LD&EC class D
Encyclopedia
The LD&EC class D was a class of nine 0-6-4T steam locomotives supplied to the Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway
in 1904 and 1906 by Kitson & Co.
of Leeds
. They later became the property of the Great Central Railway
and finally the London and North Eastern Railway
, upon which they were known as Class M1.
(LD&EC) was a line whose primary business was carrying coal
from the mines in northern Derbyshire
and northern Nottinghamshire
to places such as Lincoln
for onward shipment by other railways. Accordingly, the LD&EC needed powerful locomotives capable of hauling these heavy trains. Since the line opened in 1895, the coal trains had been in the hands of the capable 0-6-2
T locomotives of LD&EC class A
, which eventually totalled 18; but after 1902, when the LD&EC began to run their trains over the Great Central Railway
(GCR) to Grimsby Docks, it became apparent that the Class A locomotives were too small for the long-distance trains; in particular, they needed to stop at for additional water.
In March 1903, Kitson & Co.
, the Leeds
locomotive builders, were asked to quote for three 0-8-0 tender locomotives; at the time, they were building the first three of the Class 8A 0-8-0s for the GCR. This order was cancelled in April 1903 because the Grimsby line was unsuitable for such locomotives. The LD&EC Locomotive Superintendent, Robert A. Thom
, therefore prepared a design for a tank locomotive larger than Class A, and as with all previous LD&EC locomotives, they were built by Kitson & Co. They were not much more powerful than Class A, the main differences being an increased coal and water capacity. This necessitated the use of an additional carrying axle at the rear, giving the 0-6-4
T wheel arrangement. The initial order comprised six locomotives, which were delivered in May and June 1904, and they formed Class D on the LD&EC. Proving satisfactory, a further three were ordered, again from Kitsons; but by the time that they were delivered in December 1906, the LD&EC was in the middle of negotiations with the GCR which would lead to the LD&EC being taken over by the GCR at the start of 1907; these three were paid for by the GCR. There were some detail differences between these and the first six: in particular, they were fitted with water scoops so that, on suitably equipped routes, the tanks could be replenished without stopping. On the GCR, watertroughs were at Eckington
, between Sheffield and Staveley
; and at , between Leicester
and Woodford
.
Initially they were based at Tuxford, but by 1921, four of them had been sent to the LD&EC's other depot at Langwith Junction. They performed well on the coal trains for which they had been designed; a typical load from Langwith Junction to Grimsby was 45 coal wagons and a brake van, totalling 744 LT. After the GCR takeover, more were required; and the opportunity was taken to update the design. Thom assisted John G. Robinson, the GCR's Locomotive Superintendent, in preparing the design of a new 2-6-4
T that appeared in 1914 as GCR Class 1B
.
(GCR) on 1 January 1907, they were given GCR numbers 1148–53 and 1145–7 respectively. During 1924 and 1925, the LNER increased the GCR numbers by 5000. Five survived to be allotted new numbers in 1943, but only one was actually renumbered; 6151 became 9082 in May 1946.
Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway
The Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway was a British railway company built toward the end of the era of British railway construction. It opened its line from Chesterfield to Lincoln in 1897....
in 1904 and 1906 by Kitson & Co.
Kitson & Co.
Kitson and Company was a locomotive manufacturer based in Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.-Early history:The company started as James Kitson at the Airedale Foundry, off Pearson Street, Hunslet in 1835 with Charles Todd as a partner...
of Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
. They later became the property of the Great Central Railway
Great Central Railway
The Great Central Railway was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed its name in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension . On 1 January 1923, it was grouped into the London and North Eastern...
and finally 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...
, upon which they were known as Class M1.
History
The Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast RailwayLancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway
The Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway was a British railway company built toward the end of the era of British railway construction. It opened its line from Chesterfield to Lincoln in 1897....
(LD&EC) was a line whose primary business was carrying coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
from the mines in northern Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
and northern Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
to places such as Lincoln
Lincoln Central railway station
Lincoln Central railway station serves the city of Lincoln in Lincolnshire, England. The station is operated by East Midlands Trains, who provide services along with Northern Rail and East Coast....
for onward shipment by other railways. Accordingly, the LD&EC needed powerful locomotives capable of hauling these heavy trains. Since the line opened in 1895, the coal trains had been in the hands of the capable 0-6-2
0-6-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-2 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...
T locomotives of LD&EC class A
LD&EC class A
The LD&EC class A was a class of 0-6-2T steam locomotives of the Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway. An initial batch of eight was ordered and built in 1895. An order for 15 more was placed in 1899 but five of these were not delivered because the LD&ECR was unable to pay for them. The...
