LNWR Whale Precursor Class

LNWR Precursor Class

No. 513, Precursor in photographic grey livery

Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Designer	George Whale
Builder	LNWR Crewe Works
Serial number	4415–4419, 4440–4504, 4510–4549, 4660–4679
Build date	1904–1907
Total produced	130

Specifications
Configuration	4-4-0
UIC class	2′B n2 or 2′B h2
Gauge	4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in (1,435 mm)
Driver dia.	6 ft 9 in (2.057 m)
Loco weight	59.15 long tons (60.10 t)
Boiler pressure	175 psi (1.21 MPa)
Cylinders	Two
Cylinder size	19 in × 26 in (483 mm × 660 mm) or 20 ¹⁄₂ in × 26 in (521 mm × 660 mm)
Valve gear	Joy

Performance figures
Tractive effort	18,222 lbf (81.1 kN) or 20,640 lbf (91.8 kN)

Career
Operators	London and North Western Railway → London, Midland and Scottish Railway → British Railways
Power class	LMS: 2P, 3P
Number in class	1 January 1923: 130 1 January 1948: 1
Withdrawn	1927–1949
Disposition	All scrapped

The London and North Western Railway (LNWR) Precursor Class, the second to be known by that name, was a class of 4-4-0 steam locomotives.

History

The class were introduced by George Whale in 1904 and 130 examples were built by Crewe Works up to 1907. Their introduction allowed Whale to phase out his predecessor Francis Webb's unreliable compound locomotives. They were essentially a larger version of Webb's LNWR Improved Precedent Class. As built, they were saturated, though some were later superheated.

Whale's Experiment Class 4-6-0 were essentially an extended version built from 1905. An Atlantic tank engine version, Precursor Tank Class was also built from 1906. The Precursors were developed by Charles Bowen-Cooke into the superheated George the Fifth Class 4-4-0 (1910). The main visual difference was that the Precursors had separate splashers over each of the driving wheels while the Georges had combined splashers that covered both pairs.

The LNWR reused numbers and names from withdrawn locomotives, with the result that the numbering system was completely haphazard. Starting with the first of the class 513 Precursor in 1913, were given superheaters, the process continuing until just after grouping in 1923. Most of the superheated engines were also converted from having slide valves to piston valves.

This resulted in two main subclasses; saturated locomotives with 19 by 26 inches (480 mm × 660 mm) cylinders, and superheated locomotives with 20.5 by 26 inches (520 mm × 660 mm) cylinders. The LMS gave them the power classification 3P. The saturated engines were given the LMS numbers in the 5187–5266 series, though not all survived long enough to receive them. The superheated engines were given the LMS numbers 5270–5319 (5267–5269 were not used).

The LMS continued to superheat engines until 1926, these rebuilds retained their LMS number. Also, three superheated engines became saturated via boiler swaps.

Withdrawals of the saturated engines started in 1927 and the last engine in as built condition was withdrawn in 1935. The four superheated engines which retained slide valves were withdrawn 1931–1936. Withdrawals of the superheated engines with piston valves began in 1935. Those not withdrawn had 20000 added to their numbers 1934–1937 to make room for Black Fives.

At the end of 1939 only seven survived. Only a single example was inherited by British Railways in 1948, 25297 Sirocco, which was withdrawn in 1949. Despite being allocated the number 58010, that was never applied.

None was preserved.

Accidents and incidents

On 17 June 1932, locomotive No. 5278 Precursor was hauling a passenger train that was derailed at Great Bridgeford, Staffordshire.^[1]

