GCR Class 11F explained

Powertype:Steam
GCR Class 11F
LNER Class D11
Designer:John G. Robinson
Builddate:1919–1924
Totalproduction:35
Whytetype:4-4-0
Uicclass:2′B h2
Leadingdiameter:3feet
Driverdiameter:6feet
Length:56feet
Locoweight:61.15LT
Tenderweight:48.3LT
Fueltype:Coal
Watercap:4000impgal
Valvegear:Stephenson
Valvetype:10inches piston valves
Tubearea:972square feet
Fluearea:416square feet
Fireboxarea:155square feet
Totalsurface:1543square feet
Superheaterarea:209square feet
Cylindercount:Two, inside
Cylindersize:20x
Firearea:26.5square feet
Diameterinside:5feet to 5feet
Boilerpressure:1802NaN2
Tractiveeffort:196451NaN1
Powerclass:BR: 3P2F
Withdrawndate:1958–1962
Disposition:One preserved, remainder scrapped

The Great Central Railway Class 11F or Improved Director Class is a class of 4-4-0 steam locomotive designed by John G. Robinson for passenger work. The LNER classified them as Class D11 in 1923. They were based on the earlier GCR Class 11E "Director" class (LNER D10).

There were two subclasses: D11/1 were the original GCR engines and D11/2 were those built in 1924 by the LNER to a reduced loading gauge with smaller boiler mountings for hauling passenger trains in Scotland.[1]

Operational career

The 11F Class was initially used on passenger work on the GCR system, including fast expresses from Sheffield Victoria to London Marylebone. Later in their careers, they were used on short-distance passenger trains. On lines of the Cheshire Lines Committee during the late 1940s and early 1950s, they hauled expresses between Manchester Central and Liverpool Central; also semi-fast trains from Manchester Central via Northwich to Chester Northgate.

Their 6 ft 9 inches driving wheels made them fast locos, but consequently unsuitable for hauling freight trains. The eleven original 11F locos were withdrawn during 1959 and 1960 as diesel multiple units took over operation of the shorter distance passenger trains. The final Scottish D11/2 was withdrawn in January 1962.[2]

Preservation

The sixth member of the class, No. 506 Butler-Henderson, was withdrawn from use by British Railways during 1960. It has been preserved as part of the UK National Collection and currently wears restored GCR colours. No. 506 is the only surviving GCR passenger locomotive.

The locomotive operated passenger trains on the preserved Great Central Railway in Leicestershire during the late 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s but is now out of running order. The locomotive was placed on long-term loan for static display at Barrow Hill Engine Shed, near Chesterfield, in 2005, where she currently resides.[3]

Stock list

GCR No. !! width = 30%
Name !width = 12% Date built !width = 7%LNER No. !width = 7%1946
LNER No.
!
width = 14%Date withdrawn !width = 10%Notes
501 Mons 5501 2665
502 Zeebrugge 5502 2666
503 Somme 5503 2667
504 Jutland 5504 2668
505 Ypres 5505 2669
506 Butler-Henderson 5506 2660 Preserved
507 Gerard Powys Dewhurst 5507 2661
508 Prince of Wales 5508 2662
509 Prince Albert 5509 2663
510 Princess Mary 5510 2664
511 Marne 5511 2670
1378 Bailie MacWheeble 6378 2671
1379 Baron of Bradwardine 6379 2672
1380 Evan Dhu 6380 2673
1381 Flora MacIvor 6381 2674
1382 Colonel Gardiner 6382 2675
1383 Jonathan Oldbuck 6383 2676
1384 Edie Ochiltree 6384 2677
1385 Luckie Mucklebackit 6385 2678
1386 Lord Glenallan 6386 2679 First one to be withdrawn
1387 Lucy Ashton 6387 2680
1388 Captain Craigengelt 6388 2681
1389 Haystoun of Bucklaw 6389 2682
1390 Hobbie Elliott 6390 2683
1391 Wizard of the Moor 6391 2684
1392 Malcolm Graeme 6392 2685 Last one to be withdrawn
1393 The Fiery Cross 6393 2686
1394 Lord James of Douglas 6394 2687
1395 Ellen Douglas 6395 2688
1396 Maid of Lorn 6396 2689
1397 The Lady of the Lake 6397 2690
1398 Laird of Balmawhapple 6398 2691
1399 Allan-Bane 6399 2692
1400 Roderick Dhu 6400 2693
1401 James Fitzjames 6401 2694

Models

In 2012, Bachmann Branchline introduced models of the D11 in other Great Central liveries, LNER liveries and British Railway liveries.[4] In 2012, Bachmann produced an exclusive OO gauge model of No. 506 Butler-Henderson for the National Railway Museum shop, as a hundred-piece limited edition in Great Central livery.[5] [6] Bachmann's general production run of the model totalled 1,500.[7]

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Marsden . Richard . The Robinson Class D11 (GCR Class 11F) 'Improved Director' 4-4-0 Locomotives . www.lner.info . 28 January 2019.
  2. The Robinson 'D11' 4-4-0s. Evan. Green-Hughes. Hornby Magazine. 80–83. 65. November 2012. Hersham. Ian Allan Publishing. 1753-2469. 226087101.
  3. Web site: Director class "Butler Henderson", Great Central Railway . The Board of Trustees of the National Railway Museum . York . 6 February 2014 . 2 February 2014 . 20 February 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140220091614/http://www.nrm.org.uk/OurCollection/UsingTheRailway/CollectionItem.aspx?objid=1978-7030 . dead .
  4. Bachmann delivers 'Scottish Director'. Mike. Wild. Hornby Magazine. 78–79. 65. November 2012. Hersham. Ian Allan Publishing. 1753-2469. 226087101.
  5. Web site: Butler Henderson Arrives!. Hornby Magazine. 8 March 2013.
  6. New 'Director' for NRM. British Railway Modelling. 76. 20. 9. December 2012. Bourne. Warners Group Publications. 0968-0764. 1135061879.
  7. Butler Henderson. Tony. Wright. British Railway Modelling. 92. 20. 9. December 2012. Bourne. Warners Group Publications. 0968-0764. 1135061879.