East Anglian / Eastern Counties / Great Eastern / Norfolk Railway 2-2-2 Locomotives in Great_Britain


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 103 (Jenny Lind) (Locobase 10330)

Data from "The Locomotives of the Great Eastern Railway," The Locomotive Magazine, Vol VIII (30 May 1903), p. 369

Although the full description of Wilson's widely distributed "Jenny Lind" design can be found in Locobase 664, this ECR pair is described in the history of locomotives on the ECR as being among the very first to enter service. The two line drawings that accompany the article show the early preference for wood lagging (mahogany in this case) over the boiler and tightly fluted lagging on the cylindrical portion of the steam dome (which had a hemispherical cap) and on the safety valve column. Later modifications included plating over the lagging and the adoption of a simpler dome.

The two engines were scrapped in July 1868 (104) and June 1874 (103).


Class 250 (Locobase 10546)

Data from "The Locomotives of the Great Eastern Railway," The Locomotive Magazine, Vol XII (15 February 1906), p. 21.

These tanks were based on the earlier tank engines designed by Gooch, but were considerably larger. They operated on the Tilbury Fort line. Over the years, locomotive superintendent Robert Sinclair added a dome over the firebox while Johnson added injectors and a standard stack design. After 20-25 years' service, the class was retired over the course of 6 years from May 1873 to December 1879.


Class 29 (Locobase 10537)

Data from "The Locomotives of the Great Eastern Railway," The Locomotive Magazine, Vol XI (15 November 1905), p. 189. Boiler pressure is an estimate. works numbers were 765-766, 768.

Bought by the Eastern Union and numbered 29-31, this class of small tanks was delivered to the Eastern Counties after the latter took over the EUR during their construction. They remained in service only 17 years before their scrapping in 1871.


Class 3 (Locobase 10431)

Data from "The Locomotives of the Great Eastern Railway," The Locomotive Magazine, Volume X [10] (2 January 1904), p. 2. Boiler pressure is an estimate.

These singles had a tightly grouped set of axles with each of the carrying axles carrying wheels measuring 44".

The Norfolk had combined the rails and rolling stock of the Norwich & Yarmouth and the Norwich & Brandon Company. As the NR prepared to be absorbed peacefully into the Eastern Counties in 1850, its stock had shrunk from sale and disposal. Two of the three engines in this class were sold to the Liverpool, Crosby & Southport in September 1849. Number 4, however, came over to the ECR in 1850 as 45 and operated on that railway until July 1868.

A later class originally ordered by the N&Y Ry followed soon after; they had works numbers 427-432. These were similar, but had 72" drivers. They were numbered 6-11 on the N & Y and 46-48 and 140-142 on the ECR.


Class 51 - rebuilt (Locobase 10684)

Data from "The Locomotives of the Great Eastern Ry," The Locomotive Magazine, Vol XV (15 January 1909), p. 4.

Johnson rebuilt some of the singles originally put into service by Sinclair ten years earlier (Locobase 2206). This trio received the new telescopic boiler of 3 plates of ever-increasind radius, but retained the single leading axle. Two more received bogie leading trucks; see Locobase 10685.


Class 73 (Locobase 10740)

Data from "The Locomotives of the Great Eastern Railway," The Locomotive Magazine, Vol XV (15 December 1909), p. 223-224.

Deciding to eke out the last dregs of utility from the original Sharp-built singles designe, S W Johnson built two in 1868 that used the earlier engines' link motion. Little was changed (except for the higher boiler pressure) and these small engines had a short life, 730 (he renumbered 73) being scrapped in August 1877 and 740 going in December 1879.


Class A (Locobase 10473)

Data from "The Locomotives of the Great Eastern Railway," The Locomotive Magazine, Vol X (15 November 1904), p. 189.

When John Viret Gooch came to the ECR in 1850, he studied the traffic demands and profiles and designed locomotives expressly built for each purpose. The result in this case was Single tanks built by the ECR itself (6 in 1851-1852) and R B Longridge & Company of Bedlington in Northumberland (3 in 1852). They were satisfactory for about 20 years and were scrapped without any significant reconstruction. The Type Bs that followed are shown in Locobase 3491.

The ECR history notes that #6 was working the 1.10 PM Cambridge to London train when driver Wilson encountered "...a horse and cart driven by an old woman of 75 at a level crossing near Shelford Junction. The woman was picked up on the framing of the engine, and together with her four children, escaped unhurt." (Locobase wonders why the four "children" were letting their "75" year old mother drive the cart and suspects the account got the age wrong.)


