List of LNER Class A1/A3 locomotives

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LNER A1 No. 2553 waiting to be named Prince of Wales by the Prince of Wales in 1926

Below are the names and numbers of the steam locomotives that comprised the LNER Gresley Classes A1 and A3, that ran on the Great Northern (GNR) and latterly the London and North Eastern Railway network. They represented Nigel Gresley's attempt to standardise steam design. The class names mainly denoted various racehorses; there were seven exceptions, detailed at the end.

Nos. 4470–81 were ordered by the GNR as their nos. 1470–81; and although only the first two were actually delivered to the GNR, all twelve initially bore their GNR numbers, a distinguishing suffix letter "N" being added to the last two from new, and to five others from August 1923, i.e. 1480N, etc. These twelve all had their numbers increased by 3000 between February 1924 and April 1925.[1]


Fleet list[edit]

List of locomotives
LNER No. LNER No. (1945-1948) BR No. Original Name (Rename(s)) Manufacturer Serial No. Entered Service Rebuilt Withdrawn Fate
4470 113 60113 Great Northern Doncaster Works 1536 April 1922 September 1945[a] – Rebuilt as a Thompson A1/1, later scrapped.
4471 102 60102 Sir Frederick Banbury Doncaster Works 1539 10 July 1922 October 1942 November 1961 Scrapped
4472 502 (103) 60103 Flying Scotsman Doncaster Works 1564 24 February 1923 January 1947 January 1963 Preserved
4473 104 60104 Solario Doncaster Works 1565 17 March 1923 October 1941 19 November 1959 Scrapped at Doncaster Works on 7 December 1959.
4474 105 60105 Victor Wild Doncaster Works 1566 March 1923 October 1942 November 1963 Scrapped
4475 106 60106 Flying Fox Doncaster Works 1567 April 1923 March 1947 November 1964 Scrapped
4476 107 60107 Royal Lancer Doncaster Works 1568 May 1923 October 1946 November 1963 Scrapped
4477 108 60108 Gay Crusader Doncaster Works 1569 June 1923 January 1943 November 1963 Scrapped
4478 109 60109 Hermit Doncaster Works 1570 July 1923 November 1943 November 1962 Scrapped
4479 110 60110 Robert the Devil Doncaster Works 1571 July 1923 August 1942 November 1963 Scrapped
4480 111 60111 Enterprise Doncaster Works 1572 August 1923 July 1927 November 1962 Scrapped
4481 112 60112 St Simon Doncaster Works 1573 September 1923 August 1946 November 1964 Scrapped
2543 44 60044 Melton Doncaster Works 1598 28 June 1924 September 1947 16 June 1963 Scrapped at Doncaster Works on 25 November 1963.
2544 45 60045 Lemberg Doncaster Works 1600 July 1924 December 1927 November 1964 Scrapped
2545 46 60046 Diamond Jubilee Doncaster Works 1601 9 August 1924 10 January 1948 28 August 1963 Scrapped at Doncaster Works on 20 August 1963.
2546 47 60047 Donovan Doncaster Works 1602 30 August 1924 January 1948 8 April 1963 Scrapped at Doncaster Works on 19 June 1963.
2547 48 60048 Doncaster Doncaster Works 1603 30 August 1924 10 May 1946 8 September 1963 Scrapped at Doncaster Works on 19 September 1963.
2548 49 60049 Galtee More Doncaster Works 1604 27 September 1924 10 May 1945 29 December 1962 Scrapped at Doncaster Works on 4 April 1963.
2549 50 60050 Persimmon Doncaster Works 1605 15 October 1924 December 1943 11 June 1963 Scrapped at Doncaster Works on 9 August 1963.
2550 51 60051 Blink Bonny Doncaster Works 1606 October 1924 November 1945 November 1964 Scrapped
2551 52 60052 Prince Palatine Doncaster Works 1607 November 1924 August 1941 January 1966 Scrapped at St Margaret's Shed, Edinburgh in April 1966.
2552 53 60053 Sansovino Doncaster Works 1608 11 December 1924 10 September 1943 27 May 1963 Scrapped at Doncaster Works on 31 May 1963.
2553 54 60054 Manna (renamed 11 November 1926)[2]
Prince of Wales 		Doncaster Works 1609 December 1924 July 1943 June 1964 Scrapped
2554 55 60055 Woolwinder Doncaster Works 1610 31 December 1924 June 1942 4 September 1961 Scrapped at Doncaster Works on 30 September 1961.
2555 56 60056 Centenary Doncaster Works 1611 7 February 1925 August 1944 13 May 1963 Scrapped at Doncaster Works on 31 May 1963.
2556 57 60057 Ormonde Doncaster Works 1612 7 February 1925 13 January 1947 13 May 1963 Scrapped
2557 58 60058 Blair Athol Doncaster Works 1613 28 February 1925 December 1945 19 June 1963 Scrapped at Doncaster Works on 10 July 1963.
2558 59 60059 Tracery Doncaster Works 1614 25 March 1925 19 July 1942 17 December 1962 Scrapped at Doncaster Works on 31 December 1962.
2559 60 60060 The Tetrarch Doncaster Works 1615 April 1925 January 1942 September 1963 Scrapped
2560 61 60061 Pretty Polly Doncaster Works 1616 17 April 1925 May 1944 8 September 1963 Scrapped at Doncaster Works on 16 September 1963.
2561 62 60062 Minoru Doncaster Works 1617 May 1925 June 1944 May 1964 Scrapped
2562 63 60063 Isinglass Doncaster Works 1618 July 1925 April 1946 June 1964 Scrapped
2563 64 60064 William Whitelaw (name transferred to A4 No. 4462 in July 1941;[2]
