LBSCR L class 4-6-4
| L Billinton's handome "L" Class baltic tank was the last entirely new locomotive design of the LB&SCR. The first, Nº327, came out in April 1914 and bucked the trend of doing away with locomotive names started by Marsh in 1906 by carrying the name Charles G Macrae, the second locomotive to carry this name after R Billinton's B2 class Nº314 of 1895, until removed by the Southern Railway in July 1925. |
photograph: Mike Morant collection Nº328 in LB&SCR days, location unknown. |
| The two 22in x 28in outside cylinders, inclined at an angle,
were the largest ever fitted to a Brighton locomotive, and among the largest in
the country. When first built there were problems with water surging in the
huge side tanks when they were only half full, a problem that was cured by
cutting down on the water space without affecting the outside shells of the
tanks. The boiler had a working pressure of 170lb and two Ramsbottom safety
valves were fitted to the top of the Belpaire firebox.
Five more locomotives were ordered in 1921 and another two in 1922. These, though, were a little different in that they were fitted with well tanks and very shallow, 15in, sidetanks (though the size of outer shell was maintained to give the class a uniform appearance). The water capacity of these seven was a fraction more than that of the modified first two of the class. The lst seven were also fitted with large underslung laminated springs for the outside coupled axles |
 |
Nº2332 departing from Lewes with the last scheduled steam-hauled
express from Victoria to Eastbourne, the 1:28pm ex-Victoria on 6 July 1935.
Four months later she will re-emerge as rebuilt by Maunsell to Class N15x.
photograph by the late Eric Arnold, courtesy of the Dick Morant collection |
| The modified engines were very stable, fast and powerful and were more than up to the task of handling the 400 ton "Southern Belle", or the heaviest of business trains. When required, the making up of ten minutes of late running was well within their capabilities once south of East Croydon. Two of the final seven were named, although this had not been the original intention. The Stephenson Locomotive Society, which had very strong connections with the LB&SCR, suggested that one, Nº329, should carry the name Stephenson seeing as the original locomotive of that name had been withdrawn before WWI. This took place shortly after the engine entered service in 1921. Then the last of the seven, Nº333, was chosen to be the Railway's War Memorial engine. Various suggestions were put forward until the name Remembrance was finally chosen. The nameplates were affixed to the sides of the engine with a further plaque carrying the inscription: "In grateful remembrance of the 532 men of the L.B.& S.C.Rly. who gave their lives for their country, 1914-19". The locomotive was painted grey with black bands and white lining, with lettering and numerals that were white blocked in black and remained thus until painted green by the Southern Railway. |
| The corresponding final steam-hauled up service was the
2:25pm ex-Eastbourne on the same date, seen here arrivng at Lewes behind
Nº2331.
photograph by the late Eric Arnold, courtesy of the Dick Morant collection |
 |
| The final changes to these locomotives came when the Southern Railway, starting in 1934, converted the whole class to 4-6-0 tender engines and re-classified them as Class N15x. At the same time the five un-named locomotives gained names of famous locomotive engineers. |
Technical Details
|
| LBSC Nº | Name | Built | SR Nº # | To N15x |
| 327 | Charles G Macrae § | Apr 1914 | 2327 | Apr 1935 |
| 328 | - | Sep 1914 | 2328 | Feb 1936 |
| 329 | Stephenson | Oct 1921 | 2329 | Dec 1934 |
| 330 | - | Nov 1924 | 2330 | Sep 1935 |
| 331 | - | Dec 1921 | 2331 | Apr 1936 |
| 332 | - | Sep 1922 | 2332 | Nov 1935 |
| 333 | Remembrance | May 1922 | 2333 | Jun 1935 |
| § | Name removed in July 1925 | |||
| # | Between 1923 and 1928 SR numbers were the LBSC numbers with the added prefix 'B' | |||
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This page was created 16 May 2004
