LNER Class D49 explained

LNER Class D49
Powertype:	Steam
Designer:	Nigel Gresley
Builder:	LNER Darlington Works
Builddate:	1927–1935
Totalproduction:	76
Whytetype:	4-4-0
Uicclass:	2′B h3
Leadingdiameter:	3feet
Driverdiameter:	6feet
Length:	58feet
Width:	8feet
Height:	13feet
Axleload:	21.25LT
Weightondrivers:	42LT
Locoweight:	65.11LT
Tenderweight:	52.65LT
Fueltype:	Coal
Boiler:	LNER Diagram 97
Boilerpressure:	1802NaN2
Cylindercount:	Three
Cylindersize:	17x
Tractiveeffort:	215561NaN1
Operator:	London and North Eastern Railway » British Railways
Powerclass:	BR: 4P
Axleloadclass:	Route availability 8
Locale:	North Eastern Region
Withdrawndate:	1957–1961
Disposition:	One preserved, remainder scrapped

The London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) D49 Class is a class of 4-4-0 steam locomotives designed by Nigel Gresley. They were named after fox hunts and shires.

One, 246/62712 Morayshire has been preserved on the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway.

Sub-classes

D49/1 Introduced 1927 with Walschaerts and, Gresley conjugated valve gear with 80NaN0 piston valves
D49/2 Introduced 1928 with Lentz rotary-cam poppet valves
D49/3 Introduced 1928 with Lentz oscillating-cam poppet valves
D class Introduced 1941 with Stephenson valve Gear and 8-inch(203 mm) piston valves

On 3 January 1931, locomotive No. 2758 Northumberland was hauling a passenger train that was derailed at Carlisle, Cumberland due to excessive speed through a curve. Three people were killed.^[1]
On August 16, 1952, the single D class locomotive No. 62768 The Morpeth was involved in a collision between a light engine and a passenger train at Dragon Junction near Starbeck. The other two locomotives involved were also Ex-LNER D49's. No.62758 The Cattistock and the other D49 were repaired after the accident but The Morpeth sustained substantial damage and was withdrawn and scrapped that same year. The Cattistock’s tender was damaged, so it and The Morpeth’s undamaged tender were swapped.^[2]
In July 1958, locomotive No. 62703 Hertfordshire ran into the turntable pit at, Yorkshire and rolled onto its side.^[3]

Book: Hall, Stanley . The Railway Detectives . 1990 . Ian Allan . London . 0-7110-1929-0 . 97 .
Web site: LNER Encyclopedia: The LNER Gresley D49 4-4-0 Hunt/Shire Class .
Book: Hoole, Ken . Ken Hoole
. Ken Hoole . Trains in Trouble: Vol. 4 . 1983 . Atlantic Books . Redruth . 0-906899-07-9 . 39 .