LB&SCR B4 class

LB&SCR B4 and B4X classes

B4 class as built

Type and origin Power type Steam Designer B4: R. J. Billinton B4X: L. B. Billinton Builder Brighton Works: 42–46, 52–54 Sharp, Stewart & Co.: 47–51, 55–74 Build date B4: 1899–1902 B4X: 1922–1924 Total produced 33

Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-4-0 Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Leading dia. 3 ft 6 in (1.067 m) Driver dia. 6 ft 9 in (2.057 m) Total weight B4: 86 long tons 15 cwt (194,300 lb or 88.1 t) (97.1 short tons} B4X: 96 long tons 6 cwt (215,700 lb or 97.8 t) (107.8 short tons) Fuel type Coal Boiler pressure 180 psi (12.41 bar; 1.24 MPa) Cylinders Two, inside Cylinder size B4: 19 in × 26 in (483 mm × 660 mm) B4X: 20 in × 26 in (508 mm × 660 mm)

Performance figures Tractive effort B4: 17,730 lbf (78.9 kN) B4X: 19,645 lbf (87.4 kN)

Career Class B4, B4x Power class BR: 1P (B4) BR: 3P (B4x) Withdrawn 1934-1951 Disposition All Scrapped

The B4 class were 4-4-0 steam locomotives for express passenger work on the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway. They were designed by R. J. Billinton and were either built at Brighton works 1899–1902 or else by Messrs Sharp, Stewart and Company in 1901. Twelve members of the class were rebuilt from 1922–1924 by L. B. Billinton with a larger boiler, cylinders and a superheater. The rebuilt locomotives were classified B4X.

The performance of Robert Billinton’s B2 class 4-4-0 locomotives of 1895–1897 had proved to be disappointing and they had not been able to replace the earlier Stroudley’s B1 class 0-4-2 on the heaviest London to Brighton express trains. Billinton therefore sought authority for the construction of twenty-five larger and more powerful 4-4-0 B4 class locomotives. The first two of these, Nos. 52 and 53, were completed at Brighton works between December 1899 and January 1900, both of which performed well and demonstrated that the new design was sound. However, during the spring of 1900 a backlog of repair work at Brighton meant that the third (No. 54) was not completed until May 1900. The railway therefore approached Sharp, Stewart and Company to supply twenty-five further examples over the next twelve months. These were all delivered between June and October 1901. By 1901 Brighton had overcome the backlog of repair work and five further locomotive boilers were ordered from Sharp, Stewart and Company to be used on additional locomotives to be built at Brighton between June and September 1902.

The B4 class successfully hauled the heaviest express trains on the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway until around 1912 when they were gradually replaced by the larger H1, H2, J1 and J2 classes. Thereafter they were regularly used on slower and lighter services. According to O.S. Nock the B4 class "were among the finest passenger locomotives of their day".