Thompson Pacifics of the LNER

The London and North Eastern Railway Class A2/2 was a class of six 4-6-2 steam locomotives rebuilt by Edward Thompson in 1943 and 1944 from his predecessor’s P2 Class of 2-8-2 express passenger locomotives. The rebuilds were not particularly successful and all were withdrawn and scrapped between 1959 and 1961.
On taking up office as Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London and North Eastern Railway in April 1941, Edward Thompson proposed an unstreamlined mixed traffic version of Sir Nigel Gresley’s A4 class pacifics with 6 ft 2 in (1.880 m) driving wheels, but new construction would not have been authorised at this time.[1] He therefore rebuilt the six of his predecessor P2 Class of 2-8-2 express passenger as pacific locomotives to try out his own thoughts on their design. The P2 Class 2-8-2 had been built between 1934 and 1936 for service between Edinburgh and Aberdeen and had proved to be powerful and capable locomotives. However, the long fixed wheelbase was not ideally suited to the winding route, giving rise to maintenance problems on both the track and the locomotives, notably failure of the crank axle. However, O.S. Nock stated that the P2 class 'rode easily and elegantly around the sharpest curves.' In either event, rather than transfer the locomotives to other duties on the East Coast Main Line south of Newcastle, where this would have been less of a problem, Thompson saw this as a chance to try out his own ideas of locomotive design.
Design
The pony truck and front coupled wheels of the original design were replaced by a newly designed bogie. The boiler barrel was shortened by 2 ft 0.25 in (0.616 m)and a new front end was designed with 20 in × 26 in (508 mm × 660 mm) cylinders. Rather than have all three cylinders driving a single axle Thompson adopted divided drive with the middle cylinder driving the first pair of driving wheels and the outside cylinders the middle pair. However, In order to retain the original three connecting rods of the same length, the outside cylinders were set back behind the bogie, giving the locomotives an ungainly appearance. Thompson also removed the Gresley conjugated valve gear and instead fitted independent sets of Walschaerts valve gear to each cylinder. The first locomotive to be rebuilt at Doncaster Works was No. 2005, Thane of Fife, which was ordered in October 1942 and completed in January 1943. After trials the remaining five P2 locomotives were ordered to be rebuilt in September 1943 and they all appeared in traffic during 1944.
Performance
The new design steamed well and retained much of the power of the P2's. The reduced weight meant they had a high power to weight ratio, and were good at hauling high speed expresses, although in the opinion of O.S. Nock they 'acquired a particularly bad reputation for wild and unsafe riding at high speed!' However, there were other problems which prevented them from ever making an impact on the east coast main line. The first of these was a lack of adhesion causing wheel slip when starting, which meant that they could not be used on the Edinburgh-Aberdeen line for which they had originally been built. The second problem was that of reliability caused by their having been adapted from quite different locomotives. Both the A2/2 and the subsequent A2/3 suffered badly from frame movement, vibration and loose fittings. Using equal length connecting rods, as well as the divided drive meant that the centre cylinder was much further forward than the outside cylinders. During their lifetime in service Earl Marischal was the only A2/2 to cover over one million miles, 360,907 as a P2 and 673,947 as an A2/2.
Withdrawal
Withdrawals from stock began in 1959 starting with 60505 Thane Of Fife on 10 November 1959. The next A2/2 to be withdrawn was Lord President on 27 November 1959. 60501 Cock o' the North was withdrawn in 1960, while 60504 and 60506 were withdrawn in 1961, with 60502 the last member of the class withdrawn on 3 July 1961.
(From Wiki)

I have added over 20 new photos to this collection starting with
60501 Cock O' the North On Doncaster shed yard 17th June 1951
https://tinyurl.com/y3828hl9
60501 Cock o' the North Doncaster works 8th May 1960 waiting to be cut up behind is a S&D 7F 2-8-0
https://tinyurl.com/y5pk52zp
Full collection of new photos start here
https://tinyurl.com/y4g7qqab

Neil

 

The London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) Thompson Class A2/1 was a class of 4-6-2 steam locomotives built at Darlington locomotive works during 1944. They were originally ordered as Class V2 locomotives, as designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, but were revised during construction into a 4-6-2 'Pacific' arrangement under the instruction of Edward Thompson.
At the time Edward Thompson succeeded Sir Nigel Gresley as Chief Mechanical Engineer of the LNER in April 1941, Darlington works was busy building Class V2 mixed traffic locomotives. Although the V2 class were competent and powerful locomotives, Thompson did not like this design as it required more servicing than his own mixed traffic B1 class 4-6-0. He also envisaged a time when the V2s would be replaced by his own design of 'Pacific' locomotives, but would not receive authority to build a new class during the war. He therefore decided to build the final four V2 already authorised as experimental 'Pacific' locomotives along similar lines to his recently rebuilt A2/2 class. The revised design was authorised in August 1943 and the new locomotives built between May 1944 and January 1945
The pony truck of the V2 class was replaced by Thompson's own design of bogie and they had an extended smokebox. They retained the same boiler as the V2 class although the pressure was increased to 225psi, giving an increased tractive effort of 36,390 lbf (161.87 kN). The firebox was also the same as the V2 although these were the first LNER locomotives to be fitted with a rocking grate and ashpan. Rather than have all three cylinders driving a single axle Thompson adopted divided drive with the middle cylinder driving the first pair of driving wheels and the outside cylinders the middle pair. Thompson also abandoned the Gresley conjugated valve gear and instead fitted independent sets of Walschaerts valve gear to each cylinder. The four locomotives of this design performed adequately but proved to be under-boilered for their size and lacked adhesion. They were less problematic than the A2/2 class, but did not distinguish themselves.
Quite a large collection of over 35 photos
Starting with this photo of
60509 Waverley near Edinburgh Waverley station
https://tinyurl.com/y2yh7qmp
LNER era starts here
509 still unnamed and minus smoke deflectors
https://tinyurl.com/y5py6x4r
B.R. era starts here
60507 Highland Chieftain Haymarket June 1958
https://tinyurl.com/y2xn8ssb