Class B (Locobase 3491)

Data from "The Locomotives of the Great Eastern Railway," The Locomotive Magazine, Vol XI (15 April 1905), p. 59

Light-duty tank engine for passenger trains on the Eastern Counties main line that were enlargements of the A class shown in Locobase 10473. They built on the satisfactory quailities of the As while growing and shrinking at the same time. The boiler grew, as did the weight, but the wheelbase decreased to reduce binding in the curves.

Later engines had 14" cylinders, which increased tractive effort to 5,169 lb. They never rebuilt, although domes were installed on the boiler barrels. The first to be scrapped was 11 in March 1871 with 10 following 7 months later. 7, 9, and 12 all went to the ferro-knacker in 1874.

8 was rebuilt in 1874 as a 4-2-4ST inspection engine by lengthening the frame and fitting a "saloon" for passengers. Withdrawal came in 1880 and the locomotive was scrapped in 1883.


Class C (Locobase 10078)

Data from "The Locomotives of the Great Eastern Ry.," The Locomotive & Railway Carriage & Wagon Review, Vol XIV (15 January 1908), p. 3.

These were small, stubby single-wheelers that were the first turned under Mr Robert C Sinclair after he took his position at the ECR. None of the locomotives would be rebuilt, although they would be renumbered 2800, 2810, 2820, 2830. They were scrapped in 1879.


Class C (Locobase 10586)

Data from "The Locomotives of the Great Eastern Railway," The Locomotive Magazine, Vol XII (15 February 1906), p. 21.

These tanks were based on the earlier tank engines designed by Gooch, but were considerably larger. They operated on the Tilbury Fort line. Over the years, locomotive superintendent Robert Sinclair added a dome over the firebox while Johnson added injectors and a standard stack design. After 20-25 years' service, the class was retired over the course of 6 years from May 1873 to December 1879.


Class D27/740 (Locobase 2223)

Data from E L Ahrons, The British Railway Locomotive, 1825-1925 (London: Locomotive Publishing Company, 1926); see also J. Pearson Pattison, British Railways: Their Passenger Services, ... (London: Cassell & Co, 1893), p 73; "D27 Class 2-2-2 1888-1893", The Great Eastern Railway Society at [link], last accessed 8 October 2022; and "The Locomotives of the Great Eastern Railway", Locomotive Magazine, Volume 18 (15 June 1912), p. 119.

Rather stubby James Holden design that's a bigger version of the earlier single-wheelers, but developed from T19 2-4-0s. In fact, the first 11 essentially repeated the T19 design and replaced the rear coupled axle with a trailing axle.

The last ten continued the T19 base, but raised boiler pressure to 160 psi (11.03 bar). , which raised nominal tractive effort to 12,600 lb and dropped the factor of adhesion below 3. These must have been very slippery engines. Range extension came with the adoption of water scoops on several including 1004-1009. Holden fitted this sextet with his patented oil-burning system.

For all the updates, however, the GER, like most British railways, saw dramatic increases in passenger train weights that the D27s couldn't handle and the class was quickly withdrawn between 1901 to 1907.


Class Eagle (Locobase 10486)

Data from "The Locomotives of the Great Eastern Railway," The Locomotive Magazine, Vol XI (16 January 1905), p. 21. Boiler pressure is an estimate.

These Sharp Singles preceded the large class of very similar locomotives on the Great Northern (Locobase 8247). The outside frame showed outside bearings on all axles and the dome over the leading axle. Only the 108 received a new boiler; the others were scrapped beginning in June 1867 with the last (114) scrapped in March 1870. 108's newer boiler led to its remaining in use as a stationary boiler for about 15 years after its retirement.


Class Jenny Red Legs (Locobase 10328)

Data from "The Locomotives of the Great Eastern Railway," The Locomotive Magazine, Vol VIII (30 May 1903), p. 369. Boiler pressure is an estimate.

These single-wheelers had the wood-lagged boilers and gothic firebox found on many of the locomotives of the time, but their service as passenger engines was quite brief. In 1855 the pair was converted to 4-coupled side-tank shunting (switching) engines; see Locobase 10329.


Class L & B rebuilt (Locobase 10706)

Data from "The Locomotives of the Great Eastern Railway," The Locomotive Magazine, Vol XV (15 May 1909), p. 89. Boiler pressure is an estimate.

This class was originally built for the London & Blackwall Railway (5 1/4 miles long) by Jones and Potts in 1848 (works numbers were 281-286). They had raised fireboxes with quite small dome and separate safety valve stands spaced along the boiler. Cylinder dimensions were 13 1/2" x 18".

