NSR New L Class

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

NSR New L Class
North Stafford 0-6-2.jpg
NSR New L class No. 2 at National Railway Museum Shildon.
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerJohn Henry Adams
BuilderNSR Stoke works
Build date1908–1923
Total produced28
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte0-6-2T
 • UICC1
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Driver dia.5 ft 0 in (1,524 mm)
Trailing dia.4 ft 0 in (1,219 mm)
Wheelbase23 ft 0 in (7.01 m)
Length35 ft 0 in (10.67 m)
Height12 ft 10 in (3.91 m)
Loco weight59 long tons 15 cwt (133,800 lb or 60.7 t) full
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity3 long tons 10 cwt (7,800 lb or 3.6 t)
Water cap.1,700 imp gal (7,700 l; 2,000 US gal)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area
17.8 sq ft (1.65 m2)
Boiler pressure175 psi (1.21 MPa)
Heating surface:
 • Tubes and flues
1,011.7 sq ft (93.99 m2)
 • Firebox108.3 sq ft (10.06 m2)
Superheater:
 • Heating area261 sq ft (24.2 m2)
CylindersTwo, inside
Cylinder size18+12 in × 26 in (470 mm × 660 mm)
Career
OperatorsNorth Staffordshire Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
ClassNSR: New L Class
Power class3F
Number in class28
RetiredFebruary 1928 – October 1937
Disposition27 scrapped, 1 survivor

The North Staffordshire Railway (NSR) New L Class was a class of 0-6-2T steam locomotive designed by John H. Adams, third son of William Adams. They were designed as a development as the previous , adding a boiler common to the M Class and differed from the L Class with, amongst other things higher bunker sides and new cab roofs,[1] and the abandonment of the cast safety valve cover.[2] 28 were built between 1908 and 1923,[3] with the final four constructed under the auspices of the newly formed LMS with the whole class withdrawn by the end of 1937.[4] There is one survivor.

The class were built at the NSR's Stoke works in four batches with a number of differences in weight, grate area and heating surfaces. Those built in 1913 had saturated Belpaire boilers identical to those on the H1 Class of 0-6-0s. The final batch had slightly fewer boiler tubes and did not have condensers nor lagging on the side tanks. in 1921 numbers 18 and 93 were experimentally converted to oil burning.[4]

Although built primarily as a goods tank engine, it proved its worth on passenger trains as well and became an ideal mixed traffic tank locomotive. After grouping they travelled much further than any other NSR class, and thus became one of the most well known from the NSR.[4]

All entered the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) stock upon formation in 1923, although with the LMS policy of standardisation, many NSR classes were prime targets for early scrapping due to the small size of the classes. As a result, all were withdrawn by the end of 1937. One was sold to the Longmoor Military Railway whilst five more were sold to Manchester Collieries Ltd.[4] The rest were scrapped.

the Livery of the 'New L' Class was the NSR's Madder lake with straw lining, and NORTH STAFFORD lettering on the side tanks along with the company crest. the number appeared on the bunker. In LMS days some members of the class merely had the North Staffordshire lettering removed and the first few through the works received their new LMS number in NSR style. However, soon enough they received the standard plain black freight livery with large numerals on the side tanks. Those sold to Manchester Collieries carried their standard livery of plain black with red lining.

NSR no. 2 was one of the five "New L" locos sold to Manchester Collieries in Walkden by the LMS in October 1937 under its LMS identity of 2271. The loco was named "Princess" in 1938, and was eventually rebuilt with a new saturated boiler plus new tanks, bunker and cylinders in 1946. In 1960 the locomotive was repainted as NSR No 2 for the "North Staffordshire Railway Centenary" exhibition in Stoke-on-Trent. Following the loco's appearance at this rail event it kept its identity as NSR no. 2 upon its return to industrial service at Walkden.

In 1964 the boiler, tanks and cab from "Princess" were fitted onto the chassis of another former NSR New L loco (NSR no. 72 built in 1920 / LMS no. 2262 -subsequently named "Sir Robert" at Walkden). The NSR no. 2 identity was maintained, however, and upon the end of service at Walkden the loco was saved by Staffordshire County Council and placed on display at their Shugborough Hall museum.

