GER Class C72
Encyclopedia
The GER Class C72 was a class of thirty 0-6-0T steam locomotive
s designed by A. J. Hill for the Great Eastern Railway
. They passed to the London and North Eastern Railway
(LNER) at the 1923 grouping
and received the LNER classification J68.
's Class T18
tank locomotives, sharing the same 16.5 by 22 in (419.1 by 558.8 mm) cylinders, 4 in 0 in (1.22 m) driving wheels, and 13 in 10 in (4.22 m) wheelbase. There were three orders, each of ten locomotives, all built at Stratford Works
between 1912 and 1923. The first batch were built as suburban passenger tanks and were fitted with Westinghouse
air brakes. The second and third batches were built as shunting tanks and were fitted with steam locomotive brakes and vacuum train brakes.
The last batch did not emerge from Stratford until after the grouping.
One locomotive was lent to the War Department in October 1939, and sold 12 months later, It was used on the Longmoor Military Railway
before being moved to the Bicester Central Ordnance Depot
, and then the Military Port No. 1, Faslane
. The remaining locomotives were renumbered 8638–8666 in order of construction. At nationalisation in 1948 they passed to British Railways, who added 60000 to their numbers. Post war withdrawals started in 1958, and all were gone by 1961.
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s designed by A. J. Hill for the Great Eastern Railway
Great Eastern Railway
The Great Eastern Railway was a pre-grouping British railway company, whose main line linked London Liverpool Street to Norwich and which had other lines through East Anglia...
. They passed to the London and North Eastern Railway
London and North Eastern Railway
The London and North Eastern Railway was the second-largest of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain...
(LNER) at the 1923 grouping
Railways Act 1921
The Railways Act 1921, also known as the Grouping Act, was an enactment by the British government of David Lloyd George intended to stem the losses being made by many of the country's 120 railway companies, move the railways away from internal competition, and to retain some of the benefits which...
and received the LNER classification J68.
History
These locomotives were an improved version of the Class S56 tanks, and the final development of James HoldenJames Holden (engineer)
James Holden was an English locomotive engineer.He is remembered mainly for the "Claud Hamilton" 4-4-0, his pioneering work with oil fuel, and his unique "Decapod".- Biography :...
's Class T18
GER Class T18
The GER Class T18 was a class of fifty 0-6-0 tank steam locomotives designed by James Holden for the Great Eastern Railway. They passed to the London and North Eastern Railway at the grouping in 1923 and received the LNER classification J66.-Overview:...
tank locomotives, sharing the same 16.5 by 22 in (419.1 by 558.8 mm) cylinders, 4 in 0 in (1.22 m) driving wheels, and 13 in 10 in (4.22 m) wheelbase. There were three orders, each of ten locomotives, all built at Stratford Works
Stratford Works
Stratford Works was the locomotive-building works of the Great Eastern Railway situated at Stratford, London, England. It was opened in 1847-1848 by the GER's predecessor, the Eastern Counties Railway...
between 1912 and 1923. The first batch were built as suburban passenger tanks and were fitted with Westinghouse
Westinghouse Air Brake Company
The railway air brake was invented by George Westinghouse of New York state in 1869. Soon after, he moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he established the Westinghouse Air Brake Company on September 28, 1869...
air brakes. The second and third batches were built as shunting tanks and were fitted with steam locomotive brakes and vacuum train brakes.
| Year | Order | Quantity | GER Nos. | LNER Nos. | 1946 Nos. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1912 | C72 | 10 | 41–50 | 7041–7050 | —, 8638–8646 | Passenger service |
| 1913–14 | G75 | 10 | 21–30 | 7021–7030 | 8647–8656 | Shunting service |
| 1923 | L89 | 10 | 31–40 | 7031–7040 | 8657–8666 | Shunting service |
The last batch did not emerge from Stratford until after the grouping.
One locomotive was lent to the War Department in October 1939, and sold 12 months later, It was used on the Longmoor Military Railway
Longmoor Military Railway
The Longmoor Military Railway was a British military railway in Hampshire, built by the Royal Engineers from 1903 in order to train soldiers on railway construction and operations.-Route:...
before being moved to the Bicester Central Ordnance Depot
Bicester Military Railway
The Bicester Military Railway is a railway in Oxfordshire, England belonging to the Ministry of Defence. It links military depots at Piddington, Arncott and Graven Hill with the Oxford to Bicester Line.The line has no road bridges...
, and then the Military Port No. 1, Faslane
Faslane Branch
The Faslane Branch was a standard gauge military railway built during World War II to serve "Military Port No.1" at Faslane, west of Glasgow in Scotland.Latterly, the branch was used to serve the ship breaking activities at Faslane.- Route :...
. The remaining locomotives were renumbered 8638–8666 in order of construction. At nationalisation in 1948 they passed to British Railways, who added 60000 to their numbers. Post war withdrawals started in 1958, and all were gone by 1961.
| Year | Quantity in service at start of year | Quantity withdrawn | Locomotive numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | 30 | 1 | 7041 | to WD 85 |
| 1958 | 29 | 6 | 8651, 8653, 8659, 8662, 8666, 8664 | |
| 1959 | 23 | 5 | 8638, 8639, 8640, 8648, 8658 | |
| 1960 | 18 | 10 | 8641, 8643, 8645, 8652, 8654–8657, 8661, 8665 | |
| 1961 | 8 | 8 | 8642, 8646, 8649, 8650, 8644, 8647, 8660, 8663, | |
External links
- R24, R24R, S56 and C72 Classes 0-6-0T — Great Eastern Railway Society
- The Hill J68 (GER Class C72) 0-6-0T Locomotives — LNER Encyclopedia