LNER Peppercorn Class A2

The London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) Peppercorn Class A2 is a class of steam locomotive designed for express passenger work by Arthur Peppercorn, the chief designer of the LNER after Edward Thompson. All save the first of the 15 built were constructed under British Railways after nationalisation in 1948.

See also LNER Thompson Class A2 and Raven Class A2

LNER Peppercorn Class A2
60533 Happy Knight at Doncaster in 1953.
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Arthur Peppercorn Builder Doncaster Works Build date 1947–1948 Total produced 15
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-2  • UIC 2′C1′ h3 Gauge 4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Leading dia. 3 ft 2 in (0.965 m) Driver dia. 6 ft 2 in (1.880 m) Trailing dia. 3 ft 8 in (1.118 m) Wheelbase 60 ft 6 in (18.44 m) Length (?) Axle load 22 long tons (22.4 t; 24.6 short tons) Loco weight 101 long tons (102.6 t; 113.1 short tons) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 9 long tons (9.1 t; 10.1 short tons) Water cap 5,000 imp gal (23,000 L; 6,000 US gal) Firebox:  • Firegrate area 50 sq ft (4.6 m^2) Boiler pressure 250 psi (1.72 MPa) superheated Heating surface:  • Tubes 1,212 sq ft (112.6 m^2)  • Flues 1,005 sq ft (93.4 m^2)  • Firebox 245 sq ft (22.8 m^2) Superheater: ​  • Heating area 680 sq ft (63 m^2) Cylinders Three Cylinder size 19 in × 26 in (483 mm × 660 mm) Valve gear Walschaerts Valve type 10-inch (254 mm) piston valves
Performance figures Tractive effort 40,430 lbf (179.84 kN)
Career Operators London and North Eastern Railway » British Railways Class LNER: A2 Power class BR: 8P7F Axle load class Route Availability 9 Withdrawn 1962-1966 Disposition One preserved; remainder scrapped

Construction

The first of the Peppercorn A2s No.525 A.H.Peppercorn was outshopped from Doncaster in December 1947 on the eve of nationalisation, and named after the designer of the class, Arthur Peppercorn. The modernity of the design was immediately apparent. The first two of the class were turned out in LNER apple green livery and this colour was also applied to the next 13 engines delivered between January and August 1948. Repainting in British Railways Brunswick green began the following year. Another 20 members of the class were also planned, but were cancelled on 4 May 1948.[1]

LNER 1946 Nos	BR Nos	Year
525	60525	1947
526–531	60526–31	1948
	60532–39	1948

The design was a move towards modernity, with features such as a self-cleaning smoke-box and electric lighting. Initially the Self Cleaning apparatus caused steaming troubles when combined with a single chimney, but changes to the draughting, notably the inclusion of a Double Kylchap Blastpipe brought about the free steaming capability along with the convenience of less frequent smoke-box cleaning. Some A2's retained their single chimneys, though the Double Blastpipe did bring about notable free running on the A2's to which it was fitted, as well as an improvement in fuel economy.

The 50 sq ft grate of the A2's, a nod to the P2 lineage of both the Thompson and Peppercorn boilers, meant the A2's were capable of high power and endurance, however, with the exception of the Aberdeen road, there was little need for this large grate firebox in the postwar era, and as a result, on comparable duties the A2's were heavier on fuel than the Gresley machines which pre-dated them, but for outright power and haulage capability, they were the logical successor to the P2 class, and finally provided the answer the Edinburgh-Aberdeen route required. As a result, they were amongst the last multi-cylindered express steam locomotive classes to remain in service in the UK.

Stock list

Only No. 525 was technically built during LNER ownership, but 526-31 received LNER 1946 numbers. From 60532 onwards, the A2s received BR numbers from new, BR numbers being the LNER 1946 numbers with the addition of 60000. With the exception of no. 525, named after the last Chief Mechanical Engineer of the LNER, they were named after racehorses.

LNER No.	BR No.	Name	Entered Service	Withdrawn
525	60525	A.H. Peppercorn[2]	December 1947	March 1963
526	60526	Sugar Palm	January 1948	November 1962
527	60527	Sun Chariot	January 1948	April 1965
528	60528	Tudor Minstrel	February 1948	June 1966
529	60529	Pearl Diver	February 1948	December 1962
530	60530	Sayajirao	March 1948	November 1966
531	60531	Bahram	March 1948	December 1962
-	60532	Blue Peter	March 1948	December 1966
-	60533	Happy Knight	April 1948	June 1963
-	60534	Irish Elegance	April 1948	December 1962
-	60535	Hornets Beauty	May 1948	June 1965
-	60536	Trimbush	May 1948	December 1962
-	60537	Bachelors Button	June 1948	December 1962
-	60538	Velocity	June 1948	November 1962
-	60539	Bronzino	August 1948	November 1962

Service

Initially the A2s were based at depots the length of the East Coast Main Line, ranging from New England (Peterborough) in the south to Edinburgh's Haymarket. In 1949 five were put to work on the Edinburgh-Dundee-Aberdeen route and proved the ideal engines for its stiff gradients and sharp curvature. The A2s also worked to Perth, Glasgow, Carlisle, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and occasionally more southerly outposts. In 1963 Nos.60525, 60530 and 60535 surprisingly crossed the LNER-LMSR divide and were allocated to a Glasgow depot, Polmadie. They replaced ex-LMS Coronation Class over the ex-Caledonian Railway route to Carlisle.

The swansong of the A2 came in eastern Scotland with many memorable performances over the Aberdeen road during the early 1960s. In 1961 on Stoke bank in Lincolnshire, the location of Mallard's 1938 world speed record, No.60526 Sugar Palm achieved 101 mph (163 km/h). Withdrawal of this fine class of locomotive began in the following year. Neither 60526 nor No.60525 A. H. Peppercorn were preserved.

Withdrawal

Withdrawal occurred between 1962 and 1966. The last three 60528 Tudor Minstrel, 60530 Sayajirao and 60532 Blue Peter were retired in June 1966.

Year	Quantity in service at start of year	Quantity withdrawn	Locomotive numbers	Notes
1962	15	8	60526/29/31/34/36–39
1963	7	2	60525/33
1964	5	0	—
1965	5	2	60527/35
1966	3	3	60528/30/32	No. 60532 preserved.

Preservation

60532 Blue Peter, as preserved.

Main article: LNER Peppercorn Class A2 60532 Blue Peter

One Peppercorn A2, 60532 Blue Peter, has survived.

References

1. Boddy, Neve & Yeadon 1973, p. 183.
2. Boddy, Neve & Yeadon 1973, p. 190.

• Boddy, M. G.; Neve, E.; Yeadon, W. B. (April 1973). Fry, E. V. (ed.). Locomotives of the L.N.E.R., Part 2A: Tender Engines—Classes A1 to A10. Kenilworth: RCTS. ISBN 0-901115-25-8.
• Yeadon, W. B. (1991). Yeadon's Register of LNER Locomotives, Volume 3: Raven, Thompson & Peppercorn Pacifics. Irwell Press.

External links

• The Peppercorn A2 Pacifics LNER encyclopedia
• The North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group