The LNER Encyclopedia

The North Eastern Railway Class S3, classified B16 by the LNER, was a class of 4-6-0 steam locomotive designed for mixed traffic work. It was designed by Vincent Raven and introduced in 1920. The earlier members of this class were fitted with Westinghouse Brakes - all of this equipment was removed during the 1930s.
Seventy S3/B16 locomotives were built between 1919 and 1924. The NER began numbering this class in the range No. 840 through to No. 943 (though not contiguously), those built after late 1922 (from No. 2363 onwards) directly receiving their LNER number. In 1923 all seventy locomotives passed to the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER). Some of the existing members were subsequently rebuilt, as shown below (the initially built locomotives being re-designated class B16/1. Seven were rebuilt by Gresley, becoming class B16/2 and seventeen, by Thompson, designated class B16/3). Under the LNER re-numbering scheme, of 1946, they received numbers 1400-1468. Sixty-nine passed into British Railways ownership in 1948 and they were again re-numbered in the sequence 61400-61478. (Numbers 61400 to 61409 were directly re-numbered as 61469 to 61478).

Including this photo of
61469 with large 'BOCM' headboard near Scarborough 14th June 1959
https://tinyurl.com/o27cembe


One locomotive, No. 925, was badly damaged (along with A4 4469 Sir Ralph Wedgwood) during a German air-raid on York, 29 April 1942 and was subsequently scrapped. The last, of any variety of B16, was scrapped in 1964 and none have been preserved.
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Full collection of new photos start here with
LNER era
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B.R. era
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Neil.

https://tinyurl.com/o27cembe

As a 4-6-0, originally designed, as you say, by Raven for the North Eastern Railway, in 1919, as their S3, I personally think that this was the birth of a truly remarkable locomotive class. Later becoming the LNER B16/1, as some of the class were being subsequently rebuilt, (for rebuilt read improved) by both Gresley, as B16/2 in 1937, and by Thompson, as B16/3 in 1944, some of these loco’s lasted well into the 1960’s, almost to the end of steam – the same as the Thompson’s B1’s, which he designed some twenty years after the original S3’s, in the 1940’s !
As performers, all across the LNER network, on the full cross section of duties, whilst not perfect (the originals certainly lacking some steam engine developments of later years), their versatility and longevity confirm this class as being marvellous, reliable machines – such a shame that none were preserved. Maybe someone might create a new build at some time in the future ...........who knows ?

Great photo’s by the way !

I think it was Dick Hardy's opinion that the S3/B16 would have served the LNER equally well as the K3 did, had it been selected as group standard for a heavy mixed traffic unit for the newly formed group. Above all else, the boiler was a reliable free steaming performer - notice that Thompson did not scheme a modification to the 100A boiler to enable it to fit on the B16's frames - it was only the maintenance burden of the inside valve gear and the nuisance of steam leaks from the outside admission valves that stood against the design. Both these were fixed by the Gresley and Thompson improvements, but it was clearly not essential to have these changes applied across the whole class.

I have added 14 new photos to this collection of Raven B16/1 4-6-0

Including this historical photo of 2 mechanical signal boxes at York still in use but new electric signals up alongside them but not in use yet
61450 passing 2 mechanical S.B.'s at York
https://tinyurl.com/1vkx6955

new photos start here with
61414 withdrawn at Mirfield shed 21st October 1961
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Neil.

https://tinyurl.com/1vkx6955

I have added some new photos to the collection of B16/2 Locos these are Gresley rebuilds of Raven B16/1 4-6-0
Seven were rebuilt by Gresley, becoming class B16/2

Couple of rail tours featured including

61435 & brake vans for 1Z37 The Gresley Society (Brake Van Tour) around Doncaster 18th July 1964
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61435 Hawes R.C.T.S. (West Riding Branch) The North Yorkshireman Rail Tour 25th April 1964
https://tinyurl.com/zl347jex

Full collection starts here with

LNER era
https://tinyurl.com/fxbgnbl1

B.R. era
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Neil.

https://tinyurl.com/5o4rydku

I have added a new collection featuring the rebuilds of Raven’s B16 locos
This collection features the B16/3 a total of 17 Introduced 1944-1949, LNER rebuild of B16/1 by Edward Thompson with three sets of Walschaerts valve gear. Further locos were rebuilt as B16/3 under B.R.
Total of over 55 photos including this colour photo of
61463
https://tinyurl.com/4d7mjvg9
Full collection starts here in the
LNER era
1439 Darlington 14th March 1948
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B.R. era
61417 pilots a D49 near Scarborough 16th July 1960
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Neil.

https://tinyurl.com/4d7mjvg9