Robinson D11 Improved Directors

Robinson's D10 'Director (GCR Class 11E) locomotives quickly proved to be very successful, and a second batch was ordered in March 1916. This order was cancelled with World War 1 on-going. In 1917, Robinson built his B3 'Lord Faringdon' 4-6-0 locomotives. Although these were a significant improvement over his previous B2 'Sir Sam Fay' 4-6-0 locomotives and further B3s would be ordered, they were not an unqualified success. Hence a further batch of five 4-4-0s similar to the D10s were ordered. The new locomotives had a number of modifications and were would become known as 'Improved Directors'. They were given the Great Central Railway (GCR) classification of 11F, and the LNER classification of D11. The first batch was delivered between 1919 and 1920.
The most significant modification was the use of inside admission piston valves. Side windows were also fitted to the cab.
The Improved Directors proved to be even more successful than the original D10s, and are generally acknowledged as Robinson's most successful express passenger design. A batch of six were ordered in 1922, when the GCR needed further express passenger locomotives.
2 photos in Great Central Livery 506 & 508
https://railway-photography.smugmug...-Locomotiv/The-Robinson-Class-D11-1/i-hGHbvDw
9 photos in LNER livery
https://railway-photography.smugmug...-Locomotiv/The-Robinson-Class-D11-1/i-pmNCJM8
Neil

 

I have now added photos of the D11's in BR days
https://railway-photography.smugmug.com/LNERSteam/Robinson-Locomotives-1/Robinson-D-Class-440-Locomotiv/The-Robinson-Class-D11-1-GCR/i-zLP3r54

The Robinson Class D11-1 (GCR Class 11F) 'Improved Director' 4-4-0 Locomotives (BR Days) - Railway-Photography
railway-photography.smugmug.com
railway photographs from the last 100 years





Robinson's D10 'Director (GCR Class 11E) locomotives quickly proved to be very successful, and a second batch was ordered in March 1916. This order was cancelled with World War 1 on-going. In 1917, Robinson built his B3 'Lord Faringdon' 4-6-0 locomotives. Although these were a significant improvement over his previous B2 'Sir Sam Fay' 4-6-0 locomotives and further B3s would be ordered, they were not an unqualified success. Hence a further batch of five 4-4-0s similar to the D10s were ordered. The new locomotives had a number of modifications and were would become known as 'Improved Directors'. They were given the Great Central Railway (GCR) classification of 11F, and the LNER classification of D11. The first batch was delivered between 1919 and 1920.
The most significant modification was the use of inside admission piston valves. Side windows were also fitted to the cab.
The Improved Directors proved to be even more successful than the original D10s, and are generally acknowledged as Robinson's most successful express passenger design. A batch of six were ordered in 1922, when the GCR needed further express passenger locomotives.



Neil