The Robinson Class B8 (GCR Class 1A) 4-6-0s

The B8 was a smaller-wheeled version of Robinson's B2 Sir Sam Fay class, and were known as the "Glen Almonds" after the prototype locomotive Glenalmond. This first locomotive was built in 1913, one year after the B2 was introduced. A year later, construction of ten further B8s commenced. The failures of the parent B2 class should have been evident by this time, so it is suprising that further locomotives of virtually the same design were ordered.

No major rebuilding of the B8s occurred although some of the modifications applied to the B2s were also applied. In 1927, Nos. 5443 and 5004 were fitted with 20in cylinders. No. 5443 was converted back in July 1935, although No. 5004 kept its smaller cylinders until withdrawal. From 1938, No. 5004 was referred to as class B8/2, whilst the other locomotives became B8/1. Boiler changes also followed the same pattern as the B2s, finally settling on a final 28-element superheater design.

The B8s were the first locomotive type to be fitted with Robinson's boiler top-feed. The top-feed was fitted to all of the B8s except for No. 4 Glenalmond. Between Grouping in 1923 and the mid-1930s, the top-feeds were gradually removed following LNER policy.

The B8s were mainly used on goods trains, as well as some slow passenger and excursion services. Initial allocations were to Gorton, Neasden, and Immingham. By 1923, five were allocated to Annesley. With the LNER's construction of further B7s in 1923, the B8s were displaced from the GC section to March to help with the GE Section's shortage of mixed traffic locomotives. The B8's height restriction posed a major problem, and they were returned to the GC Section by the end of 1926.

During the Second World War, the B8s were used on a variety of traffic including heavy goods services and troop trains. They also wandered far and wide, and Glenalmond was sighted in Edinburgh on at least one occasion.

As is to be expected from the similarity of designs, the B8s duplicated the faults of the B2 Sir Sam Fay class. However, they survived until 1947 when rapid withdrawals of all of the GCR 4-6-0 types started. The last B8 was withdrawn in 1949.

Technical Details

The B8s entered LNER ownership with an intermediate superheater design with 24 elements and 24 flues. The superheater and boiler heating data below, is for the final superheater design fitted to the B8s.

Cylinders:	(2x inside)	21.5x26in.
Motion:	Gear:	Stephenson
	Valves:	10in piston
Boiler:	Max. Diameter:	5ft 6in
	Pressure:	180psi
	Diagram No.:	13
Heating Surface:	Total:	2387 sq.ft.
	Firebox:	163 sq.ft.
	Tubes:	1203 sq.ft. (116x 2.25in dia)
	Superheater:	343 sq.ft. (28x 1.06in dia)
	Flues:	678 sq.ft. (28x 5.25in dia)
Grate Area:		26 sq.ft.
Wheels:	Leading:	3ft 6in
	Coupled:	5ft 7in
	Tender:	4ft 4in
Tractive Effort:	(@ 85%)	19,672lb
Wheelbase:	Total:	52ft 9.5in
	Engine:	28ft 3in
	Tender:	13ft 0in
Weight (full):	Total:	122 tons 13cwt
	Engine:	75 tons 7cwt
	Tender:	48 tons 6cwt
Max. Axle Load:		19 tons 10cwt

Preservation

The last B8 was scrapped in 1949, and none of the B8s survived into preservation.

Models

An O gauge (7mm scale) kit of the B8 is available from Gladiator.

Locomotives

Four of the eleven B8s had names:

LNER No.	1946 No.	BR No.	Build date	Disposal Date	Name
5004	1349	-	6/1913	11/1947	Glenalmond
5439	1350	-	7/1914	8/1947	Sutton Nelthorpe
5446	1357	(61357)	11/1914	4/1949	Earl Roberts of Kandahar
5279	1358	(61358)	12/1914	8/1948	Earl Kitchener of Khartoum

The five B8s that entered BR ownership were allocated BR numbers, but were withdrawn before receiving them.

Glenalmond was named after the Scottish home of the GCR's chairman, Sir Alexander Henderson. Sutton Nelthorpe was named after a GCR director. The other two named B8s were named after World War 1 military leaders. Earl Roberts was famous from the Boer War, but travelled to France to encourage the troops after the Mons retreat.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to the Malcolm Peirson for the above photograph of B8 No. 5446 Earl Roberts of Kandahar.