Tagalie) 		North British Loco. 23101 9 August 1924 10 November 1942 4 September 1961 Scrapped at Doncaster Works on 30 September 1961.
2564 65 60065 Knight of the Thistle (renamed Knight of Thistle in December 1932)[3] North British Loco. 23102 August 1924 March 1947 June 1964 Scrapped
2565 66 60066 Merry Hampton North British Loco. 23103 16 July 1924 December 1945 8 September 1963 Scrapped at Doncaster Works on 18 September 1963.
2566 67 60067 Ladas North British Loco. 23104 14 August 1924 10 November 1939 29 December 1962 Scrapped at Doncaster Works on 21 January 1963.
2567 68 60068 Sir Visto North British Loco. 23105 14 September 1924 10 December 1948 27 August 1962 Scrapped at Doncaster Works on 31 August 1962.
2568 69 60069 Sceptre North British Loco. 23106 19 September 1924 10 May 1942 1 October 1962 Scrapped at Doncaster Works on 27 May 1963.
2569 70 60070 Gladiateur North British Loco. 23107 September 1924 January 1947 May 1964 Scrapped
2570 71 60071 Tranquil North British Loco. 23108 September 1924 October 1944 October 1964 Scrapped
2571 72 60072 Sunstar North British Loco. 23109 30 September 1924 22 July 1941 22 October 1962 Scrapped at Doncaster Works on 25 May 1963.
2572 73 60073 St. Gatien North British Loco. 23110 October 1924 November 1945 August 1963 Scrapped
2573 74 60074 Harvester North British Loco. 23111 8 October 1924 April 1928 8 April 1963 Scrapped at Doncaster Works on 29 May 1963.
2574 75 60075 St. Frusquin North British Loco. 23112 October 1924 June 1942 January 1964 Scrapped
2575 76 60076 Galopin North British Loco. 23113 14 October 1924 June 1941 29 October 1962 Scrapped at Doncaster Works on 17 April 1963.
2576 77 60077 The White Knight North British Loco. 23114 October 1924 July 1943 July 1964 Scrapped
2577 78 60078 Night Hawk North British Loco. 23115 24 October 1924 January 1944 22 October 1962 Scrapped at Doncaster Works on 9 May 1963.
2578 79 60079 Bayardo North British Loco. 23116 October 1924 May 1928 September 1961 Scrapped
2579 80 60080 Dick Turpin North British Loco. 23117 November 1924 November 1942 October 1964 Scrapped
2580 81 60081 Shotover North British Loco. 23118 November 1924 February 1928 October 1962 Scrapped
2581 82 60082 Neil Gow North British Loco. 23119 November 1924 January 1943 September 1963 Scrapped
2582 83 60083 Sir Hugo North British Loco. 23120 December 1924 December 1941 May 1964 Scrapped
2743 89 60089 Felstead Doncaster Works 1693 August 1928 — October 1963 Scrapped
2744 90 60090 Grand Parade Doncaster Works 1694 August 1928 — October 1963 Damaged beyond repair in the 1937 Castlecary accident, replacement built April 1938
2745 91 60091 Captain Cuttle Doncaster Works 1695 September 1928 — October 1964 Scrapped
2746 92 60092 Fairway Doncaster Works 1700 November 1928 — October 1964 Scrapped
2747 93 60093 Coronach Doncaster Works 1703 December 1928 — April 1962 Scrapped
2748 94 60094 Colorado Doncaster Works 1705 December 1928 — February 1964 Scrapped
2749 95 60095 Flamingo Doncaster Works 1707 February 1929 — April 1961 Scrapped
2750 96 60096 Papyrus Doncaster Works 1708 March 1929 — September 1963 Scrapped
2751 97 60097 Humorist Doncaster Works 1709 April 1929 — August 1963 Scrapped
2752 98 60098 Spion Kop Doncaster Works 1710 April 1929 — October 1963 Scrapped
2595 84 60084 Trigo Doncaster Works 1731 February 1930 — November 1964 Scrapped
2596 85 60085 Manna Doncaster Works 1733 February 1930 — October 1964 Scrapped
2597 86 60086 Gainsborough Doncaster Works 1736 April 1930 — November 1963 Scrapped
2598 87 60087 Blenheim Doncaster Works 1743 June 1930 — October 1963 Scrapped
2599 88 60088 Book Law Doncaster Works 1744 July 1930 — October 1963 Scrapped
2795 99 60099 Call Boy Doncaster Works 1738 April 1930 — October 1963 Scrapped
2796 100 60100 Spearmint Doncaster Works 1741 May 1930 — June 1965 Scrapped
2797 101 60101 Cicero Doncaster Works 1742 June 1930 — April 1963 Scrapped
2500 35 60035 Windsor Lad Doncaster Works 1790 10 July 1934 — 4 September 1961 Scrapped at Doncaster Works on 30 September 1964.
2501 36 60036 Colombo Doncaster Works 1791 July 1934 — November 1964 Scrapped
2502 37 60037 Hyperion Doncaster Works 1792 July 1934 — December 1963 Scrapped
2503 38 60038 Firdaussi Doncaster Works 1793 August 1934 — November 1963 Scrapped
2504 39 60039 Sandwich Doncaster Works 1794 9 September 1934 — 14 March 1963 Scrapped at Doncaster Works on 5 April 1963.
2505 40 60040 Cameronian Doncaster Works 1795 October 1934 — July 1964 Scrapped
2506 41 60041 Salmon Trout Doncaster Works 1797 December 1934 — December 1965 Scrapped at St Margaret's Shed, Edinburgh in April 1966. (Boiler, Cylinders and Chimney preserved as spares)
2507 42 60042 Singapore Doncaster Works 1798 December 1934 — July 1964 Scrapped
2508 43 60043 Brown Jack Doncaster Works 1800 February 1935 — May 1964 Scrapped

