The LNER Encyclopedia

I am making a report for uni relating to Mallard's record run, and I need information on the following:
-the type of coal used
-how much coal a shovel could load
-the materials used in the axels and bearings of Mallard
If possible, please provide a source.

G'Day Gents

I think you'll find that Mallard use 'Yorkshire Hard Coal' for her run.

As for the weight of coal on a shovel, you be best to go to you local Preserved Railway, and talk to the crew of a steam engine, maybe also taking a mobile spring type weighing machine ( the type for weighing fish)

No idea what types of steel used in the bearings and axles.

manna

The specifications for the metals in the axles and axle bearings are probably these, taken from a Railway Museum HMSO publication ISBN 011 290438 6 relating to the construction of the near contemporary V2 class:
Plain axles: Steel to LNER specification no 2 February 1930.
Built up crank axles: Steel to LNER specification no 42 November1930.

Composition of the bronze and whitemetal for axle bearings.
Bronze: Copper 86.25%, Tin 13.25%, 'Phosphor bronze' 0.5%.
Whitemetal: Locomotive white bronze "C" quality from "The Anti-Attrition Metal Company".

As you can see, all of these are proprietary specifications, there is no reference to any national or international standards. If more information on the content of these specifications is required, the best place to start is by contacting the Railway Museum at York.

My opinion on the coal on the firing shovel in normal running operation, around 5 kg, because it depended on the size of the coal at the shovelling plate, and the fireman did not want to spill coal on the cab floor, so would not overload the shovel. The firing practise on LNER wide firebox locos was referred to as 'little and often' as the fireman was attempting to maintain a thin fire across the whole grate, which required constant attention to placement of the coal where it was required. (The firing rate was about 20kg per mile on the fastest services, so running an A4 non-stop between London and Edinburgh required 8 metric tons of coal, look at how they had plenty on the tender in the video. You can see the fireman going to the tender very frequently in some of the side-on views)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnVGRZ3Vvl0

"Yorkshire Hard Coal" would appear to be as "Top Hards Seam", also known as Barnsley Seam

From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_seam ... _Coalfield

This was the most important seam in the coal field, and 50% of the coalfield's output came from this seam. It was generally 3 m thick. The seams consistency varied from top to bottom. The upper portion was a bright soft coal, the middle portion a hard dull coal known as the "hards" and the lower portion another band of bright soft coal. The hards were used in locomotives and steam ships. The soft coals were mixed with other coals for coke making.

And the British Geological Survey have a handy lexicon entry, putting it into an international 21st century context:

https://data.bgs.ac.uk/id/Lexicon/NamedRockUnit/THC

It is important to remember that by the time of the construction of the A4 Pacifics, Doncaster had been building locomotives
since around 1868, and had established good relationships between the 3 CME's over that period, Stirling, Ivatt and Gresley,
but particularly Ivatt and Gresley went to visit them frequently.

Over that period, a specification that was not necessarily written in British Standards was established that was "to the satisfaction
of the CME" There is no real definition. Ivatt always asked for axles "to my satisfaction" which had come about because of his
discussions with the technical people at the various suppliers. It is well known that during the late 19th century, many of the
Directors of most railways were involved in other engineering supply companies, and tried to get their preferred supplier
put forward, but Ivatt was allowed by the Chairman to over ride those demands.

As far as the axle boxes, the had in the early 1900's a problem with hot axle boxes, and began to use a Midland Standard Whitemetal
and Midland Mixture special lubricant and that continued into the LNER period.

Since you are doing a university project, you might be advised to try and obtain a book published by Haynes Publishing in the UK
about Flying Scotsman ISBN 10 :1844257061 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1844257065. It is certainly advertised on Amazon UK, and will give you
a better understanding of the building of Gresley Pacifics. The A4 was an up rated A3 with the long travel valve gear and the
Streamlined bodywork.
Hope all of this will help you go forward with your project

Paul