LBSCR H2 Class 4-4-2 Atlantic Beachy Head in BR livery on an RCTS Special train of Pullmans on 05/10/1952 (Brighton Works Centenary)
The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway H2 class was a class of 4-4-2 steam locomotives for express passenger work. They were designed when D. E. Marsh was officially Locomotive Superintendent, and were built at Brighton Works in 1911 and 1912. These engines appeared just before Marsh's retirement due to ill health. Apart from incorporating the Schmidt superheater other differences from the Class H1 were larger cylinders, working pressure reduced to 170 (although subsequently increased to 200) and straight running plate. Electrification took away much of the work of these engines but they still managed to make themselves useful. The 'H2's were to be found on the secondary routes from London to Brighton via Shoreham (approx 2½ hours,) via Uckfield and via the Bluebell line (approx 3 hours, but with a "beer stop" at East Grinstead!). After WWII they and 'H1' 2038 found a new lease of life working the Newhaven boat trains, a duty they performed particularly well. From 15 May 1949 the principal boat train duties were handed over to the Bulleid-Raworth electric locos, but the Atlantics continued to haul the majority of relief boat trains. The first loco withdrawn was SR 2423 (32423) 'The Needles' in May 1949 from Brighton shed, without receiving its BR number. The last loco withdrawn was 32424 'Beachy Head' in April 1958 from Brighton shed. When withdrawn, it was the last Atlantic 4-4-2 locomotive to remain in ordinary service in Great Britain.
Size: 2100px × 1324px
Location: Brighton Station, Sussex
Photo credit: © Digbydachshund / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: .32424, 32424, 4-4-2, atlantic, beachy, br, brighton, centenary, class, h2, head, lbscr, pullman, railway, rcts, southern, steam, train, works
