NER 901 Class explained

NER 901 Class
Powertype:Steam
Builddate:1872-1882
Rebuilddate:1884-1885
Retiredate:1912 - 1925
Numberrebuilt:55
Totalproduction:55
Cylindercount:2 (inside)
Cylindersize:17inchesx24inchesin (xin) or NaNinchesx24inchesin (xin)
18inchesx24inchesin (xin) rebuilt
Valvegear:Stephenson
Valvetype:Slide valves
Boiler:4inchesft3inchesin (ftin) diameter
Boilerpressure:160psi
Totalsurface:1093square feet
Firearea:15.6square feet
Fireboxarea:98square feet
Tubearea:995square feet
Leadingdiameter:4inchesft6inchesin (ftin)
Driverdiameter:7inchesft0inchesin (ftin)
Tractiveeffort:12590lbf
Wheelbase:16inchesft1inchesin (ftin) engine
12inchesft3inchesin (ftin) tender
37inchesft1inchesin (ftin) total
Locoweight:39.7LT
Tenderweight:29.4LT
Locotenderweight:69.6LT
Axleload:14LT
Operator:North Eastern Railway
London & North Eastern Railway
Disposition:1 preserved (No. 910), remainder scrapped

The NER 901 Class was a class of steam locomotive of the North Eastern Railway, designed by Edward Fletcher. Between 1872 and 1882 55 of the class were built for the NER.

History

From their introduction, the 901 Class were used on the Newcastle-Edinburgh and Newcastle-York runs, hauling NaNt loads. During 1884, engines based at Gateshead depot averaged 4400miles per month. Apart from minor instances of updating, only two of the class underwent extensive rebuilding. More substantial modifications were made to the last of the Neilson-built engines, No. 933, which, in 1907, was not only reboilered but converted into a . She was scrapped in 1914, one of 29 of the class withdrawn between 1913 and 1914. But for the onset of the first World War, the rest of the class would have followed suit. Instead the curtailing of new construction led to a shortage of motive power and new work was found for the 901 Class. Some were drafted on to the coastal line between Scarborough and Bridlington but the majority were stationed at Darlington. From here they worked passenger services over the Stainmore route to Kirkby Stephen, Penrith and Tebay. Darlington also kept them on as pilots.

By 1923 only ten of the class remained and the now preserved No.910 was amongst the final five to be withdrawn from service. 910 was displayed by the NER when new at the 50th anniversary of Steam on the Stockton and Darlington railway in 1875, by the LNER at the 100th anniversary in 1925, and again by British Railways at the 150th anniversary in 1975.

Accidents and incidents

See main article: Rail accidents at Morpeth.

Preservation

Number 910 is preserved by the National Railway Museum. It was moved to the Stainmore Railway Company at Kirkby Stephen East station in 2011 for the Stainmore 150 celebrations, and remains there on loan, housed in the Darlington train shed of the main station building.

References

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Book: Hoole, Ken . Ken Hoole . Trains in Trouble: Vol. 4 . 1983 . Atlantic Books . Truro . 0-906899-07-9 . 13, 16.