The G3 (GCR Class C) 0-4-4T Locomotives

These six locomotives were designed for the Lancashire Derbyshire & East Coast Railway (LD&ECR) by Kitsons of Leeds, and were built between 1897 and 1898. These were of a typical Kitsons design and used a similar boiler to the GCR Class B 0-6-0T (LNER J60) which they had built for the LD&ECR a few months earlier. The G3s were unique as the only true passenger type owned by the LD&ECR. They were used on the LD&ECR's main line between Lincoln and Chesterfield, but also worked into the Sheffield (Midland) station.

The LD&ECR was absorbed into the Great Central Railway (GCR) at the beginning of 1907. During GCR ownership, many of this class carried duplicate numbers with suffix "B" or "C" letters. All were eventually renumbered with unique numbers during the LNER renumbering scheme of 1924.

Very few changes were made to these locomotives. The GCR added steam sanding and replaced the original "Caledonian" hooters with GCR-style whistles. The GCR also added a third coal rail to the coal bunker to increase coal capacity, although No. 1150B kept its two rails but they were spaced wider apart. The GCR replaced the original Kitson chimneys with a Robinson pattern, which in turn was replaced by the LNER with an LNER flowerpot chimney. The LNER also fitted pop safety valves on some of the class.

During the 1920s, five of the class would end up restricted to the Sheffield Area. The sixth (No. 6404) was moved to the West Riding and worked out of Ardsley, to be the first to be withdrawn in 1931. The other five engines were withdrawn between 1931 and 1935.

Technical Details

Preservation

The last G3 was withdrawn in 1935 and none survived into preservation.

Models

I am not aware of any models of the G3 tank locomotives.