Thompson A2/3 Pacifics

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neildimmer
LNER A3 4-6-2
Posts: 1489
Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 11:49 am

Thompson A2/3 Pacifics

Post by neildimmer »

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.


https://tinyurl.com/46gpadef
neildimmer
LNER A3 4-6-2
Posts: 1489
Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 11:49 am

Re: Thompson A2/3 Pacifics

Post by neildimmer »

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.

https://tinyurl.com/48aen8d2
neildimmer
LNER A3 4-6-2
Posts: 1489
Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 11:49 am

Re: Thompson A2/3 Pacifics

Post by neildimmer »

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
https://tinyurl.com/pcwp2jh3
neildimmer
LNER A3 4-6-2
Posts: 1489
Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 11:49 am

Re: Thompson A2/3 Pacifics

Post by neildimmer »

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
https://tinyurl.com/m25xcred
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