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LNWR Whale Precursor Class

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Not to be confused with LNWR Webb Precursor Class.

LNWR Precursor Class (Whale)
No. 513, Precursor in photographic grey livery
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerGeorge Whale
BuilderLNWR Crewe Works
Serial number4415–4419, 4440–4504, 4510–4549, 4660–4679
Build date1904–1907
Total produced130
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte4-4-0
 • UIC2′B n2 or 2′B h2
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Driver dia.6 ft 9 in (2.057 m)
Loco weight59.15 long tons (60.10 t)
Boiler pressure175 psi (1.21 MPa)
CylindersTwo
Cylinder size19 in × 26 in (483 mm × 660 mm) or 20+1⁄2 in × 26 in (521 mm × 660 mm)
Valve gearJoy
Performance figures
Tractive effort18,222 lbf (81.1 kN) or 20,640 lbf (91.8 kN)
Career
OperatorsLondon and North Western Railway
→ London, Midland and Scottish Railway
→ British Railways
Power classLMS: 2P, 3P
Number in class1 January 1923: 130
1 January 1948: 1
Withdrawn1927–1949
DispositionAll scrapped

The London and North Western Railway (LNWR) "Precursor" Class was a type of 4-4-0 ("American") steam locomotive designed by the company's Chief Mechanical Engineer, George Whale.[1][2] Introduced in 1904, it should not be confused with the LNWR 2-4-0 "Precursor" Class of 1874 designed by Francis Webb, the last example of which was scrapped in 1895.[3] In 1906, a 4-4-2T ("Atlantic") tank variant of Whale's engine, the "Precursor Tank" Class, also entered service.[4]

History

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The Precursor Class was essentially a larger version of the LNWR "Improved Precedent" Class, being Whale's first attempt at producing a locomotive which would remove the requirement for express trains to be double headed (then standard practice on the LNWR).[5] 130 examples of the class were constructed at Crewe Works between March 1904 and August 1907,[6] their introduction allowing Whale to phase out the unreliable compound locomotives favoured by his predecessor, Francis Webb.[7][8][9] As built, they were saturated, although a small number were fitted with superheaters between February 1913 and September 1919.[3]

View of Precursor Class number 1117 Vandal and crew in front of Shrewsbury engine shed, soon after emerging from Crewe Works in November 1904.
Precursor Class no. 1117 Vandal at Shrewsbury engine shed, soon after emerging from Crewe Works in November 1904 (from an old postcard).[10]

Whilst the Precursors created issues for crews as some of the cab controls were difficult to operate or reach,[11] they were generally successful in terms of operating performance.[12] However, having apparently experienced difficulty keeping time on trials between Crewe and Carlisle, they were not used on heavier gradients such as the climb to Shap.[a] A consequence of this was the introduction of an extended version of the Precursors, the 4-6-0 "Experiment" Class, in 1905.[14] Nevertheless, double heading was still necessary on many trains north of Preston due to accelerated schedules and increased loads.[15]

In 1910, the Precursors were developed by Whale's successor, Charles Bowen-Cooke, into the 4-4-0 superheated "George the Fifth" Class.[5][16] The main visual difference was that the Precursors had separate splashers over each of the driving wheels while the Georges had combined splashers that covered both pairs.

The LNWR reused numbers and names from withdrawn locomotives, with the result that the numbering system was completely haphazard. Starting with the first of the class 513 "Precursor" in 1913, were given superheaters, the process continuing until just after grouping in 1923. Most of the superheated engines were also converted from having slide valves to piston valves.

This resulted in two main subclasses; saturated locomotives with 19 by 26 inches (480 mm × 660 mm) cylinders, and superheated locomotives with 20.5 by 26 inches (520 mm × 660 mm) cylinders. The LMS gave them the power classification 3P. The saturated engines were given the LMS numbers in the 5187–5266 series, though not all survived long enough to receive them. The superheated engines were given the LMS numbers 5270–5319 (5267–5269 were not used).

The LMS continued to superheat engines until 1926, these rebuilds retained their LMS number. Also, three superheated engines became saturated via boiler swaps.

Withdrawals of the saturated engines started in 1927 and the last engine in as built condition was withdrawn in 1935. The four superheated engines which retained slide valves were withdrawn from 1931 to 1936. Withdrawals of the superheated engines with piston valves began in 1935. Those not withdrawn had 20000 added to their numbers from 1934 to 1937 to make room for Black Fives.

By the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, only 11 Precursors were still in service.[3][17] A single example, 25297 "Sirocco", was inherited by British Railways in 1948, but this was withdrawn in June 1949 before the number it had been allocated (58010) could be applied.[18][19]

None were preserved.