Neil.

 

Gresley P2 'Mikado' class rebuilt as Thompson A2/2 Pacifics
I have added a few new photos to this collection, showing 5 of the 6 locos
Starting here with
60501 Cock o' the North York Carriage sidings 16th July 1950
https://tinyurl.com/yeg95ldp

Neil

 

The London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) Class A2/3 was a class of 4-6-2 steam locomotives. They were newly constructed locomotives, fulfilling the requirement identified by Edward Thompson for a standard express passenger locomotive of the 4-6-2 arrangement with 6 ft 2 in (1.880 m) driving wheels. Fifteen engines were constructed according to this original design, but following the retirement of Thompson as CME, the remaining fifteen locomotives that were planned were immediately redesigned and ultimately emerged as Peppercorn Class A2.
When Edward Thompson was appointed Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London and North Eastern Railway in April 1941, he envisaged a new standardisation programme involving ten locomotive designs including two Pacific types. These were an express passenger type (designated A1) with 6 ft 8 in (2.032 m) driving wheels and a 'heavy passenger and freight' type (designated A2) with 6 ft 2 in (1.880 m) driving wheels. He was not able to proceed with his plan due to the Second World War but did try out some of his ideas by rebuilding Nigel Gresley's P2 class 2-8-2 as A2/2 pacifics and building the last four V2 class already on order as A2/1 pacifics. At last in April 1944 Thompson received authority to build thirty new locomotives of his A2 type during 1945, and a further thirteen during 1946
I have added new photos to this collection which features the locos in the LNER era
Including this photo of
500 Edward Thompson passing over the flat crossing at Newark Thompson A2-3
https://tinyurl.com/46gpadef
Full collection of new photos starts here
https://tinyurl.com/68ttseua

Neil.

 

47 / 71 = Peterborough NORTH

 

The London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) Class A2/3 was a class of 4-6-2 steam locomotives. They were newly constructed locomotives, fulfilling the requirement identified by Edward Thompson for a standard express passenger locomotive of the 4-6-2 arrangement with 6 ft 2 in (1.880 m) driving wheels. Fifteen engines were constructed according to this original design, but following the retirement of Thompson as CME, the remaining fifteen locomotives that were planned were immediately redesigned and ultimately emerged as Peppercorn Class A2.
When Edward Thompson was appointed Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London and North Eastern Railway in April 1941, he envisaged a new standardisation programme involving ten locomotive designs including two Pacific types. These were an express passenger type (designated A1) with 6 ft 8 in (2.032 m) driving wheels and a 'heavy passenger and freight' type (designated A2) with 6 ft 2 in (1.880 m) driving wheels. He was not able to proceed with his plan due to the Second World War but did try out some of his ideas by rebuilding Nigel Gresley's P2 class 2-8-2 as A2/2 pacifics and building the last four V2 class already on order as A2/1 pacifics. At last in April 1944 Thompson received authority to build thirty new locomotives of his A2 type during 1945, and a further thirteen during 1946
The locomotives were due to be built at Doncaster works but were subject to various delays and so only the first, No. 500 appeared in traffic in May 1946, prior to Thompson's retirement aged sixty-five, the following month. Fourteen further examples were then under construction and appeared under Thompson's successor Arthur Peppercorn, between July 1946 and September 1947. After trials during the summer and autumn 1946 Peppercorn decided not to build the remaining locomotives authorised until he had made modifications to the designs it has been suggested that the Doncaster staff had begun amending the design before Thompson's retirement. The class was then redesignated A2/3, and the Peppercorn design became the standard A2 class.
I have added nearly 150 photos of these locos all taken in the B.R. era
Including this photo of
60522 Straight Deal on a freight service passing Carrochburn September 1964
https://tinyurl.com/48aen8d2
60523 Sun Castle on the right alongside 60119 Patrick Stirling at Kings Cross
https://tinyurl.com/yhsc2h6m
Full collection starts here with
60500 Edward Thompson New England shed 10th April 1960
https://tinyurl.com/1ivhnlej

Neil.

 

68 + 69 / 147 = Same location !! but which ??

79 / 147 = Haymarket (Duplicates 73 - 77)

83 / 147 Haymarket Shed (Duplicates 86-87)

90 / 147 = Haymarket (Duplicates above sets)

100 / 147 = Portobello ?

