GCR Class 11F

Summary

The Great Central Railway Class 11F or Improved Director Class is a class of 4-4-0 steam locomotive designed by John G. Robinson for passenger work. The LNER classified them as Class D11 in 1923. They were based on the earlier GCR Class 11E "Director" class (LNER D10).

GCR Class 11F
LNER Class D11
GCR Class 11F 62690 (LNER D11/2 No. 6397) The Lady of the Lake at Haymarket MPD, Edinburgh, in 1958
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerJohn G. Robinson
Builder
Build date1919–1924
Total produced35
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte4-4-0
 • UIC2′B h2
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia.3 ft 6 in (1.067 m)
Driver dia.6 ft 9 in (2.057 m)
Length56 ft 5.5 in (17.209 m)
Loco weight61.15 long tons (62.13 t; 68.49 short tons)
Tender weight48.30 long tons (49.08 t; 54.10 short tons)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity6 long tons 0 cwt (13,400 lb or 6.1 t)
Water cap.4,000 imp gal (18,000 L; 4,800 US gal)
Firebox:
 • Grate area26.5 sq ft (2.46 m2)
Boiler:
 • Diameter5 ft 0.5 in (1,537 mm) to 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)
Boiler pressure180 psi (1.24 MPa)
Heating surface:
 • Firebox155 sq ft (14.4 m2)[1]
 • Tubes972 sq ft (90.3 m2)[1]
 • Flues416 sq ft (38.6 m2)[1]
 • Total surface1,543 sq ft (143.3 m2)[1]
Superheater:
 • Heating area209 sq ft (19.4 m2)
CylindersTwo, inside
Cylinder size20 in × 26 in (508 mm × 660 mm)
Valve gearStephenson
Valve type10 inches (254 mm) piston valves
Performance figures
Tractive effort19,645 lbf (87.4 kN)
Career
Operators
Class
  • GCR: 11F
  • LNER: D11/1, D11/2
Power classBR: 3P2F
Withdrawn1958–1962
DispositionOne preserved, remainder scrapped

There were two subclasses: D11/1 were the original GCR engines and D11/2 were those built in 1924 by the LNER to a reduced loading gauge with smaller boiler mountings for hauling passenger trains in Scotland.[2]

Operational career edit

The 11F Class was initially used on passenger work on the GCR system, including fast expresses from Sheffield Victoria to London Marylebone. Later in their careers, they were used on short-distance passenger trains. On lines of the Cheshire Lines Committee during the late 1940s and early 1950s, they hauled expresses between Manchester Central and Liverpool Central; also semi-fast trains from Manchester Central via Northwich to Chester Northgate.

Their 6 ft 9 inches driving wheels made them fast locos, but consequently unsuitable for hauling freight trains. The eleven original 11F locos were withdrawn during 1959 and 1960 as diesel multiple units took over operation of the shorter distance passenger trains.

Preservation edit

 
Barrow Hill in March 2011

The sixth member of the class, No. 506 Butler-Henderson, was withdrawn from use by British Railways during 1960. It has been preserved as part of the UK National Collection and currently wears restored GCR colours. No. 506 is the only surviving GCR passenger locomotive.

The locomotive operated passenger trains on the preserved Great Central Railway in Leicestershire during the late 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s but is now out of running order. The locomotive was placed on long-term loan for static display at Barrow Hill Engine Shed, near Chesterfield, in 2005, where she currently resides.[3]

Stock list edit

GCR/LNER stock list
GCR No. Name Date built LNER No. 1946
LNER No.
Date withdrawn Notes
501 Mons September 1922 5501 2665 May 1959
502 Zeebrugge October 1922 5502 2666 December 1960
503 Somme November 1922 5503 2667 August 1960
504 Jutland November 1922 5504 2668 November 1960
505 Ypres December 1922 5505 2669 August 1960
506 Butler-Henderson December 1919 5506 2660 November 1960 Preserved
507 Gerard Powys Dewhurst February 1920 5507 2661 November 1960
508 Prince of Wales March 1920 5508 2662 August 1960
509 Prince Albert March 1920 5509 2663 May 1960
510 Princess Mary May 1920 5510 2664 August 1960
511 Marne December 1922 5511 2670 November 1960
1378 Bailie MacWheeble July 1924 6378 2671 May 1961
1379 Baron of Bradwardine August 1924 6379 2672 September 1961
1380 Evan Dhu August 1924 6380 2673 July 1959
1381 Flora MacIvor August 1924 6381 2674 July 1961
1382 Colonel Gardiner August 1924 6382 2675 October 1959
1383 Jonathan Oldbuck August 1924 6383 2676 October 1959
1384 Edie Ochiltree September 1924 6384 2677 August 1959
1385 Luckie Mucklebackit September 1924 6385 2678 March 1959
1386 Lord Glenallan October 1924 6386 2679 September 1958 First one to be withdrawn
1387 Lucy Ashton October 1924 6387 2680 September 1961
1388 Captain Craigengelt October 1924 6388 2681 July 1961
1389 Haystoun of Bucklaw October 1924 6389 2682 September 1961
1390 Hobbie Elliott October 1924 6390 2683 September 1958
1391 Wizard of the Moor October 1924 6391 2684 October 1959
1392 Malcolm Graeme October 1924 6392 2685 January 1962 Last one to be withdrawn
1393 The Fiery Cross October 1924 6393 2686 July 1961
1394 Lord James of Douglas October 1924 6394 2687 August 1961
1395 Ellen Douglas November 1924 6395 2688 July 1961
1396 Maid of Lorn November 1924 6396 2689 July 1961
1397 The Lady of the Lake November 1924 6397 2690 July 1961
1398 Laird of Balmawhapple November 1924 6398 2691 November 1961
1399 Allan-Bane November 1924 6399 2692 November 1959
1400 Roderick Dhu November 1924 6400 2693 November 1961
1401 James Fitzjames November 1924 6401 2694 November 1959

Models edit

Bachmann Branchline produces models of the D11 in other Great Central liveries, LNER liveries and British Railway liveries, including a NRM exclusive model of 'Butler Henderson'.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Boddy et al. 1981, p. 86.
  2. ^ Marsden, Richard. "The Robinson Class D11 (GCR Class 11F) 'Improved Director' 4-4-0 Locomotives". www.lner.info. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  3. ^ "Director class "Butler Henderson", Great Central Railway". York: The Board of Trustees of the National Railway Museum. 6 February 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  4. ^ "Butler Henderson Arrives!". Hornby Magazine. 8 March 2013.
  • Boddy, M.G.; Brown, W.A.; Hennigan, W.; Neve, E.; Platt, E.N.T.; Russell, O.; Yeadon, W.B. (January 1981). Fry, E.V. (ed.). Locomotives of the L.N.E.R., part 3B: Tender Engines - Classes D1 to D12. Kenilworth: RCTS. ISBN 0-901115-46-0.

External links edit

  • LNER encyclopedia
  • Railuk database D11/1
  • Railuk database D11/2
  • Great Central Railway page on 506