The L & b soon became part of the Eastern Counties Railway, which became the Great Eastern in 1862. Soon thereafter, the GER rebuilt the class as shown in the specs. The dome grew greatly in size although it still sat over the firebox.

The first scrapping came in April 1873 (95) and the last (930) was scrapped 10 years later.


Class unknown (Locobase 2206)

Data from Ahrons (1927).

These were the first locomotives delivered to the Great Eastern after it was formed out of several companies (including the Eastern Counties Railway) on 1 July 1862. Designed by R. Sinclair and had mixed frames (wood and iron) and outside cylinders.

Fairbairn & Company supplied 4 engines in the class in October-December 1862. Slaughter & Gruening added 10 more (works numbers 541-550) in April-June 1864; these had road numbers 51-60. The next year (1865) saw Kitson & Company deliver 10 engines (works 1191-1195, 1201-1205) in May-September 1865; these were given road numbers 291-289 and 290. Schneider et Cie added 5 in September 1866 (works numbers were 949-953, road numbers 88-90, 299-300) and 1 in May 1867 (works 1079, road number 87) for display at the 1867 Paris Exposition and was delivered in April 1868.

Ahrons comments that these engines worked "the fastest main-line expresses for more than twenty-five years."

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class103 (Jenny Lind)25029351 - rebuilt
Locobase ID10330 10546 10537 10431 10684
RailroadEastern Counties (GER)Eastern Counties (GER)Eastern Counties (GER)Norfolk Railway (GER)Great Eastern (GER)
CountryGreat BritainGreat BritainGreat BritainGreat BritainGreat Britain
Whyte2-2-22-2-2T2-2-2T2-2-22-2-2
Number in Class210333
Road Numbers103-104250-25913-153-560, 293-294
GaugeStdStdStdStdStd
Number Built21033
BuilderEB WilsonStratford WorksSharp BrothersRobert Stephenson & CoStratford Works
Year18471854185418441872
Valve GearStephensonStephensonStephensonStephensonStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)14.50 / 4.4214.67 / 4.4713 / 3.9610.42 / 3.1815.25 / 4.65
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)13 / 3.96
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)24,528 / 11,12620,468 / 928417,920 / 812830,352 / 13,767
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)24,528 / 11,12620,440 / 927117,920 / 812822,400 / 10,16030,352 / 13,767
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)52,752 / 23,92860,704 / 27,53542,560 / 19,30547,040 / 21,33770,364 / 31,917
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)48,720 / 22,099
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)60,704 / 27,53542,560 / 19,305119,084 / 54,016
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) 0.30
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)41 / 20.5034 / 1730 / 1537 / 18.5051 / 25.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)72 / 182978 / 198160 / 152466 / 167685 / 2159
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)120 / 830120 / 830110 / 760100 / 690140 / 970
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)15" x 20" / 381x50814" x 22" / 356x55914" x 18" / 356x45714" x 22" / 356x55917" x 24" / 432x610
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)6375 / 2891.655639 / 2557.815498 / 2493.855553 / 2518.809710 / 4404.39
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 3.85 3.62 3.26 4.03 3.13
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)124 - 2" / 51164 - 1.875" / 48122 - 2" / 51130 - 1.75" / 44247 - 1.5" / 38
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)11 / 3.3510.31 / 3.14 9.08 / 2.7712.83 / 3.9110.31 / 3.14
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)80 / 7.4386.80 / 8.0754 / 5.0251 / 4.74100 / 9.29
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)12.20 / 1.1311.10 / 1.039 / 0.8416.60 / 1.54
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)800 / 74.35859 / 79.83562 / 52.23724 / 67.261100 / 102.23
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)800 / 74.35859 / 79.83562 / 52.23724 / 67.261100 / 102.23
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume195.57219.15175.24184.71174.46
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation146413329002324
Same as above plus superheater percentage146413329002324
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area960010,4165940510014,000
Power L142245146285427475033
Power MT379.66555.04351.12270.36365.57