122 / 147 = Peterborough New England

123 / 147 = NOT at New England

133 / 147 = Peterborough NORTH

135 / 147 = stored at (Peterborough) New England

137 / 147 = (Peterborough) New England

 

I have added over 20 new photos of Thompson’s A2/2 Pacific locos, the rebuild of Gresley’s P2 design
Including this photo of
60505 Thane of Fife with a freight service at Hitchin
https://tinyurl.com/4xxsdftn
New photos start here with LNER era
503 Lord President Haymarket shed 1947
https://tinyurl.com/f6ztb57e
B.R. era new photos start here
60501 Cock o' the North at Doncaster March 1953
https://tinyurl.com/m9mw4b6x
including
60502 Earl Marischal with BR number but still with LNER on tender Ferryhill 16th June 1949
https://tinyurl.com/6xzpt3u8

Neil

 

81 / 92 = York South once the original York railway museum ?

 

I have added a couple of new photos of Thompson’s A2/2 Pacific locos, the rebuild of Gresley’s P2 design
60503 Lord President at York 3rd August 1957
https://tinyurl.com/4j4uwzew
60504 Mons Meg with a parcels service at York 3rd August 1957
https://tinyurl.com/5r983x85

Neil

 

37 / 94 = York South [original NRM ? / duplicates 40 / 94]

61 / 94 = Haymarket shed ?

 

I have added a lot of new photos to the collection of
Thompson A2/1 Pacifics
Including this photo of
60507 Highland Chieftain (with K2-2 61781 Loch Morar behind) Eastfield shed
https://tinyurl.com/y7n8hx9u

LNER era starts here
https://tinyurl.com/jb5skbw8

B.R. era start here
https://tinyurl.com/2kb2nshz

Neil

 

I have 4 new photos to the collection of Thompson A2/2 Pacifics

Including this ex works photo of
504 Mons Meg Doncaster Works 1948
https://tinyurl.com/wxb36eu5
60503 Lord President with a freight service at York August 1957
https://tinyurl.com/4j4uwzew
60505 Thane of Fife Grantham 9th July 1958
https://tinyurl.com/55d7b3h4
60505 Thane of Fife unknown location
https://tinyurl.com/24hhsjj8

Neil

 

I have a lot of new photos of Thompsons A2/3 Pacifics
This 1st collection features the locos in the LNER era
New photos start here with
500 Edward Thompson Doncaster shed 26th June 1946
https://tinyurl.com/pcwp2jh3
511 Airborne at Grantham 3rd October 1947
https://tinyurl.com/4b6d4xuk
513 Dante Belle Isle yard 5th October 1946
https://tinyurl.com/wsnd6dfk
516 Hycilla unknown location
https://tinyurl.com/3cj99w5t
521 Watling Street unknown location c1948
https://tinyurl.com/54nbce8n

Neil

 

I have a lot of new photos of Thompsons A2/3 Pacifics
This 2nd collection features the locos in the B.R. era
Including this photo of
60512 Steady Aim crossing the Royal Border bridge at Berwick
https://tinyurl.com/m25xcred
new photos start here with
60500 Edward Thompson
https://tinyurl.com/k4ekbkpd
then
60511 Airborne
https://tinyurl.com/ytuzyxbf
to
60512 Steady Aim
https://tinyurl.com/rj9ytdux
to
60519 Honeyway
https://tinyurl.com/2d5d39t9

Neil

 

153 / 185 + 154 / 185 = Peterborough New England shed ?
155 / 185 = Duplicates 154 / 185

 

I have added some new photos to the Collection of Thompson A2/1 Pacifics
Majority of the photos are taken in Scotland
including this photo of
60509 Waverley in the picturesque Princes St Gardens setting 8th June 1951
https://tinyurl.com/2zusyx8c
18 new photos start here with
LNER era
508 Duke of Rothesay York shed 1946
https://tinyurl.com/yckzfe96
B.R. era start here with
60507 Highland Chieftain Dundee station
https://tinyurl.com/5n8hnhke
to
60510 Robert The Bruce passing Haymarket station
https://tinyurl.com/ycktp29f

Neil

 

I have added 4 new photos to the Collection of Thompson A2/2 Pacifics
All the photos taken on Haymarket shed Scotland
60501 Cock o' the North on Haymarket shed
https://tinyurl.com/bdz383tn
60502 Earl Marischal at Haymarket shed
https://tinyurl.com/ys86daw2
60503 Lord President at Haymarket shed
https://tinyurl.com/2p8583cn
60506 Wolf of Badenoch Haymarket shed
https://tinyurl.com/2p8bvxtu

Neil

 

I have added 4 new photos to the Collection of Thompson A2/3 Pacifics
60514 Chamossaire Unknown location
https://tinyurl.com/ym6mu5br
60521 Watling Street Haymarket shed
https://tinyurl.com/2cnsk3d7
60522 Straight Deal unknown location
https://tinyurl.com/4vkux73j
60523 Sun Castle Unknown location c1957
https://tinyurl.com/26fndefu

Neil