LNER Class A8

A8 4-6-2T No. 69873 at Middlesbrough Locomotive Depot 1954

Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Designer	Vincent Raven and Nigel Gresley
Build date	1931-1936
Total produced	45

Specifications
Configuration	4-6-2ST
Leading dia.	3 ft 1 ¹⁄₄ in (0.946 m)
Driver dia.	5 ft 9 in (1.753 m)
Trailing dia.	3 ft 9 in (1.143 m)
Wheelbase	33 ft 3 in (10.13 m)
Length	42 ft 6 in (12.95 m)
Axle load	17.8 long tons (18.1 t; 19.9 short tons)
Loco weight	86.8 long tons (88.2 t; 97.2 short tons)
Fuel capacity	4 long tons (4.1 t; 4.5 short tons)
Water cap	2,000 imp gal (9,100 l; 2,400 US gal)
Firebox: • Firegrate area	23 sq ft (2.1 m²)
Boiler	4 ft 9 in (1.45 m)
Boiler pressure	175 psi (1.21 MPa)
Heating surface	1,084.6 sq ft (100.76 m²)
• Tubes	680 sq ft (63 m²)
• Flues	280.6 sq ft (26.07 m²)
• Firebox	124 sq ft (11.5 m²)
Superheater:
• Heating area	191.134 sq ft (17.757 m²)
Cylinders	3
Cylinder size	16 ¹⁄₂ in × 26 in (419 mm × 660 mm)
Valve gear	Stephenson

Performance figures
Tractive effort	22,940 lbf (102.0 kN)

Career
Operators	London and North Eastern Railway, British Railways
Retired	1957-1960
Disposition	All scrapped

The London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) Class A8 was a type of 4-6-2 T steam locomotive, designed by both Vincent Raven and Nigel Gresley. They were rebuilt from the LNER Class H1, a 4-4-4 T. In 1931, H1 No. 2162 was rebuilt as a 4-6-2T and given the A8 classification.

Overview

After a series of trials throughout the North East Area, all of the remaining H1s were rebuilt as A8 4-6-2Ts between 1933 and 1936. During the process of rebuilding, the boiler was modified to include a Robinson-type superheater rather than the original Schmidt superheater. In 1935, further modifications resulted in the A8 boiler being interchangeable with the A6, A7, A8, H1, and T1 classes.

Service

The rebuilt A8s could easily work the heavy suburban traffic and long distance coastal trains on which they were put to work. They were also welcome replacements for the ageing G5 0-4-4Ts which had been working these services. Allocations of the 45 locomotives were split between the North East / Newcastle area, the Yorkshire Coast Whitby and Scarborough, Hull, and Leeds (Neville Hill).

Technical details

Weight: 86 long tons 18 cwt (194,700 lb or 88.3 t)
Boiler pressure: 175 lbf/in² (1.21 MPa), superheated
Cylinders: three, 16.5 by 26 in (419 by 660 mm)
Driving wheels: 5 ft 9 in (1.753 m)
Tractive effort: 22,940 lbf (102.0 kN)
Number sequence in (1957/57) was from 69850 to 69894.

Withdrawal

Diesel railcars were rapidly introduced during the 1950s, and the A8s quickly became surplus to requirements. Withdrawals started in 1957, and the A8 was extinct by the end of 1960.

References

Willie Yeadon, Yeadon's Register of LNER Locomotives Vol. 21: Class A5 to A8, H1, H2, L1(L3), L2, M1 and M2 tank engines. Booklaw/Railbus, 2001

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to LNER Class A8.

Information about the A8

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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