LNER Class V4

The London and North Eastern Railway Class V4 was a class of 2-6-2 steam locomotive designed bySir Nigel Gresley for mixed-traffic use. It was to be Gresley's last design for the LNER as he died in 1941.

Due to similarities in their appearance, the V4s were sometimes assumed to be smaller versions of the V2 "Green Arrow" class, but in reality there was little similarity in the designs. The V2s were large and heavy locomotives, with very limited route availability. The V4 was a lightweight alternative, suitable for use over the whole of the LNER network. Two locomotives were built at the LNER's Doncaster Works in 1941.

The first engine, 3401 "Bantam Cock", had a scaled down version of the Standard Gresley Pacific boiler with a grate area of 27.5sq ft. its tractive effort of 27,000 lbs was borne from its boiler pressure of 250 psi and three cylinders of 15" diameter. The second locomotive, 3402, incorporated a steel, fully welded firebox and a single thermic syphon for water circulation. It was never named, but known unofficially as "Bantam Hen".

The type was tried on the Great Eastern section of the LNER, and was well received Fact|date=February 2007, with more power than the existing B17's and better riding qualities. It was anticipated that many more would be produced, but with the death of Gresley and his succession by Edward Thompson, no more were built. Instead, the LNER Thompson Class B1 was adopted as the LNER's standard mixed-traffic locomotive.

The two locomotives were sent to Scotland for use on the West Highland Line, although their wheel arrangement was not particularly suitable for the steep gradients on the line. They were renumbered 1700 and 1701 in 1946, and later became British Railways 61700 and 61701. Both were scrapped in 1957 when their boilers became due for renewal.

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