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Great Northern Railway large boiler class C1 London & North Eastern Railway class C1
251, when new in works grey
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Henry Ivatt Builder Doncaster Works Build date 1902–1910 Total produced 94[1]
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-4-2  • UIC 2′B1′ Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Leading dia. 3 ft 8 in (1.118 m) Driver dia. 6 ft 8 in (2.032 m) Trailing dia. 3 ft 8 in (1.118 m) Wheelbase 48 ft 5.5 in (14.77 m) Axle load 20 long tons (20 t; 22 short tons) Adhesive weight 40 long tons (41 t; 45 short tons) Loco weight 69.6 long tons (70.7 t; 78.0 short tons) Tender weight 43.1 long tons (43.8 t; 48.3 short tons) Total weight 112.7 long tons (114.5 t; 126.2 short tons) Tender type Class B Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 6.5 long tons (6.6 t; 7.3 short tons) Water cap 3,500 imperial gallons (15,911 l; 4,203 US gal) Boiler pressure 170 psi (1.2 MPa) (Saturated) 150 psi (1.0 MPa) (Superheated) 200 psi (1.4 MPa) (3292 & 1300) Cylinders Two, outside (Majority), Four (2 outside + 2 inside) on No. 3292 Compound & 3279 Cylinder size 19 in × 24 in (483 mm × 610 mm) or 20 in × 24 in (508 mm × 610 mm) (Majority), 13 in × 20 in (330 mm × 508 mm) (high pressure cylinders on compound) 16 in × 26 in (406 mm × 660 mm) (low pressure cylinders on compound), 15 in × 26 in (381 mm × 660 mm) (No. 3279) 20 in × 26 in (508 mm × 660 mm) (No. 1300) Valve gear Stephenson OR Walschaerts Valve type Slide valves or 8-inch (203 mm) piston valves (10-inch (254 mm) on 1300)
Performance figures Tractive effort between 13,808 lbf (61.4 kN) and 17,340 lbf (77.1 kN) (Majority), 21,326 lbf (94.9 kN) (3292 compound), 21,128 lbf (94.0 kN) (3279), 22,100 lbf (98.3 kN) (1300)
Career Operators Great Northern Railway → London and North Eastern Railway → British Railways Power class BR: 2P Axle load class LNER: RA: 7 Withdrawn 1924-1950 Preserved No. 251 Current owner National Collection Disposition One preserved, remainder scrapped

The preserved 251 at Bressingham

The Great Northern Railway (GNR) Class C1 is a type of 4-4-2 steam locomotive. One, ex GNR 251, later LNER 2800, survives in preservation.

Development[edit]

The C1 Class, as it was known under both GNR & LNER classifications, was designed by Henry A. Ivatt as an enlarged version of what became the LNER C2 Class. The principle of the design was to produce a powerful, free-steaming engine to haul the fastest and heaviest express trains on the Great Northern. They could thus be seen as the start of the East Coast 'Big Engine' policy. None were ever named.

First engine and improvements[edit]

The first engine, No. 251, was introduced in 1902, with eighty more being built at Doncaster Works between 1904 and 1908. Although they suffered from a number of teething troubles, the Atlantics were generally very successful. They were originally fitted with slide valves, but later gained piston valves, which produced a notable improvement in performance. The Atlantics remained in front-line service for many years, sometimes being called upon to haul trains of over 500 long tons (508 t; 560 short tons).

Later years[edit]

No. 2825 on a stopping train at Seven Sisters, 1946

They were eventually superseded on the heaviest trains by Gresley A1 Pacifics in the early 1920s. They continued to haul lighter expresses up until 1950, although this did include the Harrogate Pullman for a period during the 1920s and 1930s. They were often called upon to take over trains from failed Pacifics and put up some remarkable performances with loads far in excess of those they were designed to haul. One once took over the Flying Scotsman from a failed A3 at Peterborough and not only made up time but arrived early.

Accidents and incidents[edit]

Main article: Grantham rail accident

• On 19 September 1906, locomotive No. 276 was hauling a sleeper train which was derailed at Grantham, Lincolnshire due to excessive speed through the station after passing signals at danger. Fourteen people were killed and seventeen were injured.^[2]


• On 13 February 1923, locomotive No. 298 was hauling an express passenger train that overran signals and was in a rear-end collision with a freight train at Retford, Nottinghamshire. Three people were killed.^[3]

Main article: Welwyn Garden City rail crashes

• On 15 June 1935, locomotive No. 4411 was hauling a passenger train that was run into by an express passenger train at Welwyn Garden City due to a signalman's error. Fourteen people were killed and 29 were injured.^[2]

The last trip[edit]

Seventeen C1s made it to serve British Railways, albeit for a short time. According to The Railway Magazine, the last engine in service was BR 62822, ex GNR 294. On 26 November 1950 she hauled a train one way from Kings Cross to Doncaster to mark the end of the C1s. Among the many on board was the son of H.A. Ivatt, Mr. H.G. Ivatt who received one of the builder's plates. On display at Doncaster was pioneer sister ex GNR 251, already preserved, and a number of modern engines. The return trip to London was hauled by A1 Pacific 60123 named, suitably enough, H.A. Ivatt.

The first becomes the last, No. 251[edit]

Pioneer 251, LNER 2800, had been saved for the national collection even before the last one was withdrawn from revenue service in 1950. Restored to GNR livery, she is the only C1 to survive. She joined preserved sister GNR 990 "Henry Oakley" on two weekends of trips entitled Plant Centenarian, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Doncaster Works.^[4] On the 20th the two engines, 990 leading, hauled the train from Kings Cross to Doncaster carrying nearly 500. Class A4 Silver Link brought the train back to London. A similar trip a week later operated from Kings Cross to Leeds with a stop at Doncaster, with the GNR veterans again hauling one leg of the trip. No. 251 steamed poorly on these trips, because the superheater had been removed although the boiler flues had not been replaced with small tubes to compensate. Further trips followed, the last being on 12 September 1954, but it was not until March 1957 that the locomotive was placed in York museum.^[5] Still part of the National Railway Museum in York, she is now at Shildon, County Durham in the National Railway Museum (May 2016)

References[edit]

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