, which eventually totalled 18; but after 1902, when the LD&EC began to run their trains over the Great Central Railway
Great Central Railway
The Great Central Railway was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed its name in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension . On 1 January 1923, it was grouped into the London and North Eastern...
(GCR) to Grimsby Docks, it became apparent that the Class A locomotives were too small for the long-distance trains; in particular, they needed to stop at for additional water.
In March 1903, Kitson & Co.
Kitson & Co.
Kitson and Company was a locomotive manufacturer based in Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.-Early history:The company started as James Kitson at the Airedale Foundry, off Pearson Street, Hunslet in 1835 with Charles Todd as a partner...
, the Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
locomotive builders, were asked to quote for three 0-8-0 tender locomotives; at the time, they were building the first three of the Class 8A 0-8-0s for the GCR. This order was cancelled in April 1903 because the Grimsby line was unsuitable for such locomotives. The LD&EC Locomotive Superintendent, Robert A. Thom
Robert Absalom Thom
Robert Absalom Thom was the final Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Superintendent of the Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway, and became a key figure in the locomotive departments of the company's successors, the Great Central Railway and the London & North Eastern Railway.-Biography:Thom...
, therefore prepared a design for a tank locomotive larger than Class A, and as with all previous LD&EC locomotives, they were built by Kitson & Co. They were not much more powerful than Class A, the main differences being an increased coal and water capacity. This necessitated the use of an additional carrying axle at the rear, giving the 0-6-4
0-6-4
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-4 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and four trailing wheels on two axles....
T wheel arrangement. The initial order comprised six locomotives, which were delivered in May and June 1904, and they formed Class D on the LD&EC. Proving satisfactory, a further three were ordered, again from Kitsons; but by the time that they were delivered in December 1906, the LD&EC was in the middle of negotiations with the GCR which would lead to the LD&EC being taken over by the GCR at the start of 1907; these three were paid for by the GCR. There were some detail differences between these and the first six: in particular, they were fitted with water scoops so that, on suitably equipped routes, the tanks could be replenished without stopping. On the GCR, watertroughs were at Eckington
Renishaw Central railway station
Renishaw Central was a railway station in Renishaw, Derbyshire. From its opening until 1950, the station was named Eckington and Renishaw, but was renamed by British Railways to prevent confusion with the ex-Midland Railway station of the same name....
, between Sheffield and Staveley
Staveley Central railway station
Staveley Central was a railway station in Staveley near Chesterfield, Derbyshire.The station was on the Great Central Main Line which ran between London and Manchester...
; and at , between Leicester
Leicester Central railway station
Leicester Central was a railway station in Leicester. It was situated to the west of the city centre, on Great Central Street which is today just off the inner ring road. It was closed in 1969.- Construction :...
and Woodford
Woodford Halse railway station
Woodford Halse railway station stood on the Great Central Railway main line, the last main line to be built from the north of England to London. The station opened with the line on 15 March 1899 under the name Woodford and Hinton and served the adjacent villages of Woodford Halse to the east and...
.
Initially they were based at Tuxford, but by 1921, four of them had been sent to the LD&EC's other depot at Langwith Junction. They performed well on the coal trains for which they had been designed; a typical load from Langwith Junction to Grimsby was 45 coal wagons and a brake van, totalling 744 LT. After the GCR takeover, more were required; and the opportunity was taken to update the design. Thom assisted John G. Robinson, the GCR's Locomotive Superintendent, in preparing the design of a new 2-6-4
2-6-4
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, a 2-6-4 locomotive has two leading wheels, six coupled driving wheels and four trailing wheels...
T that appeared in 1914 as GCR Class 1B
GCR Class 1B
The GCR Class 1B was a class of 2-6-4T locomotives on the Great Central Railway. They were notable as the first locomotives of the 2-6-4T wheel arrangement to be used by a British standard-gauge railway; there had been two narrow-gauge examples on the Leek & Manifold Valley Light Railway since...
.
Numbering
The first six locomotives, delivered in May and June 1904, were given LD&EC numbers 29–34. The last three, delivered in December 1906, were numbered A1 to A3. After the LD&EC was absorbed by the Great Central RailwayGreat Central Railway
The Great Central Railway was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed its name in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension . On 1 January 1923, it was grouped into the London and North Eastern...
(GCR) on 1 January 1907, they were given GCR numbers 1148–53 and 1145–7 respectively. During 1924 and 1925, the LNER increased the GCR numbers by 5000. Five survived to be allotted new numbers in 1943, but only one was actually renumbered; 6151 became 9082 in May 1946.