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class73ABCC
Locobase ID10740 10473 3491 10078 10586
RailroadGreat Eastern (GER)Eastern Counties (GER)Eastern Counties (GER)Eastern Counties (GER)Eastern Counties (GER)
CountryGreat BritainGreat BritainGreat BritainGreat BritainGreat Britain
Whyte2-2-22-2-2T2-2-2T2-2-22-2-2
Number in Class29646
Road Numbers73-7420-25, 4-67-12280-283274-279
GaugeStdStdStdStdStd
Number Built29646
BuilderStratford WorksseveralStratford WorksBeyer, PeacockCanada Works
Year18681851185318561855
Valve GearStephensonStephensonStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)12.71 / 3.8714 / 4.271214 / 4.2714.67 / 4.47
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)12
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)21,952 / 995719,040 / 863621,72818,340 / 831920,468 / 9284
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)21,952 / 995717,500 / 793821,72818,340 / 831920,440 / 9271
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)47,040 / 21,33753,452 / 24,24553,64851,548 / 23,38260,704 / 27,535
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)53,452 / 24,24553,648
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)37 / 18.5029 / 14.5036 / 1831 / 15.5034 / 17
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)66 / 167678 / 198178 / 198178 / 198178 / 1981
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)140 / 970110 / 760110 / 760120 / 830120 / 830
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)15" x 20" / 381x50811" x 22" / 279x55912" x 22" / 305x55915" x 22" / 381x55915" x 22" / 381x559
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)8114 / 3680.453191 / 1447.413798 / 1722.756473 / 2936.116473 / 2936.11
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 2.71 5.48 5.72 2.83 3.16
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)150 - 1.5" / 38114 - 1.875" / 48127 - 1.875" / 0191 - 1.75" / 44164 - 1.875" / 48
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)10.27 / 3.1310.26 / 3.1310.2310.50 / 3.2010.31 / 3.14
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)63.20 / 5.8770 / 6.5169.1769.20 / 6.4386.80 / 8.07
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)10.85 / 1.01 9.75 / 0.91 9.4112.17 / 1.1311.10 / 1.03
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)668 / 62.08624 / 57.99707 / 65.71889 / 82.62859 / 79.83
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)668 / 62.08624 / 57.99707 / 65.71889 / 82.62859 / 79.83
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume163.30257.87245.50197.57190.90
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation15191073103514601332
Same as above plus superheater percentage15191073103514601332
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area884877007609830410,416
Power L137045756522842824483
Power MT371.99725.13530.46514.73483.53

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
ClassD27/740EagleJenny Red LegsL & B rebuiltunknown
Locobase ID2223 10486 10328 10706 2206
RailroadGreat Eastern (GER)East Anglian (GER)Eastern Counties (GER)Great Eastern (GER)Great Eastern (GER)
CountryGreat BritainGreat BritainGreat BritainGreat BritainGreat Britain
Whyte2-2-22-2-22-2-22-2-2WT2-2-2
Number in Class2182631
Road Numbers740/789/780, 770-779, 1000-10091-8 / 108-115116-11791-93, 95-97
GaugeStdStdStdStdStd
Number Built218231
BuilderStratford WorksSharp BrothersEB WilsonStratford Works
Year18881846184718641862
Valve GearStephensonStephensonStephensonStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)18.50 / 5.6412.54 / 3.8213.75 / 4.1915 / 4.57
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)36.58 / 11.1513.75 / 4.19
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)21,056 / 955117,920 / 812825,430 / 11,535
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)36,075 / 16,36321,056 / 955117,920 / 812825,430 / 11,535
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)89,950 / 40,80141,664 / 18,8982800 / 127049,448 / 22,42965,537 / 29,727
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)72,464 / 32,86948,720 / 22,099
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)162,414 / 73,67049,448 / 22,429114,257 / 51,826
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)3066 / 11.61
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)60 / 3035 / 17.5030 / 1542 / 21
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)84 / 213466 / 167666 / 167666 / 167685 / 2159
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)140 / 970110 / 760100 / 690140 / 970120 / 830
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)18" x 24" / 457x61015" x 20" / 381x50815.5" x 20" / 394x50814" x 20" / 356x50816" x 24" / 406x610
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)11,016 / 4996.786375 / 2891.656188 / 2806.837068 / 3205.997373 / 3344.34
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 3.27 3.30 2.54 3.45
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)256 - 1.625" / 41147 - 1.625" / 41123 - 2" / 51107 - 2" / 51190 - 1.875" / 48
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)10.33 / 3.1510.40 / 3.1710.36 / 3.1612 / 3.66
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)105.50 / 9.8063.20 / 5.8762.10 / 5.7752.32 / 4.8675 / 6.97
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)17.90 / 1.6610.80 / 1 9.84 / 0.9110.44 / 0.9715.70 / 1.46
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1230 / 114.27768 / 71.38787 / 73.14642 / 59.671120 / 104.09
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1230 / 114.27768 / 71.38787 / 73.14642 / 59.671120 / 104.09
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume174.01187.75180.18180.17200.54
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation2506118898414621884
Same as above plus superheater percentage2506118898414621884
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area14,7706952621073259000
Power L148733206276439054551
Power MT297.80335.68480.42394.54

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