GER Class S69

GER Class S69
LNER Class B12

B12/4 4-6-0 No. 61504 at Keith Locomotive Depot 1948

Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Designer	S. D. Holden
Builder	Stratford Works (51), Wm. Beardmore & Co. (20), Beyer, Peacock & Co. (10)
Serial number	WB 135–154, BP 6487–6496
Build date	1911–1928
Total produced	81

Specifications
Configuration	4-6-0
UIC class	2′C h2t
Gauge	4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia.	3 ft 3 in (0.991 m)
Driver dia.	6 ft 6 in (1.981 m)
Wheelbase	48 ft 3 in (14.71 m)
Length	57 ft 7 in (17.55 m) over buffers
Adhesive weight	B12/1&2: 43 long tons 8 cwt (97,200 lb or 44.1 t) B12/3: 48 long tons 2 cwt (107,700 lb or 48.9 t)
Loco weight	B12/1&2: 62 long tons 19.5 cwt (141,100 lb or 64 t) B12/3: 69 long tons 5 cwt (155,100 lb or 70.4 t)
Tender weight	38 long tons 6 cwt (85,800 lb or 38.9 t)
Fuel type	Coal
Fuel capacity	4 long tons 0 cwt (9,000 lb or 4.1 t)
Water cap	3,700 imp gal (16,800 l; 4,440 US gal)
Firebox: • Firegrate area	26.5 sq ft (2.46 m²)
Boiler pressure	180 psi (1.24 MPa)
Heating surface	1,919 sq ft (178.3 m²)
• Firebox	154 sq ft (14.3 m²)
Cylinders	Two, inside
Cylinder size	20 in × 28 in (510 mm × 710 mm)

Performance figures
Tractive effort	21,969 lbf (97.72 kN)

Career
Operators	Great Eastern Railway → London and North Eastern Railway → British Railways
Class	GER: S69, LNER: B12
Power class	BR: 4P3F
Axle load class	LNER/BR: RA 4 (B12/3), RA 3 (remainder)
Withdrawn	1913 (1), 1945–1961
Disposition	One preserved, remainder scrapped

The Great Eastern Railway (GER) Class S69, also known as 1500 Class, and later classified B12 by the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) is a class of 4-6-0 steam locomotive designed to haul express passenger trains from London Liverpool Street station along the Great Eastern Main Line.^[1] Originally they were designed by S. D. Holden, but were much rebuilt, resulting in several subclasses.

Seventy-one S69 locomotives were built by the GER between 1911 and 1921 and numbered 1500–1570. A further 10 locomotives were built by Beyer, Peacock & Co for the LNER in 1928 and numbered 8571–8580.^[2] From 1948 the British Railways numbers were 61500–61580 (with gaps).

Background

At the time of their introduction, the "Claud Hamilton" 4-4-0s were becoming outclassed on the heaviest express. Although an enlarged 4-4-0 design was mooted,^[3] it was realised that any such design would have too high an axle load for the tracks of the Great Eastern Railway, which had a relatively low restriction. Another design constraint was the short turntables used at the time. This meant that a 4-6-0 design was decided upon, although the design was relatively short compared to similar designs introduced at the same time.

Table of orders and numbers^[4]
Year	Order	Manufacturer	Quantity	GER Nos.	LNER Nos.	LNER 1944 Nos.	Notes
1911–12	S69	Stratford Works	5	1500–1504	8500–8504	1500–1504
1913	A73	Stratford Works	10	1505–1514	8505, —, 8507–8514	1505, —, 1507–1514	1506 withdrawn after accident at Colchester, 12 July 1913
1913	E75	Stratford Works	5	1515–1519	8515–8519	1515–1519
1914	R75	Stratford Works	10	1520–1529	8520–8529	1520–1529
1914–15	M77	Stratford Works	6	1530–1535	8530–8535	1530–1535
1915–17	B78	Stratford Works	5	1536–1540	8536–8540	1536–1540
1920–21	—	Wm. Beardmore & Co. 135–154	20	1541–1560	8541–8560	1541–1560
1920	H82	Stratford Works	10	1561–1570	8561–8570	1561–1570
1928	—	Beyer, Peacock & Co. 6487–6496	10	—	8571–8580	1571–1580

Seventy were still in service at the 1923 grouping, the LNER adding 7000 to the numbers of nearly all the ex-Great Eastern locomotives, including the Class S69 locomotives. A further ten were ordered in 1928 to ease a power shortage caused by the stalled development on a new class of 4-6-0 locomotives, and the cancellation of the planned suburban 2-6-4T tank locomotive due to the adverse press publicity caused by the Sevenoaks derailment.^[5]

All the B12 locomotives were fitted with vacuum ejectors between 1924 and 1929 (the 1928 batch had them from new). Fifty-five locomotives were fitted with ACFI feedwater heaters between 1927 and 1934, but these were removed between 1934 and 1942. The first substantive change was the fitting of Lenz poppet valves to the 1928 batch (from new), and six of the ex-GE locomotives (8516/19/25/32/33/40).^[6] These locomotives were then classified as class B12/2. The poppet valves were not a great success and they all reverted to piston valve engines between 1931 and 1934.

