor, was designed by StroudleyWilliam Stroudley
William Stroudley was one of Britain's most famous steam locomotive engineers of the nineteenth century, working principally for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway...
and produced by Brighton railway works
Brighton railway works
Brighton railway works was one of the earliest railway-owned locomotive repair works, founded in 1840 by the London and Brighton Railway in Brighton, England, and thus pre-dating the more famous railway works at Crewe, Doncaster and Swindon...
in December 1874. This was extensively tested before a second, scaled down locomotive No. 325 Abergavenny, was ordered in June 1876 and completed in January 1877. Both locomotives performed adequately, but Abergavenny was significantly less powerful than Grosvenor. A modified design was developed and twelve further locomotives were built between December 1880 and November 1881.
The members of this class worked express trains between London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and South Coast towns such as Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
, Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
and Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
, and covered large mileages. The introduction of the Billinton B2 class
LB&SCR B2 class
The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway B2 class was a class of small 4-4-0 steam locomotives intended for express passenger work on the LB&SCR London to Portsmouth line. They were designed by R. J. Billinton and built at Brighton works from 1895 to 1897...
made the singles redundant on the Portsmouth line and so several were transferred to Tunbridge Wells.
Withdrawals began in May 1905 and the last locomotive survived until May 1914. No examples have been preserved, but there is a model of No.331 Fairlight in the museum at Sheffield Park on the Bluebell Railway
Bluebell Railway
The Bluebell Railway is a heritage line running for nine miles along the border between East and West Sussex, England. Steam trains are operated between and , with an intermediate station at .The railway is managed and run largely by volunteers...
.
Locomotive summary
| LBSC No. | Date Built | New No. | Date | Name | Withdrawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 151 | 326 | Grosvenor | |||
| 325 | Abergavenny | ||||
| 327 | Imberhorne | ||||
| 328 | Sutherland | ||||
| 329 | 329A | Stephenson | |||
| 330 | Newhaven | ||||
| 331 | Fairlight | ||||
| 332 | Shanklin | ||||
| 333 | Ventnor | ||||
| 334 | Petworth | ||||
| 335 | Connaught | ||||
| 336 | Edinburgh | ||||
| 337 | Yarmouth | ||||
| 338 | Bembridge | ||||
| 339 | London | ||||
| 340 | Medina | ||||
| 341 | Parkhurst | ||||
| 342 | St Lawrence | ||||
| 343 | Wilmington | ||||
| 344 | Hurstmonceux | ||||
| 345 | Plumpton | ||||
| 346 | Alfriston | ||||
| 347 | Dallington | ||||
| 348 | Lullington | ||||
| 349 | Albany | ||||
| 350 | Southbourne | ||||
Sources
- Bradley, D.L. (1969) The locomotives of the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway: Part 1, The Railway Correspondence and Travel Society