Non-racehorse names[edit]

GNR no. 1470 was named Great Northern when new in April 1922 in honour of the Great Northern Railway, which was to lose its identity at the end of the year; similarly, GNR no. 1471 was named Sir Frederick Banbury in September 1922, in honour of the final Chairman of the GNR.[4][5] The first Chairman of the LNER was honoured in the same way in 1924 when LNER no. 2563 was named William Whitelaw.[6][3]

No. 4472 was named Flying Scotsman after the 10 am express service from King's Cross to Edinburgh Waverley; the name was applied in February 1924 just before the locomotive was sent to the British Empire Exhibition.[6][3]

The year 1925 was the centenary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, an LNER ancestor, and the first A1 built at Doncaster in that year, no. 2555, was accordingly named Centenary.[6][3]

No. 2579 was named Dick Turpin, but there was no distinguished racehorse of this name; the name refers to the well-known highwayman.[6][3] Subsequently, a racehorse named Dick Turpin won the 1933 Chester Cup.[7] However, this horse was foaled 5 years after the locomotive sharing its name was constructed.

No. 2553 was renamed Prince of Wales on 11 November 1926 following the visit of the future King Edward VIII to Doncaster Works a few days earlier; no. 2553 was one of the locomotives he had inspected there.[2]

No. 2564 was named Knight of the Thistle after the racehorse owned by Mr H. McCalmont which won the 1897 Royal Hunt Cup.[8] On 28 December 1932, whilst the locomotive was in Doncaster Works for general repair, new nameplates were fitted reading Knight of Thistle, which was meaningless both for the order and for the racehorse.[2]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ as Thompson Class A1/1; all others rebuilt as Class A3
  1. ^ Boddy, Neve & Yeadon 1973, pp. 7, 9.
  2. ^ a b c d Boddy et al. 1963, p. 51.
  3. ^ a b c d e Boddy, Neve & Yeadon 1973, p. 73.
  4. ^ Boddy et al. 1963, p. 47.
  5. ^ Groves 1992, pp. 89, 98.
  6. ^ a b c d Boddy et al. 1963, p. 50.
  7. ^ "Chester Cup 1824-present". tbheritage.com. Thoroughbred Heritage. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  8. ^ Boddy, Neve & Yeadon 1973, p. 218.

References[edit]

  • Boddy, M.G.; Fry, E.V.; Hennigan, W.; Proud, P.; Yeadon, W.B. (July 1963). Fry, E.V. (ed.). Part 1: Preliminary Survey. Locomotives of the L.N.E.R. Potters Bar: RCTS.
  • Boddy, M.G.; Neve, E.; Yeadon, W.B. (April 1973). Fry, E.V. (ed.). Part 2A: Tender Engines - Classes A1 to A10. Locomotives of the L.N.E.R. Kenilworth: RCTS. ISBN 0-901115-25-8.
  • Groves, Norman (1992). Great Northern Locomotive History: Volume 3b 1911-1922 The Gresley Era. Lincoln: RCTS. ISBN 0-901115-70-3.
  • LNER encyclopaedia
  • Pedigree Online Thoroughbred Database
  • ABC of British Railway locomotives, (1959). Ian Allan Limited
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