The LNER 2-8-0 Locomotives
Of the four LNER constituents that adopted the 0-8-0, only the GCR and GNR switched to 2-8-0s - significantly, both companies with long-distance coal traffic. Robinson launched his design for the GCR in 1911, while Gresley's two-cylinder 1913 design on the GNR was followed by a three-cylinder version five years later.At Grouping (1923), the LNER inherited 179 2-8-0s. It constructed 56 more O2s and purchased 273 more Robinson war-surplus locomotives during the 1920s. 92 were then loaned and subsequently sold to the War Department in World War 2, leaving 329 Robinson locomotives to be acquired by British Railways (1948), most of which had been modified or rebuilt. British Railways also inherited 84 Gresley 2-8-0s after three had been withdrawn by the LNER.
During and after World War 2, the LNER made brief use of LMS-designed 2-8-0s as well as USATC locomotives en route to France, but by 1947 these had been all replaced by over 450 'WD Austerity' 2-8-0s either purchased or borrowed from the War Deptartment. These boosted total 2-8-0 numbers on LNER metals at Nationalisation to almost 900 (including 270 on loan from the War Deptartment). Official LNER ownership stood at 681 - 10% of LNER stock - including 67 on loan to the LMS.
Class | Builder | Designer | LNER From | Last Withdrawal | Comments |
O1 | GNR | Gresley | 1913 | 1952 | 'Tangos', Reclassified as O3 in 1944 |
O2 | GNR/LNER | Gresley | 1918 | 1963 | 'Tangos'? |
O3 | GNR | Gresley | 1913 | 1952 | Reclassified from O1 in 1944 |
O4 | GCR | Robinson | 1911 | 1966 | RODs; "Tinies" |
O5 | GCR | Robinson | 1918 | 1943 | All rebuilt as O4 |
O6 | LMS/LNER | Stanier | 1943 | 1968 | Stanier 8F |
O7 | WD | Riddles | 1943 | 1967 | WD Austerity 2-8-0 |
O1 | LNER/BR | Thompson | 1944 | 1965 | Rebuild of O4 |
S160 | USATC | 1942 | 1945 | US Army Transport Corps Lend-Lease |
2-10-0 Tender Locomotives
The LNER never owned any 2-10-0s but made temporary use of the War Department’s 'Austery' 2-10-0 locomotives during World War 2. Only two ten-coupled locomotives had previously run in Britain, including the GER's Decapod.
Class | Builder | Designer | First Built | Last Withdrawal | Comments |
'Austerity' | WD | Riddles | 1943 | 1946 | WD Austerity 2-10-0 |