Accidents

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Great Bridgeford

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On 17 June 1932, locomotive number 5278 Precursor was hauling the 7:23 p.m. Crewe to Stafford and Birmingham New Street express passenger service when, at around 7:52 p.m., the engine and all four coaches derailed just to the south of Great Bridgeford station, Staffordshire.

Of the 70 to 80 passengers on board the train, three were killed immediately and a fourth died in hospital the next day. Together with the driver and fireman, 9 passengers received injuries serious enough to require hospital care, whilst a further 18 were treated at the scene and able to continue their journeys.[20][21]

Fleet list

[edit]
Table of locomotives
LNWR No.[6] Name(s)[3][6] Crewe
Works No.[6]		 Date built[6] LMS No.[3][17] Date withdrawn[b] Notes
513 Precursor 4415 March 1904 5278 July 1936 (f)(h)
1395 Harbinger 4416 March 1904 5291 June 1937 (h)(i)
1419 Tamerlane 4417 March 1904 5285 March 1936 (h)
2023 Helvellyn 4418 April 1904 5187 March 1936 (h)(i)
2164 Oberon 4419 May 1904 5277 August 1946 (h)(i)
2 Simoom 4440 June 1904 5308 October 1936 (h)
7 Titan 4441 June 1904 5276 October 1935 (h)
412 Alfred Paget,
Marquis		 4442 June 1904 5188 April 1940 (a)(h)(i)
510 Albatross 4443 June 1904 5189 August 1933
659 Dreadnought 4444 June 1904 5296 May 1936 (h)
639 Ajax 4445 October 1904 5190 September 1928
648 Archimedes 4446 October 1904 5191 January 1928
685 Cossack 4447 October 1904 5192 April 1932
60 Dragon 4448 October 1904 5298 November 1938 (h)(i)
106 Druid 4449 October 1904 5294 May 1937 (h)(i)
301 Leviathan 4450 November 1904 5289 May 1936 (h)
305 Senator 4451 November 1904 5307 February 1937 (h)(i)
643 Sirocco 4452 November 1904 5297 June 1949 (h)(i)(j)
1102 Thunderbolt 4453 November 1904 5193 September 1931
1117 Vandal 4454 November 1904 5194 October 1931
310 Achilles 4455 December 1904 5290 October 1936 (h)
333 Ambassador 4456 December 1904 5284 August 1936 (h)
515 Champion 4457 December 1904 5282 December 1939 (h)(i)
622 Euphrates 4458 December 1904 5195 November 1927
638 Huskisson 4459 December 1904 5196 April 1933
303 Himalaya 4460 January 1905 5305 January 1936 (f)(h)
645 Mammoth 4461 January 1905 5197 November 1930
806 Swiftsure 4462 January 1905 5318 October 1935 (h)
1120 Thunderer 4463 January 1905 5310 August 1939 (b)(h)(i)
1137 Vesuvius 4464 February 1905 5299 August 1936 (h)(i)
323 Argus 4465 February 1905 5303 October 1936 (f)(h)
1104 Cedric 4466 February 1905 5199 December 1933
1111 Cerberus 4467 March 1905 5200 September 1934
1431 Egeria 4468 March 1905 5201 November 1930
2064 Jason 4469 March 1905 5273 August 1931 (g)(h)
40 Niagara 4470 March 1905 5198 November 1930
520 Panopea 4471 March 1905 5202 January 1934
1469 Tantalus 4472 March 1905 5288 March 1937 (h)(i)
1737 Viscount 4473 March 1905 5316 July 1936 (h)
2031 Waverley 4474 March 1905 5203 November 1931
365 Alchymist 4475 April 1905 5287 June 1937 (h)(i)
1115 Apollo 4476 April 1905 5205 February 1928
1545 Cyclops 4477 April 1905 5206 May 1932
1573 Dunrobin 4478 April 1905 5286 September 1937 (h)(i)
2061 Eglinton 4479 April 1905 5207 August 1936 (h)(i)
184 Havelock 4480 May 1905 5204 September 1931
366 Medusa 4481 May 1905 5292 April 1945 (h)(i)
519 Messenger 4482 May 1905 5208 November 1931
2120 Trentham 4483 May 1905 5209 October 1927
1430 Victor 4484 May 1905 5210 October 1931
113 Aurania 4485 July 1905 5211 September 1936 (h)(i)
300 Emerald 4486 July 1905 5301 October 1935 (h)
302 Greyhound 4487 July 1905 5304 January 1947 (f)(h)(i)
315 Harrowby 4488 July 1905 5212 December 1936 (h)(i)
688 Hecate 4489 July 1905 5274 October 1935 (f)(h)
1509 America 4490 July 1905 5214 March 1928
