LB&SCR B4 class

LB&SCR B4 and B4X classes
No. 70 Holyrood B4 class as built
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer B4: R. J. Billinton B4X: L. B. Billinton Builder Brighton Works: 42–46, 52–54 Sharp, Stewart & Co.: 47–51, 55–74 Build date B4: 1899–1902 B4X: 1922–1924 Total produced 33
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-4-0 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Leading dia. 3 ft 6 in (1.067 m) Driver dia. 6 ft 9 in (2.057 m) Total weight B4: 86 long tons 15 cwt (194,300 lb or 88.1 t) (97.1 short tons} B4X: 96 long tons 6 cwt (215,700 lb or 97.8 t) (107.8 short tons) Fuel type Coal Boiler pressure 180 psi (12.41 bar; 1.24 MPa) Cylinders Two, inside Cylinder size B4: 19 in × 26 in (483 mm × 660 mm) B4X: 20 in × 26 in (508 mm × 660 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort B4: 17,730 lbf (78.9 kN) B4X: 19,645 lbf (87.4 kN)
Career Class B4, B4x Power class BR: 1P (B4) BR: 3P (B4x) Withdrawn 1934-1951 Disposition All Scrapped

The B4 class were 4-4-0 steam locomotives for express passenger work on the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway. They were designed by R. J. Billinton and were either built at Brighton works 1899–1902 or else by Messrs Sharp, Stewart and Company in 1901. Twelve members of the class were rebuilt from 1922 to 1924 by L. B. Billinton with a larger boiler, cylinders and a superheater. The rebuilt locomotives were classified B4X.

Construction

A postcard depicting a B4 heading the celebrated Pullman Brighton Belle

The performance of Robert Billinton's B2 class 4-4-0 locomotives of 1895–1897 had proved to be disappointing and they had not been able to replace the earlier Stroudley's B1 class 0-4-2 on the heaviest London to Brighton express trains. Billinton therefore sought authority for the construction of twenty-five larger and more powerful 4-4-0 B4 class locomotives. The first two of these, Nos. 52 and 53, were completed at Brighton works between December 1899 and January 1900, both of which performed well and demonstrated that the new design was sound. However, during the spring of 1900 a backlog of repair work at Brighton meant that the third (No. 54) was not completed until May 1900. The railway therefore approached Sharp, Stewart and Company to supply twenty-five further examples over the next twelve months. These were all delivered between June and October 1901. By 1901 Brighton had overcome the backlog of repair work and five further locomotive boilers were ordered from Sharp, Stewart and Company to be used on additional locomotives to be built at Brighton between June and September 1902.

Use

The B4 class successfully hauled the heaviest express trains on the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway until around 1912 when they were gradually replaced by the larger H1, H2, J1 and J2 classes. Thereafter they were regularly used on slower and lighter services. According to O. S. Nock, the B4 class "were among the finest passenger locomotives of their day".

Rebuilds

B4X No. 2060 formerly named Kimberley pictured in 1948

In 1918, No. 46 was rebuilt by Lawson Billinton with a new boiler including a Robinson superheater. Unfortunately the resulting locomotive was not tested before Billinton decided to rebuild other members of the class, using his K class superheated boiler. The rebuilt locomotives were classified B4X. However, since the original frames could not be used (as the K class firebox was too long to fit between the axles, new frames, new piston valve cylinders), they were virtually new engines. Unfortunately the original motion and motion plate was retained to save costs, which meant that the piston valves were in the constricted space below the cylinders at an angle to the axis of the cylinders. Only 8 inch-diameter valves could be fitted in, and combined with the restricted exhaust arrangement ensured that they were unable to use the steam available from the excellent K class boiler.

Acceleration from stops was very leisurely and they could only be coaxed up to 70 mph (110 km/h) while newly outshopped, with great difficulty in places, where the Atlantics, J class and Baltics could reach 80 mph (130 km/h). Twelve members of the class were 'rebuilt' between August 1922 and January 1924, but further modifications were deferred by Richard Maunsell of the Southern Railway when it became apparent that their performance was not satisfactory. Harold Holcroft found, when he was tasked by Maunsell to report on the post grouping loco stock, that class B4x were very expensive compared to the SECR rebuilds (D1/E1) and far less competent. It was to be 1929 before their services on express work could be dispensed with. Henceforth the class was deployed on secondary duties.