As newer power became available, the locomotives’ low axleload made them ideal candidates for transfers elsewhere. consequently, between 1931 and 1942, twenty-five locomotives were transferred to Scotland for use on the former Great North of Scotland Railway lines.

B12/3 No. 61580 at Grantham 28 March 1956.

Starting in 1932, a programme of rebuilding the B12 locomotives with larger diameter boilers. The Diagram 99A boilers utilised were 5-foot-6-inch (1,676 mm) diameter, compared with the 5-foot-1 ¹⁄₈-inch (1,553 mm) diameter originals. These rebuilt locomotives were classified as class B12/3, and as they had a higher axleload, none of the Scottish-allocated locomotives were included. The last to be rebuilt was 8549 in 1944, leaving 8534 as the last English B12/1; but it was withdrawn the following year without being rebuilt.

As the Scottish locomotive also required new boilers, a new design was started in 1941, based on the old design but with a round-topped firebox and other detail changes. Thirty of these Diagram 25A boilers were manufactured at Doncaster and Stratford between 1942 and 1946. Nine were sent to Inverurie Works for fitting to B12 locomotives, the remainder went to Stratford for fitting to class J20 locomotives. The B12 locomotives fitted with the Diagram 25A boiler (1500/04/05/07/08/11/24/26) were classified as class B12/4.

In the 1942 LNER renumbering scheme, the class was allocated the range 7415–7494, but only eleven (7426/37/49/67/70/72/76/79/82/88/91) were renumbered before the scheme was abandoned due to the war. In the 1946 scheme, the class was allocated the 1500–1580 block, with gaps for the two withdrawn locomotives.

At nationalisation in 1948, seventy-two locomotives passed to British Railways, who renumbered them 61500–61580. Withdrawals continued, and all were gone by then end of 1961.

Table of withdrawals^[6]
Year	Quantity in service at start of year	Quantity withdrawn	Locomotive numbers	Notes
1945	80	1	8534	Last English B12/1
1946	79	1	1548	Scottish
1947	78	6	1518/22/27/31/44/51	1531/51 Scottish
1948	72	3	1500/09/17	1500 Scottish
1949	69	2	1510, 61536	61536 Scottish
1950	67	2	61504, 61529	Both Scottish
1951	65	5	61503/15/25/26/59	61503/26 Scottish
1952	60	5	61505/11/21/50/60	All Scottish
1953	55	9	61501/07/08/13/24/28/32/43/63	All Scottish; last B12/4s
1954	46	2	61502, 61539	Last B12/1s, last Scottish B12s
1955	44	2	61523, 61562
1957	42	17	61512/19/20/37/38/40/41/45/50/55–57/65/69/74/78/79
1958	25	9	61516/42/47/53/54/61/64/67/70
1959	16	15	61514/30/33/35/46/49/58/66/68/71/73/75–77/80
1961	1	1	61572	Preserved

Accidents and incidents

On 12 July 1913, locomotive No. 1506 was hauling an express passenger train which collided with a light engine at Colchester, Essex due to a signalman's error. Three people were killed and fourteen were injured. The brand new locomotive was so severely damaged that only its boiler and tender were salvaged.^[7]
On 17 January 1931, locomotive No. 8578 was hauling a newspaper train that departed from Thorpe-le-Soken station, Essex against signals. It was in collision with a light engine at Great Holland. Two people were killed and two were seriously injured.^[8]
On 10 February 1941, locomotive No. 8556 was hauling a passenger train that overran signals and was in a rear-end collision between Harold Wood and Brentwood, Essex. Seven people were killed and seventeen were seriously injured.^[9]
On 2 January 1947, locomotive No. 1565 was hauling a passenger train that was run into by an express passenger train at Gidea Park, Essex. The express had overrun signals. Seven people were killed, 45 were hospitalised.^[10]

Preservation & Modelling

One B12/3, LNER number 8572 (BR 61572), has survived to preservation on the North Norfolk Railway, the only British inside cylinder 4-6-0 to be preserved.

A model of the B12 was brought out in OO gauge by Tri-ang Railways (now Hornby) in 1963. Models produced since 1970 feature a steam "chuff" effect, where in the tender as the wheels turn, a piece of sandpaper is scraped by a piece of metal fixed to one axle. In 2016/16 hornby re-released the model in a super detail form without the "chuff" effect. these models are available in LNER apple green and BR lined black with early and late crests

References

Notes

↑ Phillips 1982, p. 3
↑ "S69 Class 4-6-0 1911-1921, 1928". Great Eastern Railway Society. Retrieved 2008-04-16.
↑ Hughes 1988, p. 56
↑ Aldrich 1969, p. 55
↑ Boddy et al. 1975, p. 51.
1 2 Boddy et al. 1975, pp. 65–66.
↑ Trevena 1981, p. 25
↑ Vaughan 1989, pp. 69-73.
↑ Earnshaw 1991, p. 28
↑ Earnshaw 1991, p. 30

