The Sacre GCR Class 18 (LNER J8 Engine 309B) 0-6-0 Locomotive

Sacre was noted for his preference for double-framed designs, but he did design a number of single-framed locomotives. The most numerous of these were his Class 18 locomotives. A total of sixty eight were built between 1869 and 1873 for the Manchester Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway (MS&LR - later the GCR). Between 1902 and 1906, Robinson rebuilt twenty of these as J58 0-6-0ST saddle tank engines. Only one of the tender Class 18s survived into LNER ownership. This was 309B and was being used as Gorton Works shunter. The LNER included 309B with Class J8, although there was no connection between these larger double-framed engines and the smaller 309B. This resulted in a separate engine diagram entitled "J8 - engine 309B only". 309B was renumbered as LNER No. 6477, but it was withdrawn in October 1924 before the new number could be fitted.

In its later life, 309B carried the same boiler type as that used on the D12 4-4-0 (GCR Class 6B) locomotives. The original Sacre weatherboard was also replaced with an enclosed cab, and a Robinson chimney was fitted.

The Class 18 locomotives were designed to haul goods traffic on the Cheshire Lines, but they were also used in the Grimsby and Lincoln areas. No. 309B became the Gorton Works shunter in 1920. This duty was marked by the word "Loco" written above the number on the cab side sheets. 309B was finally withdrawn in October 1924.

Technical Details

Preservation

None of the GCR Class 18 locomotives survived into preservation.

Models

I am not aware of any models of the GCR Class 18 locomotives in any scale.