The LNER Encyclopedia

Hi all

Can anyone id the enclosed photo for me , class, built/designed by please

Neil

http://www.lner.info/locos/B/b1b18.shtml.

Whoops! Should read http://www.lner.info/locos/B/b4.shtml (See Graeme's post below).

Great photo!

Malcolm

Robinson really was an artist, wasn't he?

Thanks for reply, it was the number that confused the issue, every time i put it in a search i got 6100 Royal Scot!!!

Neil

B1??? or B4????

B1.

B4 it was relegated to B18.

Its personal preference but i think the NER 4-6-0s Without that square firebox look more elegant, but i can see why Robinson has his devotees. I do like RODs though.

Thought so, have now checked and.....

6100 was NOT a B1 (or B18 as later classified), it was B4:

The two (only) Robinson B1s were nos (6)195 and (6)196, these being Robinson's original two "passenger" 4-6-0 locos constructed alongside the first two Atlantics, for the purposes of comparison. As such they had the same Atlantic-size 6' 8" or 6' 9" coupled wheels, depending on tyre thickness. The Atlantic type was in fact chosen at that stage as the GCRs favoured loco for passenger traffic, for production in moderate numbers. The 4-6-0 version was then resurrected as a "fast freight / mixed traffic" loco but with coupled wheels reduced in diameter by two or three inches, i.e. to 6' 6" or 6' 7", again depending on tyre thickness. These locos, again built in only moderate numbers, later formed the LNER B4 class, including No 6100. Oddly, the LNER had different ideas about their role compared to the original GC intention, superheating them and in several cases providing larger cylinders, and drafting several into fomer GNR West Riding sheds to provide the necessary six-coupled passenger traction (as effectively as the impoverished LNER could in the 20s/early 30s) to suit the Doncaster - Leeds trains running over the weight-restricted Calder viaduct at Wakefield. The passenger role allotted them, and their six-coupled "status", resulted in them keeping green livery after 1928 even though the overtly "passenger" GC Atlantics (with larger wheels) were downgraded to lined black livery!

Post now corrected, thanks Graeme.

I don't know where your text came from, but reducing the coupled wheels to 3" in diameter must have affected their usefulness on passenger workings.

Thanks to you also JW. I have now endeavoured to reconstruct the wording of my post too, so as to provide the utmost clarity with respect to the B4 coupled wheel diameter.

To answer the original question, 6100 was built by Beyer Peacock in June 1906 (the GCR probably relied more on outside builders than any other major company). It received a superheater, piston valves and larger cylinders under the LNER and was later modified to the LNER loading gauge (reduced cab and chimney). It became (6)1485 and was withdrawn in June 1949, being scrapped in the same year. (Main source: Longworth)

Kudu

6104, modelled in 1930s condition:

Thanks guys for clearing that up

Neil