GNR Stirling 4-2-2
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The Great Northern Railway (GNR) G class Stirling Single is a class of steam locomotive designed for express passenger work. Designed by Patrick Stirling, they are characterised by a single pair of large driving wheels.
On his arrival at GNR, Stirling set out to standardise the railway's rolling stock. He also borrowed a 'single-wheeler' from the Great Eastern Railway and, in 1868, designed two versions of 2-2-2 with 7ft.1in driving wheels.
The outcome, in 1870 was a locomotive with 8ft. 1in . drivers, designed specifically for high speed expresses between York and London. The norm in those days was inside cylinders. Not only were there frequent failures of the cranked axle shafts, with such large drivers, they would have set the boiler too high. He therefore used outside cylinders with a four wheeled bogie for lateral stability at the front end.
A total of forty nine were built at Doncaster, with some variation between, particularly improvements in boiler pressure. The last ones were coded G1 Class (ten) and G2 Class (six). They were able to haul 275 ton trains at an average of 50mph, with a top speed, on lighter trains, of 85mph, taking part in the 1895 Race to the North.
The first of the class, No 1 is the only engine to be preserved.
Emily, the first female steam engine in Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, is based from this engine.
Reference
- Herring, P., (2000) Classic British Steam Locomotives Leicester: Abbeydale Press
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