The T.W.Worsdell F8 (NER Class A) 2-4-2T Locomotives
T.W.Worsdell quickly produced five
new designs after being appointed the Locomotive Superintendent of the North Eastern Railway (NER) in 1885.
These designs incorporated a number of new features which gave NER locomotives their characteristic look, and
would continue to be used in NER designs all the way to Grouping in 1923. These features included a
tapered chimney, brass covers for the safety valves, and a large protective cab.
One of these designs was for the 2-4-2T Class A (LNER F8) which was intended to
replace the "Bogie Tank Passenger" G6 0-4-4T as the
current NER passenger tank locomotive.
The F8 had radial tanks, and was really a slightly larger version of the
F4s which he had previously designed for the Great Eastern Railway (GER).
A total of sixty F8s were built between 1886 and 1892, in a total of six batches. The last of these
two batches were built under Wilson Worsdell's
tenure before he reverted back to the 0-4-4T arrangement with his
G5 class.
The first twenty were built with 17in diameter cylinders, whilst the remaining forty were built with
18in diameter cylinders. The first twenty were brought into line with these, between 1900 and 1920.
As they were designed for the same kind of work, the F8s usually worked alongside
the G5s and
G6s on branch line work and heavier
suburban work. After Grouping in 1923, they were mainly used on the lighter suburban services as well
as branch lines around Whitby, Northallerton, and Hawes.
With the introduction of railcars, withdrawals of the F8s started in 1928 and finished in 1938.
Both the younger G5s and
the older G6s outlived the F8s.
Technical Details
| Cylinders (x2): |
|
18x24in. |
| Motion: |
Joy |
slide valves |
| Boiler: |
Max. Diameter: |
4ft 3in |
|
Pressure: |
160psi |
|
Diagram No.: |
69 |
| Heating Surface: |
Total: |
1093 sq.ft. |
|
Firebox: |
98 sq.ft. |
|
Tubes: |
995 sq.ft. (205x 1.75in) |
| Grate Area: |
|
15.6 sq.ft. |
| Wheels: |
Leading: |
3ft 9.25in |
|
Coupled: |
5ft 7.25in |
|
Trailing: |
3ft 9.25in |
| Tractive Effort: |
15,725lb |
(@ 85% boiler pressure) |
| Total Wheelbase: |
|
23ft 1.5in |
| Engine Weight: |
53 tons 16cwt |
(full) |
| Max. Axle Load: |
|
16 tons 6cwt |
| Coal Capacity: |
|
2 tons 0cwt |
| Water Capacity: |
|
1241 gallons |
Preservation
The last F8s were withdrawn in 1937, and none survived into preservation.
Models
Falcon Brassworks sell a 4mm kit of the F8.
Acknowledgements
Thank you to the Mike Morant Collection for the photograph of
F8 No. 1583 at Rothbury.
Thank you to Malcolm Peirson for the photograph of NER No. 420 at Church Fenton.
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