Fleet list

Table of locomotives
LNWR No.	Name	Crewe Works No.	Date built	LMS No.	Date withdrawn	Notes
513	Precursor	4415	000000001904-03-01-0000March 1904	5278	000000001936-07-01-0000July 1936
1395	Harbinger	4416	000000001904-03-01-0000March 1904	5291	000000001937-07-01-0000July 1937	†
1419	Tamerlane	4417	000000001904-03-01-0000March 1904	5285	000000001936-03-01-0000March 1936
2023	Helvellyn	4418	000000001904-04-01-0000April 1904	5187	000000001936-03-01-0000March 1936	†
2164	Oberon	4419	000000001904-05-01-0000May 1904	5277	000000001946-08-01-0000August 1946	†
2	Simoom	4440	000000001904-06-01-0000June 1904	5308	000000001936-10-01-0000October 1936
7	Titan	4441	000000001904-06-01-0000June 1904	5276	000000001935-10-01-0000October 1935
412	Marquis	4442	000000001904-06-01-0000June 1904	5188	000000001940-04-01-0000April 1940	†
510	Albatross	4443	000000001904-06-01-0000June 1904	5189	000000001933-08-01-0000August 1933
659	Dreadnought	4444	000000001904-06-01-0000June 1904	5296	000000001936-05-01-0000May 1936
639	Ajax	4445	000000001904-10-01-0000October 1904	5190	000000001928-09-01-0000September 1928
648	Archimedes	4446	000000001904-10-01-0000October 1904	5191	000000001928-01-01-0000January 1928
685	Cossack	4447	000000001904-10-01-0000October 1904	5192	000000001932-04-01-0000April 1932
60	Dragon	4448	000000001904-10-01-0000October 1904	5298	000000001938-10-01-0000October 1938	†
106	Druid	4449	000000001904-10-01-0000October 1904	5294	000000001937-05-01-0000May 1937	†
301	Leviathan	4450	000000001904-11-01-0000November 1904	5289	000000001936-04-01-0000April 1936
305	Senator	4451	000000001904-11-01-0000November 1904	5307	000000001937-03-01-0000March 1937	†
643	Sirocco	4452	000000001904-11-01-0000November 1904	5297	000000001949-06-01-0000June 1949	‡
1102	Thunderbolt	4453	000000001904-11-01-0000November 1904	5193	000000001931-09-01-0000September 1931
1117	Vandal	4454	000000001904-11-01-0000November 1904	5194	000000001931-11-01-0000November 1931
310	Achilles	4455	000000001904-12-01-0000December 1904	5290	000000001936-10-01-0000October 1936
333	Ambassador	4456	000000001904-12-01-0000December 1904	5284	000000001936-08-01-0000August 1936
515	Champion	4457	000000001904-12-01-0000December 1904	5282	000000001939-12-01-0000December 1939	†
622	Euphrates	4458	000000001904-12-01-0000December 1904	5195	000000001927-11-01-0000November 1927
638	Huskisson	4459	000000001904-12-01-0000December 1904	5196	000000001933-04-01-0000April 1933
303	Himalaya	4460	000000001905-01-01-0000January 1905	5305	000000001936-02-01-0000February 1936
645	Mammoth	4461	000000001905-01-01-0000January 1905	5197	000000001930-11-01-0000November 1930
806	Swiftsure	4462	000000001905-01-01-0000January 1905	5318	000000001935-10-01-0000October 1935
1120	Thunderer	4463	000000001905-01-01-0000January 1905	5310	000000001939-08-01-0000August 1939	†
1137	Vesuvius	4464	000000001905-02-01-0000February 1905	5299	000000001936-08-01-0000August 1936	†
323	Argus	4465	000000001905-02-01-0000February 1905	5303	000000001936-10-01-0000October 1936
1104	Cedric	4466	000000001905-02-01-0000February 1905	5199	000000001933-11-01-0000November 1933
1111	Cerberus	4467	000000001905-03-01-0000March 1905	5200	000000001934-10-01-0000October 1934
1431	Egeria	4468	000000001905-03-01-0000March 1905	5201	000000001930-12-01-0000December 1930
2064	Jason	4469	000000001905-03-01-0000March 1905	5273	000000001931-08-01-0000August 1931
40	Niagara	4470	000000001905-03-01-0000March 1905	5198	000000001930-11-01-0000November 1930
520	Panopea	4471	000000001905-03-01-0000March 1905	5202	000000001934-01-01-0000January 1934
1469	Tantalus	4472	000000001905-03-01-0000March 1905	5288	000000001937-03-01-0000March 1937	†
1737	Viscount	4473	000000001905-03-01-0000March 1905	5316	000000001936-07-01-0000July 1936
2031	Waverley	4474	000000001905-03-01-0000March 1905	5203	000000001931-12-01-0000December 1931
365	Alchymist	4475	000000001905-04-01-0000April 1905	5287	000000001937-06-01-0000June 1937	†
1115	Apollo	4476	000000001905-04-01-0000April 1905	5205	000000001928-02-01-0000February 1928
1545	Cyclops	4477	000000001905-04-01-0000April 1905	5206	000000001932-05-01-0000May 1932
