LB&SCR E4 Class

LB&SCR E4 and E4X classes

Preserved E4 Birch Grove in LB&SCR umber livery.

Type and origin Power type Steam Designer R. J. Billinton Builder Brighton Works Build date 1897–1903 Total produced 75, 4 rebuilt to E4X

Specifications Configuration 0-6-2T Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Driver dia. 5 ft 0 in (1.524 m) Length 35 ft 3 in (10.744 m) Loco weight E4: 56 long tons 15 cwt (127,100 lb or 57.7 t) to 57 long tons 10 cwt (128,800 lb or 58.4 t) (63.6 to 64.4 short tons) E4X: 59 long tons 5 cwt (132,700 lb or 60.2 t) (66.4 short tons) Fuel type Coal Water cap 1,408 imp gal (6,400 l; 1,691 US gal) Boiler pressure E4: 160 or 170 psi (11.03 or 11.72 bar; 1.10 or 1.17 MPa) E4X: 170 psi (11.72 bar; 1.17 MPa) Cylinders Two, inside Cylinder size 17.5 in × 26 in (444 mm × 660 mm)

Performance figures Tractive effort E4: 18,050 or 19,175 lbf (80,290 or 85,290 N) E4X: 19,175 lbf (85,290 N)

Career Class E4, E4x→ Power class BR: 2MT Retired 1944–1963 Disposition One preserved, remainder scrapped

The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway E4 Class is a class of 0-6-2T side tank steam locomotive designed by Robert Billinton. They were introduced in 1897 and were essentially a larger version of the E3 Class. Cylinder diameter was reduced from 18 to 17.5 inches (457 to 444 mm) by the Southern Railway.

The E4 class of "radial tanks" were powerful for their size and were stalwarts of local passenger, freight and branch work for more than fifty years. Seventy-five members of the class were built by Brighton Works between December 1897 and September 1903. All of the class survived the transfer to Southern Railway ownership in 1923. One example was however destroyed as a result of enemy action against Eastbourne motive power depot in 1942. The remainder continued in regular use following the nationalisation of the Southern Railway to become a part of British Railways in 1948. However, with the arrival of Diesel Multiple Units and the reduction in the number of branch lines after The Reshaping of British Railways in 1963, the locomotives gradually became surplus to operational requirements, and withdrawals commenced in 1955. Most of the class were withdrawn between 1958 and 1964.

The E4 class were initially used on local passenger and freight services, and on branch lines.

Later in British Railways days, several examples were found new jobs as station pilots, most famously at London Waterloo, where they brought empty carriage rakes into the station from the yards at Clapham Junction. They were also used on services such as the locally famous Lancing Belle, which ran from Brighton to the Lancing Carriage Works of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway, often double-headed with members of the same class or the larger E6 class.