The LNER Encyclopedia

Hi,
I know the B17s had divided drive but did Gresley use divided drive on any other of his three cylinder designs? I know he didn't on his Pacifics, V2s and D49s.

Ay up!

In a word, Spamcan, no, Gresley didn't. All his 3-cylinder engines, with the exception of the B17s, drove all three cylinders on the middle axle. The only reason the B17s had divided drive was to get the axle loading down to a value the GE's civil engineer would accept.

Edward Thompson didn't like all 3 on one axle and also had a bit of a bee in his bonnet about all connecting rods being of equal length, hence his Pacifics with their "chin out" stance. Peppercorn also used divided drive but more conventional connecting rods. Neither engineer used 3 cylinders for anything less than a Pacific, two being deemed adequate for freight and mixed traffic types.

Remember the B17s were a bit of an oddity with Sir Nigel drawing up the spec and North British doing a lot of the design work.

Thanks chaps.

52D wrote:Remember the B17s were a bit of an oddity with Sir Nigel drawing up the spec and North British doing a lot of the design work.

Ay up!

The reason North British got the job was simply because Donny couldn't come up with something that met the spec. Neither could NBL until corners were cut, which caused problems with frames and springing throughout the engines' lives and the aforementioned divided drive.

Sithee!

Didnt the B17's also have to fit on existing GE turntables...

Ay up!

Hence the GER tenders which look about as "right" as a Fowler tender does behind a Scot. Or a Jubilee. Or an 8F...