GNR Class N2

GNR Class N2
LNER Class N2

Preserved 1744 in Loughborough Down Loop at the Great Central Railway 2012

Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Nigel Gresley Builder N2/1: Doncaster Works (10), North British Locomotive Company (50) N2/2: Beyer, Peacock and Company (12) N2/3: Doncaster Works (6), Yorkshire Engine Company (6) N2/4: Hawthorn Leslie and Company (20), Yorkshire Engine Company (3) Build date 1920–1929 Total produced 107 (N2/1: 60, N2/2: 12, N2/3: 12, N2/4: 23)

Specifications Configuration 0-6-2T UIC class C1 h2t Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Driver dia. 5 ft 8 in (1.727 m) Trailing dia. 3 ft 8 in (1.118 m) Wheelbase 23 ft 9 in (7.24 m) Length N2/1, /2, /3: 37 ft 10 3⁄4 in (11.55 m) N2/4: 37 feet 11 3⁄4 inches (11.576 m) Axle load 19.00–20.00 long tons (19.30–20.32 t; 21.28–22.40 short tons) Adhesive weight 55.75–56.90 long tons (56.64–57.81 t; 62.44–63.73 short tons) Loco weight 70.25–71.45 long tons (71.38–72.60 t; 78.68–80.02 short tons) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 4.00 long tons (4.06 t; 4.48 short tons) Water cap 2,000 imp gal (9,100 l; 2,400 US gal) Firebox:  • Firegrate area 19.00 sq ft (1.765 m2) Boiler LNER diagram 7 Boiler pressure 170 psi (1.2 MPa) Cylinders Two, inside Cylinder size 19 in × 26 in (483 mm × 660 mm) Valve gear Stephenson Valve type 8-inch (203 mm) piston valves

Performance figures Tractive effort 19,945 lbf (88.72 kN)

Career Operators Great Northern Railway London and North Eastern Railway British Railways Class GNR/LNER: N2 Power class LNER: 2 BR: 3MT Axle load class LNER/BR: Route availability 6 Disposition One preserved, remainder scrapped

The Great Northern Railway (GNR) Class N2 is an 0-6-2T side tank steam locomotive designed by Nigel Gresley and introduced in 1920. Further batches were built by the London and North Eastern Railway from 1925. They had superheaters and piston valves driven by Stephenson valve gear.

Some locomotives were fitted with condensing apparatus for working on the Metropolitan Railway Widened Lines between King's Cross and Moorgate.

The N2s were designed for suburban passenger operations, and worked most of the duties out of King's Cross and Moorgate, often hauling one or two sets of articulated suburban coaches. These ran to places such as New Barnet and Gordon Hill on the Hertford loop. They also hauled some empty coaching stock trains between King's Cross and Ferme Park carriage sidings.

They were also a common sight in and around Glasgow and Edinburgh operating suburban services, mainly on what is today known as the North Clyde Line.

British Railways numbers were: 69490-69596.

One, No. 4744 (BR No. 69523) survived into preservation, and after initially running at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, now resides at the Great Central Railway. It is owned by the Gresley Society, and has appeared in LNER Black, BR Black, and GNR Apple Green while in preservation. The loco's most recent overhaul was completed in 2009, with the engine being given its GNR Apple Green livery at the same time, and is usually based at the GCR when not visiting other railways. The engine re-visited King's Cross on Tuesday 5 April 2016 for the unveiling of a statue of Sir Nigel Gresley, the engine in question was moved to and from Bounds Green behind a diesel.