LNWR Alfred the Great Class explained

LNWR Alfred the Great Class
Powertype:Steam
Designer:F. W. Webb
Builder:Crewe Works
Serialnumber:4125–4134, 4195–4204, 4285–4294, 4335–4344
Builddate:1901–1903
Totalproduction:40
Whytetype:4-4-0
Uicclass:2′B n4v
Leadingdiameter:3feet
Driverdiameter:7feet
Locoweight:57.6LT
Boilerpressure:2002NaN2
Totalsurface:1579.5square feet
Cylindercount:Four: two HP (outside); two LP (inside)
Hpcylindersize:16x
Lpcylindersize:NaNx
Valvegear:Joy
Tractiveeffort:80%: 165442NaN2
Powerclass:LMS: 2P
Numinclass:1 January 1923: 15
Withdrawndate:1923–1928
Disposition:33 rebuilt as 2-cylinder simple Renown-class locomotives (1913–1924); remainder (and all Renowns) scrapped.

The London and North Western Railway (LNWR) Alfred the Great class, after modification known as the Benbow Class was a class of 4-4-0 4-cylinder compound locomotives by F.W. Webb. A total of forty were built from 1901–1903. They were a development of the Jubilee Class, with a slightly larger boiler.

Unusually for the LNWR, the locomotives were assigned a number series, this being 1941–1980.

Compounds had proven unreliable, so starting in 1908 Whale started rebuilding the Jubilees into the 2-cylinder simple Renown Class. Bowen-Cooke started the same process with the Benbows in 1913, and these too were added to the Renown Class. Rebuilt engines retained their numbers. Benbow 1974 Howe was superheated in 1921; the only member of the class modified as such.

Number 1976 Lady Godiva was withdrawn in December 1922 without rebuilding. By the grouping of 1 January 1923, when the LNWR passed into London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) ownership, 25 had been rebuilt to Renowns, leaving fourteen Benbows. Of these, 1956 was withdrawn in early 1923 before it could be allocated an LMS number, but the remaining 13 (1944/52–55/64/66/67/69/70/74/77/79) were allocated the LMS numbers 5118–5130, sequentially. The LMS continued conversions, rebuilding another eight—1952–54/64/67/69/70/74 in 1923/4. The remainder four Benbows (1944/55/66/79) were withdrawn and scrapped between 1923 and 1927, with 1974 Howe going in 1928; none of these last five received their allocated LMS numbers.

Stock list

References

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