GCR Class 8

4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)Leading dia.3 ft 6 in (1.067 m)Driver dia.6 ft 1 in (1.854 m)Length60 ft 9+1⁄4 in (18.523 m)^[1]Loco weight64.15 long tons (65.18 t)Firebox:​ • Grate area23.5 sq ft (2.18 m²)Boiler:
​ • Diameter4 ft 6.5 in (1,384 mm) to 4 ft 9 in (1,450 mm)Boiler pressure180 psi (1.24 MPa)Heating surface^[2]CylindersTwo, outsideCylinder size19 in × 26 in (483 mm × 660 mm)Valve gearStephensonValve typeSlide valves

Performance figures
Tractive effort	19,672 lbf (87.51 kN)

Career
Operators	Great Central Railway → London & North Eastern Railway → British Railways
Class	GCR: 8 LNER: B5
Numbers	GCR: 1067–1072, 180–187 LNER: 6067–6072, 5180–5187; later 1678–1682 BR: 61678–61682
Nicknames	Fish engines
Retired	1939–1950
Disposition	All scrapped

The Great Central Railway Class 8, known as the London and North Eastern Railway Class B5 following the 1923 Grouping, was a class of fourteen 4-6-0 steam locomotives designed to haul fast goods trains, in particular fish trains.

They were nicknamed "Fish Engines" because of their designed role and due to their frequent use on the fast fish trains heading from Grimsby to places like London. They were passed on into service with British Railways in 1948 and the last locomotive was withdrawn in 1950.

Models

A 1/5 scale, 10.25 in gauge model of number 181 has been made by Andrew Simkins. This model is externally faithful to Robinson's design, but also uses a footwell to conceal most of the driver in the tender. It was showcased and won an award at the Model engineering exhibition in 2003. It has since been seen on several of the 10.25 in gauge railways around Britain.^{[citation needed]}

References

Bibliography

• Boddy, M.G.; Brown, W.A.; Fry, E.V.; Hennigan, W.; Hoole, Ken; Manners, F.; Neve, E.; Platt, E.N.T.; Proud, P.; Yeadon, W.B. (March 1975). Locomotives of the L.N.E.R., part 2B: Tender Engines - Classes B1 to B19. Lincoln: RCTS. ISBN 0-901115-73-8. OCLC 655688865.
• Casserley, H.C.; S.W. Johnson (1974) [1966]. Locomotives at the Grouping 2: London and North Eastern Railway. Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allan Limited. pp. 12, 107, 111. ISBN 0-7110-0553-2.

External links

• LNER Encyclopedia