LNER Thompson Class B2
Encyclopedia
The London and North Eastern Railway
(LNER) Thompson Class B2 was a class of 4-6-0
steam locomotive. It was introduced in 1945 as a two-cylinder rebuild (with diagram 100A boiler) of the three-cylinder LNER Class B17
. Ten were rebuilt from Class B17 but no more were rebuilt because of the success of the LNER Thompson Class B1
. The rebuilt locomotives kept their names.
The LNER renumbered its locomotive stock during the period that these locomotives were being rebuilt, so some were renumbered at the time that they were rebuilt, some before rebuilding, and some after rebuilding. The renumbering plan for class B2 was the same as for class B17: in each case the first two digits were altered from 28 to 16. Thus 2803 became 1603 at rebuilding in October 1946; 2807 had already become 1607 (December 1946) prior to rebuilding in May 1947; and 2814 (rebuilt November 1946) became 1614 in December 1946. Between 1948 and 1950, British Railways increased these numbers by 60000; no. 61644 was so renumbered at the time of its rebuilding in March 1949.
Two of the locomotives were renamed. No. 1671, based at Cambridge, was the official Royal engine, used to haul specials to and from , which was the nearest station to Sandringham
; for this purpose it was renamed Royal Sovereign in April 1946. When this locomotive was unavailable, no. 61617 Ford Castle was the designated reserve, and it was the latter which was one of the locomotives used to haul the funeral train of King George VI on 11 February 1952. This locomotive was used from Wolferton as far as ; the train was hauled from there to King's Cross by BR standard class 7 70000 Britannia
. The second renaming occurred after the withdrawal of 61671 in September 1959: in October, the name Royal Sovereign was transferred to no. 61632, which then became the official Royal engine.
London and North Eastern Railway
The London and North Eastern Railway was the second-largest of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain...
(LNER) Thompson Class B2 was a class of 4-6-0
4-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles in a leading truck, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels. This wheel arrangement became the second-most popular...
steam locomotive. It was introduced in 1945 as a two-cylinder rebuild (with diagram 100A boiler) of the three-cylinder LNER Class B17
LNER Class B17
The London and North Eastern Railway Class B17, also known as "Sandringham" or "Footballer" class was a class of 4-6-0 steam locomotive designed by Sir Nigel Gresley for hauling passenger services on the Great Eastern Main Line...
. Ten were rebuilt from Class B17 but no more were rebuilt because of the success of the LNER Thompson Class B1
LNER Thompson Class B1
The London and North Eastern Railway Thompson Class B1 is a class of steam locomotive designed for medium mixed traffic work. It was designed by Edward Thompson.- Overview :...
. The rebuilt locomotives kept their names.
Names
- 2803 Framlingham
- 2807 Blickling
- 2814 Castle Hedingham
- 2815 Culford Hall
- 2816 Fallodon
- 2817 Ford Castle
- 2832 Belvoir Castle
- 2839 Norwich City
- 2844 Earlham Hall
- 2871 Manchester City
The LNER renumbered its locomotive stock during the period that these locomotives were being rebuilt, so some were renumbered at the time that they were rebuilt, some before rebuilding, and some after rebuilding. The renumbering plan for class B2 was the same as for class B17: in each case the first two digits were altered from 28 to 16. Thus 2803 became 1603 at rebuilding in October 1946; 2807 had already become 1607 (December 1946) prior to rebuilding in May 1947; and 2814 (rebuilt November 1946) became 1614 in December 1946. Between 1948 and 1950, British Railways increased these numbers by 60000; no. 61644 was so renumbered at the time of its rebuilding in March 1949.
Two of the locomotives were renamed. No. 1671, based at Cambridge, was the official Royal engine, used to haul specials to and from , which was the nearest station to Sandringham
Sandringham House
Sandringham House is a country house on of land near the village of Sandringham in Norfolk, England. The house is privately owned by the British Royal Family and is located on the royal Sandringham Estate, which lies within the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.-History and current...
; for this purpose it was renamed Royal Sovereign in April 1946. When this locomotive was unavailable, no. 61617 Ford Castle was the designated reserve, and it was the latter which was one of the locomotives used to haul the funeral train of King George VI on 11 February 1952. This locomotive was used from Wolferton as far as ; the train was hauled from there to King's Cross by BR standard class 7 70000 Britannia
BR standard class 7 70000 Britannia
British Railways standard class 7 , number 70000 Britannia is a preserved steam locomotive.-British Railways:...
. The second renaming occurred after the withdrawal of 61671 in September 1959: in October, the name Royal Sovereign was transferred to no. 61632, which then became the official Royal engine.