In 1984 it was moved to Chatterley Whitfield Mining museum,[4] for storage out of public view, before being donated to the National collection as the final surviving NSR Steam Locomotive. With the mining museum closing in 1993, no. 2 was placed on display at the Churnet Valley Railway new Cheddleton museum where investigation work was made to restore the locomotive to service. A shortage of funds and lack of technical ability at the time saw the locomotive eventually leave Cheddleton, and it was to eventually find its way onto display at NRM Shildon.[5] In April 2016 it was delisted from the national collection, and donated to the Foxfield Railway near Stoke on Trent for display and eventual overhaul which is where it currently resides.

There has been a high level of debate over no.2 true identity, as traditionally locomotives took their numbers from their frames which would make the surviving loco NSR no. 72. As 'New L' class all had superheated boilers, the fact the loco survives with a saturated boiler takes the discussion much further as to whether it can even be classed as a NSR loco.[6]

No. 2 original chassis received a new boiler at Walkden, plus the bunker and tanks from NSR no. 69 (named "King Gearge VI" at Walkden) in 1965, before this locomotive itself was scrapped in 1969 despite attempts to preserve it.


List of Locomotives[]

NSR number Built LMS number Withdrawn Notes
98 Dec 1908 2246 May 1936
99 Dec 1908 2247 Feb 1928
156 Nov 1908 2248 Jun 1937
157 Nov 1908 2249 Mar 1936
93 Jun 1909 2250 Jul 1934 Experimentally converted to oil firing in 1921
94 Jun 1909 2251 Jul 1936
95 Jun 1909 2252 Apr 1934
158 Jun 1909 2253 Mar 1936 Sold to the Longmoor Military Railway.
51 Apr 1913 2254 Apr 1934
64 Nov 1913 2255 May 1936
65 Nov 1913 2256 May 1935
69 Nov 1913 2257 May 1937 Sold to Manchester Collieries and named 'King George VI'.
89 Nov 1913 2258 Jun 1934
96 May 1913 2259 Oct 1936
97 May 1913 2260 Jun 1934
172 Jun 1913 2261 Feb 1937
72 1920 2262 Jan 1937 Sold to Manchester Collieries and named 'Sir Robert'. Frames survive.
18 1921 2263 Oct 1936 Experimentally converted to oil firing in 1921
22 1921 2264 Jun 1936 Sold to Manchester Collieries and named 'Kenneth'.
25 1921 2265 Jul 1936
26 1921 2266 Dec 1936
29 1921 2267 Apr 1935
27 1922 2268 Jan 1936
28 1922 2269 Dec 1934 Came into service after grouping.
1 1923 2270 Oct 1937 Came into service after grouping. Sold to Manchester Collieries and named 'Queen Elizabeth'.
2 1923 2271 Oct 1937 Came into service after grouping. Sold to Manchester Collieries and named 'Princess'. Initially preserved as part of the National Railway Museum collection. Subsequently donated to Foxfield Railway in April 2016.
10 1923 2272 Jul 1935 Came into service after grouping.
48 1923 2273 Feb 1937 Came into service after grouping.

References[]

  1. ^ Christiansen, Rex & Miller, Robert William (1971). The North Staffordshire Railway. Newton Abbot, Devon: David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-5121- 4.
  2. ^ "Manifold" (1952). The North Staffordshire railway. J. H. Henstock, Ltd. p. 139.
  3. ^ Bush, R. W. (1981). North Staffordshire Railway Locomotives and Rolling stock. The Oakwood Press. p. 33. ISBN 0 85361 275 7.
  4. ^ a b c d e Hopkins, Ken (1986). North Staffordshire Locomotives:An Illustrated History. Burton on Trent: Trent Valley Publications. pp. 58–59. ISBN 0-948131-14-4.
  5. ^ "Steam locomotive, North Staffordshire Railway". National Railway Museum. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  6. ^ "The Industrial Railways of Bolton, Bury and the Manchester Coalfield Part 2: The Manchester Coalfield" by C.H.A.Townley, C.A.Appleton, F.D.Smith & J.A.Peden
Retrieved from ""