LNER Class A2

This article is about the 4-6-2 locomotives designed by Vincent Raven. For other uses, see LNER Thompson Class A2 (disambiguation) and LNER Peppercorn Class A2.

LNER A2 class
A2 class 2400 on trial at King's Cross Station in June 1923
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Vincent Raven Builder NER/LNER Darlington Works Build date 1922 (2), 1924 (3) Total produced 5
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-2  • UIC 2′C1′ h3 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Leading dia. 37.25 in (0.946 m) Driver dia. 80 in (2.032 m) Trailing dia. 45.25 in (1.149 m) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 5.5 long tons (5.6 t) Water cap. 4,125 imp gal (18,750 L) Boiler pressure 200 psi (1.38 MPa) Cylinders Three Cylinder size 19 in × 26 in (483 mm × 660 mm) Valve gear Stephenson Valve type 8+3⁄4-inch (220 mm) piston valves
Performance figures Tractive effort 29,918 lbf (133.08 kN)
Career Operators North Eastern Railway London and North Eastern Railway Numbers 2400–2404 Withdrawn 1936–1937 Disposition All scrapped

The first London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) Class A2 was a class of 4-6-2 steam locomotive designed by Vincent Raven for the North Eastern Railway (as NER class 4.6.2). Two were built by the NER in 1922 before the grouping and another 3 by the LNER in 1924. Their LNER numbers were 2400–2404. All five locomotives were named by the LNER. Because of the great length of their parallel boilers, the Raven pacifics earned the nickname 'Skittle-alleys'.

LNER standardisation

The Great Northern Railway's Class A1, which was a more technically advanced machine, was chosen as the LNER's standard express passenger locomotive so no more Raven A2s were built.

Stock list

LNER No.	Name	Built	Withdrawn
2400	City of Newcastle	December 1922	April 1937
2401	City of Kingston upon Hull	December 1922	July 1936
2402	City of York	March 1924	July 1936
2403	City of Durham	March 1924	May 1937
2404	City of Ripon	March 1924	February 1937

Rebuilding

No. 2404 was unique amongst the class in being rebuilt in 1929 with a Gresley A1-style taper boiler.

Withdrawal

All the Raven A2s were withdrawn in 1936–1937 and none have survived into preservation.

References

• Appleby, Ken (1993). Britain's Rail Super Centres: York. Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-2072-8. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Template:RCTS-LocosLNER-1
• Template:RCTS-LocosLNER-2A
• Yeadon, W. B. (1991). Yeadon’s Register of LNER Locomotives, Vol. 3: Raven, Thompson and Peppercorn Pacifics. Irwell Press. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)

External links

• LNER Encyclopedia