GNR Class J4

The Great Northern Railway J4 Class was a class of 322 0-6-0 steam locomotives, introduced in 1882 designed by Patrick Stirling for goods traffic. Just over half of these were rebuilt by Nigel Gresley to a design by Henry Ivatt between 1912 and 1929.

GNR J4 & J5 Classes
LNER Classes J3 and J4
LNER J3 No. 4142. at Immingham Locomotive Depot 1947
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerPatrick Stirling, rebuilt Henry Ivatt
BuilderDoncaster Works (297)
Dübs & Co. (25)
Build date1882-1901
Total produced322
153 rebuilt to J3 class
12 built for the Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte0-6-0
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver dia.5 ft 2 in (1.57 m)
Loco weight41 tons 10 cwt (42 tons 12 cwt rebuilds)
Fuel typecoal
Boiler pressureJ4:170 psi (1.2 MPa)
J3:175 psi (1.21 MPa)
Cylinderstwo inside
Cylinder size17.5 in × 26 in (440 mm × 660 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effortJ4:18,558 lbf (82.55 kN)
J3:19,104 lbf (84.98 kN)
Career
Withdrawn1926 - 1954 (J4s)
1903 - 1951 (J5s)
DispositionAll scrapped

GNR Class J5/LNER Class J4

The J5 was based on the J7 Class 0-6-0 tender engines designed by Patrick Stirling. Thirty-five were built at Doncaster between 1867 and 1873. In 1873, Stirling decided to make a new design based on the J7s but with larger diameter boilers at 4-foot 2.5-inches compared to the 4-foot 0.5-inch boilers found on the J7s. The cylinder stroke was also increased from 24 in (610 mm) to 26 in (660 mm).

GNR Class J4/LNER Class J3

In 1912, Gresley produced a new boiler with a 4-foot 8-inch diameter and a total firebox area of 105 square feet. This was designed to be used on the D2 Class 4-4-0s and the J5s. The first member to be rebuilt was No. 1163 in May, being reclassified as J4. The GNR rebuilt 70 more to this specification. Upon the Groupings of 1923, the class became the LNER J3s. The LNER also rebuilt 82 locomotives, with the last rebuild occurring in 1929. By this point, there were only 157 J4s left in service. From 1926 onwards, the J3s were refitted with Ross pop safety valves, as was standard on the LNER. In service, the J3s handled the same duties as the J4s. However, they could also be found on Sunday school excursions from London to Southend-on-Sea, as well as many other excursions.

ROD Service

Twenty-six J5s were loaned to the ROD during the First World War, being sent to France alongside many other locomotives from other companies. Before going to France, the J4s were given boiler feed pumps and condensing gear. However, this was removed upon their return in 1918.

Preservation

None of the J4s survived into preservation.

Sources
  • Ian Allan ABC of British Railways Locomotives (1948 ed.). part 4, page 28.
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