2-4-2 Steam Locomotives in Great Britain

London & North Western


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 5ft 6-in tank (Locobase 2179)

Data from "Passenger Locomotives - 5ft 6in 2-4-2 Tank", London & North Western Railway Society, [], last accessed 8 October 2022. Crewe works numbers were 3152-3171, 3222-3241, 3252-3261, 3385-3434, 3480-3489, 3495-3504, 3511-3530, 3757-3776 in

These succeeded the 1879 Samson class 2-4-0 tank engines, adding a trailing truck with taller drivers, higher-pressure boiler. Their design was based on the Precursor 2-4-0s.

42 of the class underwent conversions to push-pull motors in 1929-1932

The class proved a useful, long-lived group. Only three had been withdrawn when the LNWR joined several other railways in the newly formed London, Midland & Scottish (LMS) in 1923. Of these, 43 took British Railways numbers upon nationalization in 1948. The last of the class retired in 1956.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class5ft 6-in tank
Locobase ID2179
RailroadLondon & North Western (LMS)
CountryGreat Britain
Whyte2-4-2T
Number in Class160
Road Numbers6602-6757
GaugeStd
Number Built160
BuilderL&NW - Crewe
Year1890
Valve GearJoy
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m) 8.25 / 2.51
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)22.42 / 6.83
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.37
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)22.42 / 6.83
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)33,376 / 15,139
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)64,736 / 29,364
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)113,120 / 51,310
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)1616 / 6.12
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) 2.80 / 2.50
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)54 / 27
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)66 / 1676
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)150 / 1030
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)17" x 24" / 432x610
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)13,399 / 6077.69
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.83
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)94.60 / 8.79
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)17.10 / 1.59
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1044 / 96.99
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1044 / 96.99
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume165.58
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation2565
Same as above plus superheater percentage2565
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area14,190
Power L13970
Power MT270.40

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