1573	Dunrobin	4478	000000001905-04-01-0000April 1905	5286	000000001936-04-01-0000April 1936	†
2061	Eglinton	4479	000000001905-04-01-0000April 1905	5207	000000001936-08-01-0000August 1936	†
184	Havelock	4480	000000001905-05-01-0000May 1905	5204	000000001931-09-01-0000September 1931
366	Medusa	4481	000000001905-05-01-0000May 1905	5292	000000001945-04-01-0000April 1945	†
519	Messenger	4482	000000001905-05-01-0000May 1905	5208	000000001931-12-01-0000December 1931
2120	Trentham	4483	000000001905-05-01-0000May 1905	5209	000000001927-10-01-0000October 1927
1430	Victor	4484	000000001905-05-01-0000May 1905	5210	000000001931-10-01-0000October 1931
113	Aurania	4485	000000001905-07-01-0000July 1905	5211	000000001936-10-01-0000October 1936	†
300	Emerald	4486	000000001905-07-01-0000July 1905	5301	000000001935-10-01-0000October 1935
302	Greyhound	4487	000000001905-07-01-0000July 1905	5304	000000001947-01-01-0000January 1947	†
315	Harrowby	4488	000000001905-07-01-0000July 1905	5212	000000001936-12-01-0000December 1936	†
688	Hecate	4489	000000001905-07-01-0000July 1905	5274	000000001935-10-01-0000October 1935
1509	America	4490	000000001905-07-01-0000July 1905	5214	000000001928-03-01-0000March 1928
617	Hydra	4491	000000001905-08-01-0000August 1905	5300	000000001940-07-01-0000July 1940	†
1723	Scorpion	4492	000000001905-08-01-0000August 1905	5295	000000001936-12-01-0000December 1936
2062	Sunbeam	4493	000000001905-08-01-0000August 1905	5279	000000001939-08-01-0000August 1939	†
2257	Vulture	4494	000000001905-08-01-0000August 1905	5215	000000001933-12-01-0000December 1933
311	Emperor	4495	000000001905-09-01-0000September 1905	5213	000000001933-08-01-0000August 1933
374	Empress	4496	000000001905-09-01-0000September 1905	5317	000000001936-06-01-0000June 1936
811	Express	4497	000000001905-09-01-0000September 1905	5311	000000001940-03-01-0000March 1940	†
911	Herald	4498	000000001905-09-01-0000September 1905	5216	000000001936-02-01-0000February 1936	†
1114	Knowsley	4499	000000001905-09-01-0000September 1905	5217	000000001933-01-01-0000January 1933
1116	Pandora	4500	000000001905-09-01-0000September 1905	5218	000000001936-04-01-0000April 1936	†
1510	Psyche	4501	000000001905-09-01-0000September 1905	5219	000000001930-12-01-0000December 1930
1784	Python	4502	000000001905-10-01-0000October 1905	5220	000000001931-11-01-0000November 1931
2165	Shooting Star	4503	000000001905-10-01-0000October 1905	5280	000000001935-11-01-0000November 1935
2202	Vizier	4504	000000001905-10-01-0000October 1905	5221	000000001930-12-01-0000December 1930
117	Alaska	4510	000000001905-10-01-0000October 1905	5222	000000001933-09-01-0000September 1933
1301	Candidate	4511	000000001905-10-01-0000October 1905	5225	000000001936-12-01-0000December 1936	†
1363	Brindley	4512	000000001905-10-01-0000October 1905	5272	000000001939-12-01-0000December 1939	†
1396	Harpy	4513	000000001905-11-01-0000November 1905	5226	000000001930-12-01-0000December 1930
2007	Oregon	4514	000000001905-11-01-0000November 1905	5227	000000001927-10-01-0000October 1927
2012	Penguin	4515	000000001905-11-01-0000November 1905	5228	000000001931-11-01-0000November 1931
2115	Servia	4516	000000001905-11-01-0000November 1905	5229	000000001932-04-01-0000April 1932
127	Snake	4517	000000001905-11-01-0000November 1905	5223	000000001936-11-01-0000November 1936	†
229	Stork	4518	000000001905-11-01-0000November 1905	5224	000000001927-11-01-0000November 1927
1439	Tiger	4519	000000001905-11-01-0000November 1905	5275	000000001933-01-01-0000January 1933
2576	Arab	4520	000000001905-12-01-0000December 1905	5230	000000001933-09-01-0000September 1933
2577	Etna	4521	000000001905-12-01-0000December 1905	5313	000000001936-02-01-0000February 1936
2578	Fame	4522	000000001905-12-01-0000December 1905	5309	000000001936-08-01-0000August 1936
2579	Ganymede	4523	000000001905-12-01-0000December 1905	5231	000000001936-02-01-0000February 1936
2580	Problem	4524	000000001905-12-01-0000December 1905	5232	000000001931-12-01-0000December 1931
2581	Peel	4525	000000001905-12-01-0000December 1905	5233	000000001934-08-01-0000August 1934
