GER Class S69

Infobox Locomotive
powertype=Steam
name = GER Class S69
LNER Class B12

---

caption = Preserved B12/3 in LNER apple green livery.
designer = S. D. Holden
builder =
builddate =
totalproduction =
whytetype = 4-6-0
gauge = standard gauge
leadingsize = 3' 3"
driversize = 6' 6"
length =
weight = B12/1, 63 tons 0 cwt
B12/3, 69 tons 10 cwt
tender, 39 tons 6 cwt
fueltype = coal
fuelc

waterc

cylindercount = two inside
cylindersize = 20" x 28"
firearea = convert|154|sqft|m2|abbr=on.
boilerpressure = 180 psi
tractiveeffort = convert|21969|lbf|abbr=on
railroadclass= 4P3F|
Great Eastern Railway (GER) Class S69, also known as 1500 Class, and later classified B12 by the LNER is a class of 4-6-0 steam locomotive designed for passenger work. Originally they were designed by S. D. Holden, but were much rebuilt, resulting in several subclasses.

71 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 8571-8580cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = S69 Class 4-6-0 1911-1921, 1928 | work =
publisher = Great Eastern Railway Society | date = | url = http://www.gersociety.org.uk/loco/sdholden.htm#s69 | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2008-04-16. From 1948 the British Railways numbers were 61501-61580 (with gaps).

These locomotives are considered by some as the finest steam locomotives to haul express passenger trains out of London's Liverpool Street stationcite book | last = Phillips
first = Charles | title = Essex Steam | publisher = Becknell Books | date = 1982 | location = King's Lynn | pages = p3 | isbn = 0 907087 10 8.

Background

At the time of their introduction, the Claud Hamilton were becoming outclassed on the heaviest express. Although an enlarged 4-4-0 design was mootedcite book | last = Hughes
first = Geoffery | title = LNER 4-6-0s At Work | publisher = Book Law Publications | date = 1988 | pages = 56 | isbn = 1-901945-06-5., 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.

ub-classes

* B12/1 Introduced 1911, GER locos with small boiler and Belpaire firebox
* B12/2 Introduced 1926, locos fitted with Lentz poppet valves (it is believed that some were rebuilt GER locos and some new LNER ones)
* B12/3 Introduced 1932, LNER rebuild of B12/1 with large boiler and round-top firebox
* B12/4 Introduced 1943, LNER rebuild of B12/1 with small boiler and round-top firebox (for Scottish lines with limited axle-load)

The poppet valves were not a great success and all the B12/2s were converted to piston valve engines between 1931 and 1934.

Preservation

One B12/3, LNER number 8572 (BR 61572), has survived to preservation on the North Norfolk Railway.

External links

* http://www.lner.info/locos/B/b12.shtml

References