LB&SCR E2 Class

LB&SCR E2 class

First series E2 with short side tanks, 1913

Type and origin Power type Steam Designer L. B. Billinton Builder Brighton works Build date 1913–1916 Total produced 10

Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-6-0T Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Driver dia. 4 ft 6 in (1.372 m) Length 33 ft 3 in (10.13 m) Loco weight 52 long tons 15 cwt (118,200 lb or 53.6 t) (118,200 lb or 53,600 kg) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 1,090 imp gal (5,000 l; 1,310 US gal) or 1,256 imp gal (5,710 l; 1,508 US gal) Boiler pressure 170 psi (1.2 MPa) Cylinders Two inside Cylinder size 17.5 in × 26 in (444 mm × 660 mm)

Performance figures Tractive effort 21,307 lbf (94.78 kN)

Career Operators London Brighton and South Coast Railway Southern Railway Southern Region of British Railways Power class BR: 3F Withdrawn 1961–1963 Disposition All scrapped

The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) E2 Class was a class of 0-6-0T steam locomotives designed by Lawson Billinton, intended for shunting and short distance freight trains. Ten examples were built between 1913 and 1916, and were withdrawn from service and scrapped between 1961 and 1963.

By 1910 many of the Stroudley E1 class locomotives were worn out or inadequate for the heavier duties required of them. D. E. Marsh intended to rebuild some examples with a larger boiler, but only one E1X rebuild had been completed by the time of his unexpected retirement. Marsh's successor Billinton reversed this policy and instead ordered five new, more powerful locomotives from Brighton works. The new class included several features found on other LB&SCR classes including an I2 class boiler. They were delivered between June 1913 and January 1914.

The new design was judged to be successful, except that they were found to have inadequate water supply. Thus when a further order for five locomotives was placed they were given extended side tanks. The second batch were delayed by the onset of the war but were eventually delivered between June 1915 and October 1916.

The E2 class locomotives were mainly used for the heavier shunting and short distance freight duties in the London area and on the south coast, as their small coal bunkers made them unsuitable for long trips. These included empty stock workings at Victoria and London Bridge Stations.

Two were tried in 1914 as passenger locomotives on push-pull duties with the locomotives in the middle of a rake of six coaches, but the experiment was abandoned during the same year as they had insufficient coal capacity.