GER Class S56

GER Class S56 (and R24 rebuilt)
LNER Class J69

LNER 8625 (ex-7059, exx-GER 59) at Stratford locomotive depot, 28 September 1946

Type and origin Power type Steam Designer James Holden Builder Stratford Works Build date 1904 (new) Total produced 20 (new) Rebuild date 1902–1921 from Class R24

Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-6-0T  • UIC C n2t Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Driver dia. 4 ft 0 in (1.219 m) Wheelbase 13 ft 10 in (4.22 m) Length 27 ft 8 in (8.43 m) Loco weight 42 long tons 9 cwt (95,100 lb or 43.1 t) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 2 long tons 10 cwt (5,600 lb or 2.5 t) Water cap 1,200 imp gal (5,460 l; 1,440 US gal) Firebox:  • Firegrate area 14.5 sq ft (1.35 m2) Boiler pressure 180 psi (1.24 MPa) Heating surface 996.17 sq ft (92.547 m2) Cylinders Two, inside Cylinder size 16.5 in × 22 in (419 mm × 559 mm)

Performance figures Tractive effort 19,091 lbf (84.92 kN)

Career Operators GER » London and North Eastern Railway » BR Class GER: S56 or R24R LNER: J69 Power class BR: 2F Nicknames Bucks, Buckjumpers Axle load class LNER/BR: RA 3 Retired 1940–1962 Disposition One preserved, remainder scrapped

The GER Class S56 was a class of 0-6-0T steam tank locomotives designed by James Holden for the Great Eastern Railway. Together with some rebuilt examples of GER Class R24, they passed to the London and North Eastern Railway at the grouping in 1923, and received the LNER classification J69.

The Class S56 were a development of the Class R24, being almost identical, apart from higher boiler pressure and larger water tanks. Twenty were built in 1904 at Stratford Works.

All twenty passed to the LNER in 1923. Thirteen class J69 locomotives were lent to the War Department in October 1939, of which five had been built as Class S56. They were sold to the War Department in October 1940, where they were used on the Melbourne and Longmoor Military Railways. The remaining locomotives were renumbered 8617–8636 in order of construction; however gaps were left where the locomotives sold to the War Department would have been. At nationalisation in 1948, the remainder passed to British Railways, who added 60000 to their number. Post-war withdrawals started in 1958, and by 1962 all had been retired.

GER no. 87 (LNER 7087, 8633, BR 68633) has been preserved, initially at the Clapham Transport Museum, and now at the National Railway Museum. It is currently on display at Bressingham Steam Museum.