LNER Peppercorn Class A2 60532 Blue Peter

LNER Peppercorn Class A2 60532 Blue Peter
60532 in early British Railways apple-green livery, on display at Barrow Hill Engine Shed, Derbyshire
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Arthur Peppercorn Builder British Railways Build date March 1948
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-2  • UIC 2'C1' Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Leading dia. 3 ft 2 in (0.965 m) Driver dia. 6 ft 2 in (1.880 m) Trailing dia. 3 ft 8 in (1.118 m) Wheelbase 60 ft 6 in (18.440 m) Axle load 22 long tons (22.4 t) Loco weight 101 long tons (102.6 t) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 9 long tons (9.1 t) Water cap 5,000 imp gal (23,000 l) Firebox:  • Firegrate area 50 sq ft (4.6 m2) Boiler pressure 250 psi (1.72 MPa) superheated Heating surface:  • Tubes 1,212 sq ft (112.6 m2)  • Flues 1,005 sq ft (93.4 m2)  • Firebox 245 sq ft (22.8 m2) Superheater: ​  • Heating area 680 sq ft (63 m2) Cylinders Three Cylinder size 19×26 in (487×660 mm) Valve gear Walschaerts, 10 in piston valves
Performance figures Maximum speed 25mph - (heritage railways) 45mph - (mainline, tender first) 75mph - (mainline, chimney first) Tractive effort 40,430 lbf (179.84 kN)
Career Class LNER: A2 Power class BR: 8P7F Numbers 60532 Axle load class Route Availability 9 Disposition preserved

LNER Peppercorn A2 Class No. 60532 Blue Peter is the sole survivor of 15 locomotives of the 4-6-2 Peppercorn A2 Class, designed by Arthur Peppercorn of the LNER. 60532 worked between 1948 and 1966. It is owned by the Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust (RSL&GT), currently under overhaul at their LNWR Heritage facility based at Crewe.

60532 was built at Doncaster Works and out-shopped by the newly formed British Railways on 25 March 1948. The initial livery was LNER apple green with British Railways on the tender sides.

60532 was named in the LNER tradition of using the names of famous racehorses. Blue Peter III was the name of a horse owned by Harry Primrose, 6th Earl of Rosebery, which in 1939 won races including The Derby and the 2000 Guineas. The horse earned almost £32,000 for Lord Rosebury, more than enough to purchase three Doncaster Pacific locomotives at the time.

Initially all the A2s were allocated to English sheds. 60532 was allocated to the North Eastern Region of BR at York, where it worked principally over the East Coast Main Line.

In the autumn of 1949 five A2's were overhauled at Doncaster where a number of modifications were made, including the fitting of a multiple valve regulator and a double blastpipe and chimney, together with Kylchap cowls. In addition, 60532 received a second whistle placed offside behind the chimney. This chime whistle is being sounded in the illustration above. Subsequently the five A2's, including 60532, moved to Scotland to make up for deficiencies experienced with the Thompson Class A2/2's (rebuilt LNER Class P2). 60532 was allocated to Aberdeen, with all the Scottish-based A2s used mainly on express passenger services between Aberdeen and Edinburgh, which benefited from their greater power and acceleration.