LNER 4-6-0 Locomotives

Originally introduced to Britain in 1894 for freight haulage, 4-6-0 locomotives ("Ten-Wheelers" in American railroad jargon) became the predominant type for express and mixed traffic duties. By 1948 4-6-0s in Britain were outnumbered only by 0-6-0s and 0-6-0Ts, and British Railways built more 4-6-0s than any other type.

Three of the LNER constituents built 4-6-0s. The NER pioneered the type for passenger work in Britain in 1899. Finding they lacked the required power for express working, it used its 102 4-6-0s on secondary passenger and express freight duties. In the early 20th Century several other companies introduced 4-6-0s but often encountered similar difficulties, including the GCR, who reverted to four-coupled locos for express work despite producing 90 4-6-0s to a variety of two- and four-cylinder designs from 1902 onwards. Meanwhile the GER had more success with its distinctive inside-cylinder 4-6-0s introduced in 1911, 70 being acquired by the LNER.

Unlike his contemporaries, Gresley does not appear to have liked the wheel arrangement - probably due to his preference for a wide firebox. Other than the building of 52 locomotives of pre-existing 4-6-0 classes, he would only introduce one 4-6-0 class: the B17 Sandringham Class for use on former Great Eastern Railway (GER) routes.

Thompson's standardisation programme included a conventional 4-6-0 mixed traffic class in the form of his Class B1. Construction of the Thompson B1s would continue into BR ownership and they became the most numerous 4-6-0 LNER class.

4-6-0 Tender Locomotives