1617 Hydra 4491 August 1905 5300 July 1940 (h)(i)
1723 Scorpion 4492 August 1905 5295 November 1936 (h)
2062 Sunbeam 4493 August 1905 5279 August 1939 (h)(i)
2257 Vulture 4494 August 1905 5215 December 1933
311 Emperor 4495 September 1905 5213 May 1933 (h)
374 Empress 4496 September 1905 5317 June 1936 (h)
811 Express 4497 September 1905 5311 March 1941 (b)(h)(i)
911 Herald 4498 September 1905 5216 February 1936 (h)(i)
1114 Knowsley 4499 September 1905 5217 February 1933
1116 Pandora 4500 September 1905 5218 April 1936 (h)(i)
1510 Psyche 4501 September 1905 5219 December 1930
1784 Python 4502 October 1905 5220 November 1931
2165 Shooting Star 4503 October 1905 5280 November 1935 (h)
2202 Vizier 4504 October 1905 5221 December 1930
117 Alaska 4510 October 1905 5222 September 1933
1301 Candidate 4511 October 1905 5225 November 1936 (h)(i)
1363 Cormwall,
Brindley		 4512 October 1905 5272 December 1939 (c)(h)(i)
1396 Harpy 4513 November 1905 5226 November 1930
2007 Oregon 4514 November 1905 5227 October 1927
2012 Penguin 4515 November 1905 5228 October 1931
2115 Servia 4516 November 1905 5229 April 1932
127 Snake 4517 November 1905 5223 November 1936 (h)(i)
229 Stork 4518 November 1905 5224 November 1927
1439 Tiger 4519 November 1905 5275 January 1933 (g)(h)
2576 Arab 4520 December 1905 5230 September 1933
2577 Etna 4521 December 1905 5313 February 1936 (h)
2578 Fame 4522 December 1905 5309 August 1936 (h)
2579 Ganymede 4523 December 1905 5231 February 1936 (h)
2580 Problem 4524 December 1905 5232 November 1931
2581 Peel 4525 December 1905 5233 August 1934
2582 Rowland Hill 4526 December 1905 5234 November 1928
2583 Teutonic,
The Tsar,
Moonstone		 4527 December 1905 5235 April 1935 (d)
2584 Velocipede 4528 January 1906 5312 December 1935 (e)(h)
2585 Watt 4529 January 1906 5236 December 1933
723 Coptic 4530 February 1906 5239 January 1936 (h)
837 Friar 4531 February 1906 5240 October 1933
1312 Ionic 4532 February 1906 5242 November 1930
1387 Lang Meg 4533 March 1906 5306 February 1936 (f)(h)
1642 Lapwing 4534 March 1906 5243 November 1935 (h)
2513 Levens 4535 March 1906 5293 June 1939 (h)(i)
234 Pearl 4536 March 1906 5237 February 1932
526 Ilion 4537 March 1906 5238 December 1928
1311 Napoleon 4538 March 1906 5241 January 1936 (h)
2017 Tubal 4539 March 1906 5244 November 1935 (h)
282 Alaric 4540 April 1906 5314 November 1935 (h)
561 Antaeus 4541 April 1906 5245 March 1941 (h)(i)
675 Adjutant 4542 April 1906 5246 February 1936 (h)
772 Admiral 4543 April 1906 5247 October 1927
804 Amphion 4544 April 1906 5248 October 1935 (h)
990 Bucephalus 4545 April 1906 5319 December 1940 (h)(i)
988 Bellerophon 4546 April 1906 5249 June 1933
1433 Faerie Queene 4547 April 1906 5250 November 1935 (h)
1650 Richard Trevithick 4548 May 1906 5251 February 1928
1787 Hyperion 4549 May 1906 5252 December 1930
1 Clive 4660 June 1907 5253 November 1930
218 Daphne 4661 June 1907 5254 August 1933
419 Monarch 4662 June 1907 5255 December 1930
564 Erebus 4663 June 1907 5281 September 1936 (h)
665 Mersey 4664 June 1907 5256 October 1927
469 Marmion 4665 June 1907 5270 May 1936 (f)
1011 Locke 4666 July 1907 5257 January 1933
1364 Clyde 4667 July 1907 5258 November 1930
2053 Edith 4668 July 1907 5259 March 1934
2181 Eleanor 4669 July 1907 5260 December 1933
276 Doric 4670 July 1907 5261 November 1927
754 Celtic 4671 July 1907 5262 December 1930
802 Gaelic 4672 July 1907 5271 November 1931 (g)
807 Oceanic 4673 August 1907 5263 December 1933
976 Pacific 4674 August 1907 5264 November 1928
1297 Phalaris 4675 August 1907 5265 October 1931
1309 Shamrock 4676 August 1907 5302 June 1937 (f)(h)(i)
1516 Alecto 4677 August 1907 5266 October 1931
2011 Brougham 4678 August 1907 5283 March 1936 (h)
2051 Delamere 4679 August 1907 5315 September 1936 (h)