Bibliography

Aldrich, C. Langley (1969). The Locomotives of the Great Eastern Railway 1862–1962 (7th ed.). Wickford, Essex: C. Langley Aldrich. OCLC 30278831.
Baxter, Bertram (2012). Baxter, David; Mitchell, Peter, eds. British Locomotive Catalogue 1825–1923, Volume 6: Great Eastern Railway, North British Railway, Great North of Scotland Railway, Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway, remaining companies in the LNER group. Southampton: Kestrel Railway Books. pp. 97–101. ISBN 978-1-905505-26-5.
Boddy, M. G.; Brown, W. A.; Fry, E. V.; Hennigan, W.; Hoole, Ken; Manners, F.; Neve, E.; Platt, E. N. T.; Proud, P.; Yeadon, W. B. (March 1975). Fry, E. V., ed. Locomotives of the L.N.E.R., Part 2B: Tender Engines—Classes B1 to B19. Lincoln: RCTS. ISBN 0-901115-73-8.
Earnshaw, Alan (1991). Trains in Trouble: Vol. 7. Penryn: Atlantic Books. ISBN 0-906899-50-8.
Hughes, Geoffery (1988). LNER 4-6-0s At Work. Book Law Publications. ISBN 1-901945-06-5.
Phillips, Charles (1982). Essex Steam. King's Lynn: Becknell Books. ISBN 0-907087-10-8.
Trevena, Arthur (1981). Trains in Trouble: Vol. 2. Redruth: Atlantic Books. ISBN 0-906899-03-6.
Vaughan, Adrian (1989). Obstruction Danger. Wellingborough: Patrick Stephens Limited. ISBN 1-85260-055-1.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to GER Class S69 / LNER Class B12.

The S.D. Holden B12 (GER Class S69 / "1500"s) 4-6-0s — LNER Encyclopedia

Great Eastern Railway locomotives

R. Sinclair (1862–1866)	Z Y X W V

S. W. Johnson (1866–1876)	No. 1 125 201 202 417 204 109 477 T7 200 134 C8

Wm. Adams (1873–1878)	209 61 K9 230 527

M. Bromley (1878–1881)	E10 245 140 M12 552

T. W. Worsdell (1881–1885)	G14 Y14 G15 M15 G16

J. Holden (1885–1907)	T18 T19 127 E22 R24 D27 T26 N31 C32 P43 S44 S46 F48 C53 A55 D56 S56 G58

S. D. Holden (1907–1912)	Y65 G69 S69 E72

A. J. Hill (1912–1922)	C72 B74 L77 T77 D81 H88

London and North Eastern Railway locomotives

Pre-grouping railway designs:

Great Central:	A5 B1/B18 B2/B19 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8 B9 C4 C5 C13 C14 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 E2 E3 E8 F1 F2 G3 J8 J9 J10 J11 J12 J13 J58 J59 J60 J61 J62 J63 L1/L3 M1 N4 N5 N6 O4 O5 Q4 S1 X4 Y2

Great Eastern:	B12 D13 D14 D15 D16 E4 F3 F4 F5 F6 F7 G4 J14 J15 J16 J17 J18 J19 J20 J65 J66 J67 J68 J69 J70 N7 Y4 Y5 Y6 Z4/J92

Great North of Scotland:	D38 D39 D40 D41 D42 D43 D44 D45 D46 D47 D48 G10 J90 J91 Z4 Z5

Great Northern:	A1 C1 C2 C12 D1 D2 D3 D4 E1 G1 G2 J1 J2 J3 J4 J5 J6 J7 J50 J51 J52 J53 J54 J55 J56 J57 K1 K2 K3 N1 N2 O1 O2 Q1 Q2 Q3 R1

North British:	C10 C11 C15 C16 D25 D26 D27 D28 D29 D30 D31 D32 D33 D34 D35 D36 D50 D51 E7 G7 G8 G9 J31 J32 J33 J34 J35 J36 J37 J81 J82 J83 J84 J85 J86 J88 N14 N15 Y9 Y10

North Eastern:	A2 A6 A7 B13 B14 B15 B16 C6 C7 C8 D17/1 D17/2 D18 D19 D20 D21 D22 D23 E5 E6 F8 G5 G6 H1 J21 J22 J24 J25 J26 J27 J71 J72 J73 J74 J76 J77 J78 J79 N8 N9 N10 Q5 Q6 Q7 T1 X1 X2 X3 Y7 Y8 EB1 EE1 EF1 ES1

North Eastern (ex Hull & Barnsley)	D24 J23 J28 J75 J80 N11 N12 N13 Q10

LNER designs:

Gresley (1923–1941):	A1 A3 A4 A8 B17 D49 J38 J39 J50 K4 P1 P2 U1 V1 V2 V3 V4 W1 EM1

Thompson (1941–1946):	A1 A2/1 A2/2 A2/3 B1 B2 K1 K5 L1 O1 Q1

Peppercorn (1946–1947):	A1 A2 K1

Other designs:

Proposed designs:

P10 2-8-2T (Nov 1929)
B 4-6-0 (Nov 1936)
? 4-8-2 (1939)
Q 0-8-0 (June 1930)
D 4-4-0 (1943)
? 4-8-4 (Feb 1946)
? 4-8-2 (Feb 1946)
K 2-6-0 (Aug 1947)

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