NBR Class C11 4-4-2 Atlantics Nos 879 Abbotsford and 880 Tweedale at an mpd
Attempting to compete against the Caledonian Railway, the North British Railway (NBR) decided to build new and heavier rolling stock in 1905. This stock required locomotives more powerful than the existing 4-4-0s, and Reid produced two proposals for 4-4-2s. A three cylinder compound was rejected, but a two cylinder simple expansion design was given the go ahead and fourteen were ordered. These were given the classification of Class H. The NBR never built a 4-6-0, and further Class H 4-4-2s were ordered in 1910 when more express passenger locomotives were required. Unlike many other preceding NBR locomotives, the Class H Atlantics had outside cylinders. The boiler was large and included a Belpaire firebox - a unique feature for an NBR locomotive. In 1923, the LNER performed trials on the Newcastle to Edinburgh stretch of the East Coast main line, comparing a C11 against a C1 and a C7. The C11 performed well against the other Atlantics, but by 1924 the first A1 Pacifics arrived at Haymarket. By 1933, many of the oldest boilers (circa. 1911) were due for replacement. The A1 and A3 Pacifics were starting to be used on the heaviest services, and the P2 Mikados were at the planning stage. As for secondary services, the D49 4-4-0s were already available. Hence it was considered very uneconomic to start replacing boilers with another twenty years of life, and withdrawals started. The entire class of C11s were withdrawn between 1933 and 1937. Initially there was a plan to preserve No. 9875, so this re-entered service for a while. It was withdrawn for repairs in November 1939, and was scrapped during the Second World War (although its tender underframe has recently been discovered and there are plans to build a replica).
Size: 5458px × 3741px
Location: Unknown
Photo credit: © Niall Ferguson / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: &, 4-4-2, abbotsford, atlantic, british, c11, class, eastern, locomotive, london, nbr, north, railway, scottish, steam, tweedale