  (a) Name changed November 1904.[23]
  (b) Name removed September 1936.[24]
  (c) Name changed May 1911.[25][24]
  (d) Name changed November 1914 and December 1915.[23]
  (e) Name removed August 1933.[24]
  (f) Superheater fitted.
  (g) Superheater fitted but later removed.
  (h) Converted to LNWR George the Fifth Class.
  (i) 20000 added to LMS number.
  (j) Allocated, but never carried number 58010 by British Railways.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ A photograph in The Railway Magazine also shows a Webb compound "Jubilee" Class locomotive piloting 282 Alaric on a London to Holyhead express near Harrow in 1917.[13]
  2. ^ Although the withdrawal dates listed are drawn from both Baxter[3] and Yaedon,[17] information from the latter was preferred in the 10 instances where these sources disagreed. Two of Baxter's dates appear to be misprints, namely June 1947 for 25297 Sirocco, and June 1957 for 25302 Shamrock. There are 7 further discrepancies of one month, and one of two months. Differences of a single month could possibly be explained by Yaedon's method of correcting for the fact that until August 1927, LMS stock returns were based on calendar months, but then the company accountants decided to split the year up into periods of 4 weeks.[22]

References

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  1. ^ "Four-coupled Passenger Locomotive". The Engineer. Vol. 97. London. 8 April 1904. p. 362 – via Internet Archive.
  2. ^ "Train Experiments on the London and North-western Railway". The Engineer. Vol. 97. 15 April 1904. p. 387 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Baxter, Bertram (1979). Baxter, David (ed.). British Locomotive Catalogue 1825–1923, Volume 2B: London and North Western Railway and its constituent companies. Ashbourne: Moorland Publishing Company. pp. 260–264. ISBN 0903485842.
  4. ^ "Passenger Tank Engines. No. V". The Engineer. Vol. 110. London. 23 September 1910. pp. 336–337 – via Internet Archive.
  5. ^ a b Steel, Wilfred L. (1914). The History of the London & North Western Railway. London: The Railway and Travel Monthly. pp. 467–470 – via Internet Archive.
  6. ^ a b c d e Williams, C. (1922). A Register Of All Locomotives Now In Use On The London & North Western Railway. Crewe: C. Williams – via Internet Archive.
  7. ^ Reed, M. C. (1996). The London & North Western Railway: A History. Penryn: Atlantic Transport Publishers. pp. 178–180. ISBN 0906899664 – via Internet Archive.
  8. ^ Griffiths, Denis (1991). Locomotive Engineers of the LMS and its Major English Constituent Companies. Sparkford: Patrick Stephens. pp. 64, 69. ISBN 1852601426 – via Internet Archive.
  9. ^ Yeadon, Willie B. (1995). A Compendium of LNWR Locomotives 1912–1949. Part One: Passenger Tender Engines. Nottingham: Booklaw/Railbus. p. 39. ISBN 1899624368.
  10. ^ Patrick, David J. (2007). The Railway Photographs of P. W. Pilcher. Chester: London & North Western Railway Society. pp. 12, 75. ISBN 9780954695149.
  11. ^ Griffiths (1991), p. 63.
  12. ^ "Railway Matters". The Engineer. Vol. 98. London. 28 October 1904. p. 419 – via Internet Archive.
  13. ^ Mackay, F. E. (1917). "London and North Western Railway". The Railway Magazine. Vol. 41. London. p. 399 – via HathiTrust.
  14. ^ Lake, Charles S. "British Locomotive Practice in 1905". The Engineering Review. New series. Vol. 8, no. 8. pp. 174–177 – via Internet Archive.
  15. ^ Griffiths (1991), p. 150.
  16. ^ "Superheating on London and North-Western Locomotives". The Engineer. Vol. 110. London. 7 October 1910. p. 394 – via Internet Archive.
  17. ^ a b c Yeadon (1995), pp. 41–42, 49
  18. ^ Casserley, H. C. (1973). Steam Locomotives of British Railways. London: Hamlyn Publishing. pp. 73, 342. ISBN 0600022102 – via Internet Archive.
  19. ^ Yeadon (1995), p. 48
  20. ^ Hoole, Ken (1982). Trains in Trouble. Vol. 3. Redruth: Atlantic Books. p. 29. ISBN 0906899052.
  21. ^ Mount, A. H. L. (5 January 1933). Report on Train Accidents – London, Midland and Scottish Railway (PDF) (Report). London: Ministry of Transport.
  22. ^ Yeadon (1995), p. v.
  23. ^ a b Yeadon (1995), pp. 41–42
  24. ^ a b c Yeadon (1995), p. 49
  25. ^ Whitaker, J. R. (1917). "London and North Western Railway Engines [letter]". The Railway Magazine. Vol. 41. London. p. 193 – via HathiTrust.

Sources

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