2582	Rowland Hill	4526	000000001905-12-01-0000December 1905	5234	000000001928-12-01-0000December 1928
2583	Moonstone	4527	000000001905-12-01-0000December 1905	5235	000000001935-04-01-0000April 1935
2584	Velocipede	4528	000000001906-01-01-0000January 1906	5312	000000001935-12-01-0000December 1935
2585	Watt	4529	000000001906-01-01-0000January 1906	5236	000000001933-12-01-0000December 1933
723	Coptic	4530	000000001906-02-01-0000February 1906	5239	000000001936-01-01-0000January 1936
837	Friar	4531	000000001906-02-01-0000February 1906	5240	000000001933-10-01-0000October 1933
1312	Ionic	4532	000000001906-02-01-0000February 1906	5242	000000001930-11-01-0000November 1930
1387	Lang Meg	4533	000000001906-03-01-0000March 1906	5306	000000001936-02-01-0000February 1936
1642	Lapwing	4534	000000001906-03-01-0000March 1906	5243	000000001935-11-01-0000November 1935
2513	Levens	4535	000000001906-03-01-0000March 1906	5293	000000001939-06-01-0000June 1939	†
234	Pearl	4536	000000001906-03-01-0000March 1906	5237	000000001932-02-01-0000February 1932
526	Ilion	4537	000000001906-03-01-0000March 1906	5238	000000001928-12-01-0000December 1928
1311	Napoleon	4538	000000001906-03-01-0000March 1906	5241	000000001936-01-01-0000January 1936
2017	Tubal	4539	000000001906-03-01-0000March 1906	5244	000000001935-11-01-0000November 1935
282	Alaric	4540	000000001906-04-01-0000April 1906	5314	000000001935-11-01-0000November 1935
561	Antaeus	4541	000000001906-04-01-0000April 1906	5245	000000001941-03-01-0000March 1941	†
675	Adjutant	4542	000000001906-04-01-0000April 1906	5246	000000001936-02-01-0000February 1936
772	Admiral	4543	000000001906-04-01-0000April 1906	5247	000000001927-10-01-0000October 1927
804	Amphion	4544	000000001906-04-01-0000April 1906	5248	000000001935-10-01-0000October 1935
990	Bucephalus	4545	000000001906-04-01-0000April 1906	5319	000000001940-12-01-0000December 1940	†
988	Bellerophon	4546	000000001906-04-01-0000April 1906	5249	000000001933-06-01-0000June 1933
1433	Faerie Queene	4547	000000001906-04-01-0000April 1906	5250	000000001936-01-01-0000January 1936
1650	Richard Trevithick	4548	000000001906-05-01-0000May 1906	5251	000000001928-02-01-0000February 1928
1787	Hyperion	4549	000000001906-05-01-0000May 1906	5252	000000001930-12-01-0000December 1930
1	Clive	4660	000000001907-06-01-0000June 1907	5253	000000001930-11-01-0000November 1930
218	Daphne	4661	000000001907-06-01-0000June 1907	5254	000000001933-08-01-0000August 1933
419	Monarch	4662	000000001907-06-01-0000June 1907	5255	000000001930-12-01-0000December 1930
564	Erebus	4663	000000001907-06-01-0000June 1907	5281	000000001936-09-01-0000September 1936
665	Mersey	4664	000000001907-06-01-0000June 1907	5256	000000001927-10-01-0000October 1927
469	Marmion	4665	000000001907-06-01-0000June 1907	5270	000000001936-05-01-0000May 1936
1011	Locke	4666	000000001907-07-01-0000July 1907	5257	000000001933-01-01-0000January 1933
1364	Clyde	4667	000000001907-07-01-0000July 1907	5258	000000001930-12-01-0000December 1930
2053	Edith	4668	000000001907-07-01-0000July 1907	5259	000000001934-03-01-0000March 1934
2181	Eleanor	4669	000000001907-07-01-0000July 1907	5260	000000001933-12-01-0000December 1933
276	Doric	4670	000000001907-07-01-0000July 1907	5261	000000001927-11-01-0000November 1927
754	Celtic	4671	000000001907-07-01-0000July 1907	5262	000000001930-12-01-0000December 1930
802	Gaelic	4672	000000001907-07-01-0000July 1907	5271	000000001931-12-01-0000December 1931
807	Oceanic	4673	000000001907-08-01-0000August 1907	5263	000000001933-11-01-0000November 1933
976	Pacific	4674	000000001907-08-01-0000August 1907	5264	000000001928-12-01-0000December 1928
1297	Phalaris	4675	000000001907-08-01-0000August 1907	5265	000000001931-11-01-0000November 1931
1309	Shamrock	4676	000000001907-08-01-0000August 1907	5302	000000001937-06-01-0000June 1937	†
1516	Alecto	4677	000000001907-08-01-0000August 1907	5266	000000001931-11-01-0000November 1931
2011	Brougham	4678	000000001907-08-01-0000August 1907	5283	000000001936-03-01-0000March 1936
2051	Delamere	4679	000000001907-08-01-0000August 1907	5315	000000001936-09-01-0000September 1936

