GCR Class 9Q

4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)Leading dia.3 ft 6 in (1.067 m)Driver dia.5 ft 8 in (1.727 m)Length63 ft 0 in (19.202 m)Loco weight127 long tons (129 t)Fuel typeCoalFirebox:​ • Grate area26 sq ft (2.4 m²)^[1]Boiler:
​ • Diameter5 ft 3.5 in (1,613 mm) to 5 ft 6 in (1,680 mm) outsideBoiler pressure180 psi (1.24 MPa)Heating surface2,044 sq ft (189.9 m²)^[1]Superheater:
​ • Heating area343 sq ft (31.9 m²)^[1]CylindersFourCylinder size16 in × 26 in (406 mm × 660 mm)

Performance figures
Tractive effort	29,953 lbf (133.2 kN)

Career
Operators	Great Central Railway → London and North Eastern Railway → British Railways
Retired	1948–1950
Disposition	All scrapped

The GCR Class 9Q, classified B7 by the LNER, was a class of 4-6-0 mixed traffic locomotives designed by John G. Robinson for fast goods, relief passenger and excursion services on the Great Central Railway. They were a smaller wheeled version of Robinson's earlier Class 9P "Lord Faringdon" express passenger class (LNER Class B3).

History

GCR locomotives

The GCR built two batches at Gorton locomotive works, during 1921 and 1922, and they also ordered batches from Vulcan Foundry and the Beyer, Peacock and Company. Twenty eight locomotives had been delivered by Grouping in 1923. The GCR found that they were rather heavy on coal - this led to their nickname of "Black Pigs" - although not much worse than other 4 cylinder designs of the time. They were also remarkably quick to say that they had only 5ft 8in wheels and often pulled heavy expresses in the early period of their career.^{[citation needed]}

LNER locomotives

The London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) ordered a fifth batch of ten locomotives from Gorton works and these were delivered between August 1923 and March 1924.^[2]

Sub-classes

The last batch had reduced boiler mountings and detail differences to the cab to conform to the new LNER loading gauge. These were classified B7/2. The earlier batches were classified B7/1.

Thirty-eight locomotives passed to British Railways in 1948, but withdrawal began soon afterwards. Some locomotives surviving in 1949 were renumbered between 61702 and 61713 to make more room for Thompson Class B1 locomotives then under construction.

Preservation

None have been preserved.

Numbering

Year	Maker	GCR Nos.	LNER Nos.	LNER 1942 Nos.	BR Nos.	BR 1949 No.
1921	Gorton	72, 73, 78	5072, 5073, 5078	1360–1362	(61360–61362)	—
1921	Vulcan Foundry	36–38, 458–564	5036–5038, 5458–5464	1363–1372	(61363–61372)	61702–61703
1921–22	Gorton	465–474	5465–5474	1373–1382	(61373–61382)	61704–61707
1922	Beyer, Peacock	31–35	5031–5035	1383–1387	(61383–61387)	61708–61709
1923–24	Gorton	475–482, –, –	5475–5484	1388–1397	(61388–61397)	61710–61713

References

• Boddy, M. G.; Brown, W. A.; Fry, E. V.; Hennigan, W.; Hoole, Ken; Manners, F.; Neve, E.; Platt, E. N. T.; Proud, P.; Yeadon, W. B. (March 1975). Fry, E. V. (ed.). Locomotives of the L.N.E.R., Part 2B: Tender Engines—Classes B1 to B19. Lincoln: RCTS. ISBN 0-901115-73-8.