The LNER Encyclopedia

Hello Everyone!

I was wondering if any of the knowlegeable people on this forum could help me?
I am only working from a couple of references,and I suspect the information may be in the RCTS green books,but I don't have them..
Now,I know that the 'Passenger' loco's had balanced cast steel 10 spoke wheels, and that the 'Shunters' were fitted with unbalanced cast iron 15 spoke wheels,but it seems that a few of the Shunters had 12 spoke wheels instead.

So, which loco's were thus fitted? and when?

I have a photo in a book of J67/1 no.68516 dated 15/5/1954 showing the 12 spoke wheels,but that was the only one I could find..

Any information would be greatly appreciated..

Phil

You've just opened about 240 cans of worms. Add to your list of variables passenger Bucks with unbalanced 12 spoke wheels such as passenger (it retained the Westo pump at the time) Buck J68 7050 which had them by June 1935, but had regained 10 spoke balanced wheels by April 1949 and you begin to see things are not so simple.

Then consider that the 15 spoke unbalanced wheels which had an 11" crank throw originally had dropped sections in the brake pull rods, but later, dropped rods could sometimes be seen on locos with balanced 10 spoke wheels (7025), and I've seen a photo of one with 11" throw and straight rods. Not entirely sure how that happened or didn't damage the pull rods...Just to complete this little bit, 7050 had straight pull rods when fitted with 12 spoked wheels, but 8658 had dropped sections when fitted with the same wheel type.

So, as you see, few rules, and those which were in place seemed to have been ignored, or at least worked around. If you're interested in a particular loco you really need a dated photo as things were liable to change dramatically.

Yeadon might elicit more info, but I'm not near my copy at present.

OK - I've got my Yeadon's and RCTS here now:

J66: Yeadon - 7292, 7293, 7312 and 7315 were noted with 12 spoke unbalanced wheels during the 30s.

J67: 12 spoke not mentioned in Yeadon.

J68: As mentioned earlier, 7050 (dates confirmed) and 8658 (December 1947) noted with 12 spoke wheels, Yeadon also notes 68663 (from 1956). Photos of all three locos.

J69: Nothing specific, but photos of 7057, 8623 (August 1947), 68575 (March 1956).

RCTS confirms these locos, but gives little else away except 'some engines were fitted, including...'

Anyway, that's about all I have readily to hand.

Thankyou Adrian!

I suspected the situation wouldn't have been simple,given the rather convoluted history of these loco's..
At least I've got a bit of a start at which ones to follow up and see if I can track down photo's thereof..,mind you,this research is all part of the fun,isn't it?..

Cheers,

Phil