† Locomotives that had 20000 added to their LMS number.
‡ Locomotive had 20000 added to LMS number; allocated 58010 by British Railways, but number never carried.

References

↑ Hoole, Ken (1982). Trains in Trouble: Vol. 3. Redruth: Atlantic Books. p. 29. ISBN 0-906899-05-2.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to LNWR Whale Precursor class.

Sources

Casserley, H. C. & Johnston, Stuart W. (1974) [1966]. Locomotives at the Grouping 3: London, Midland and Scottish Railway. Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allan. pp. 62–64. ISBN 0-7110-0554-0.
W. B. Yeadon A Compendium of LNWR Locomotives 1912 - 1949 Volume 1. Published by Challenger Publications, Nottingham. ISBN 978-1-901945-90-4
"Rail UK entry for Precursor class". Retrieved 2008-12-09.

London and North Western Railway locomotives

John Ramsbottom (North Eastern Division 1846–1857)

Francis Trevithick (Northern Division 1846–1857)	SFB passenger 187 Velocipede 173 Cornwall 290 Rocket LFB passenger 7ft Single (Raven) 176 Courier SFB goods LFB goods SFB goods tank LFB goods tank

John Ramsbottom (Northern Division 1857–1862)	3020 Cornwall (renewed) 271 DX Problem / Lady of the Lake

Edward Bury (Southern Division 1846–1847)	Bury Bar Frame locomotive

James McConnell (Southern Division 1847–1862)	Bloomer McConnell Goods Wolverton Express Goods

John Ramsbottom (1862–1871)	4ft Shunter Samson Newton Special Tank

Francis William Webb (1871–1903)	Alfred the Great Coal Engine Coal Tank Experiment Dreadnought Teutonic Greater Britain John Hick Dock Tank Precursor Precedent Improved Precedent Jubilee Waterloo 4ft 6in Tank 5ft 6in Tank 18in Goods (Cauliflower) 18in Tank A B 1400 Class

George Whale (1903–1909)	Experiment 19in Express Goods Precursor Precursor Tank Renown C D E F G

Charles John Bowen Cooke (1909–1920)	1185 Claughton George V Queen Mary Prince of Wales Prince of Wales Tank C1 G1 MM

H. P. M. Beames (1920–1921)	380 G2 G2A

George Hughes (1922–1923)	No new locomotive classes

Locomotives of the London and North Western Railway LMS locomotives British Railways steam locomotives

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