The B4 and B4x classes continued with secondary duties, but thirteen members of the class were withdrawn between 1934 and 1939. The remainder would have followed soon after if World War II had not brought about a temporary reprieve. Six B4s and twelve B4Xs passed to British Railways in 1948. All had been withdrawn by 1951, and none were preserved.

Locomotive summary

LB&SCR No.	Build Date	Builder	Rebuilt B4X	LBSCR Name	Renamed/date	1st SR No.	2nd SR No.	BR No.	Date withdrawn
42	June 1902	Brighton	—	His Majesty		B42	2042	–	April 1947
43	June 1902	Brighton	June 1923	Duchess of Fife		B43	2043	32043	November 1951
44	June 1902	Brighton	—	Cecil Rhodes		B44	2044	—	September 1948
45	June 1902	Brighton	April 1923	Bessborough		B45	2045	—	December 1951
46	September 1902	Brighton	—	Prince of Wales		B46	2046	—	June 1936
47	June 1901	Sharp, Stewart & Co.	—	Canada		B47	2047	—	July 1939
48	July 1901	Sharp, Stewart & Co.	—	Australia		B48	2048	—	January 1936
49	July 1901	Sharp, Stewart & Co.	—	Queensland*	Duchess of Norfolk/1904	B49	2049	—	January 1936
50	July 1901	Sharp, Stewart & Co.	June 1923	Tasmania		B50	2050	—	September 1951
51	July 1901	Sharp, Stewart & Co.	—	Wolferton		B51	2051	—	February 1949
52	December 1899	Brighton	May 1923	Siemens	Sussex/1908	B52	2052	—	December 1951
53	January 1900	Brighton	—	Sirdar	Richmond/1906	B53	2053	—	November 1935
54	May 1900	Brighton	—	Empress	Princess Royal/1906	B54	2054	—	May 1951
55	July 1901	Sharp, Stewart & Co.	August 1922	Emperor		B55	2055	—	November 1951
56	July 1901	Sharp, Stewart & Co.	August 1923	Roberts		B56	2056	—	October 1951
57	August 1901	Sharp, Stewart & Co.	—	Buller		B57	2057	—	August 1936
58	August 1901	Sharp, Stewart & Co.	—	Kitchener		B58	2058	—	August 1936
59	August 1901	Sharp, Stewart & Co.	—	Baden Powell		B59	2059	—	August 1935
60	August 1901	Sharp, Stewart & Co.	September 1922	Kimberley		B60	2060	s2060	November 1951
61	August 1901	Sharp, Stewart & Co.	—	Ladysmith		B61	2061	—	November 1935
62	August 1901	Sharp, Stewart & Co.	—	Mafeking		B62	2062	—	May 1951
63	August 1901	Sharp, Stewart & Co.	—	Pretoria		B63	2063	—	May 1951
64	August 1901	Sharp, Stewart & Co.	—	Windsor	Norfolk/1908	B64	2064	—	April 1935
65	August 1901	Sharp, Stewart & Co.	—	Sandringham		B65	2065	—	May 1934
66	August 1901	Sharp, Stewart & Co.	—	Balmoral	Billinton/1906	B66	2066	—	May 1935
67	September 1901	Sharp, Stewart & Co.	October 1923	Osborne		B67	2067	—	September 1951
68	September 1901	Sharp, Stewart & Co.	—	Marlborough		B68	2068	—	May 1951
69	September 1901	Sharp, Stewart & Co.	—	Bagshot		B69	2069	—	August 1934
70	September 1901	Sharp, Stewart & Co.	May 1923	Holyrood	Devonshire/1907.03	B70	2070	—	August 1951
71	September 1901	Sharp, Stewart & Co.	June 1923	Goodwood		B71	2071	32071	October 1951
72	September 1901	Sharp, Stewart & Co.	January 1924	Sussex		B72	2072	32072	December 1951
73	October 1901	Sharp, Stewart & Co.	November 1923	Westminster		B73	2073	—	August 1951
74	October 1901	Sharp, Stewart & Co.	—	Cornwall		B74	2074	—	February 1950

References

• Bradley, D.L. (1974). Locomotives of the London Brighton and South Coast Railway: Part 3. Railway Correspondence and Travel Society.
• Nock, O.S. (1983). British Locomotives of the Twentieth Century: Volume 1. 1900-1930. Patrick Stephens.
• Nock, O.S. (1987). Great Locomotives of the Southern Railway. Patrick Stephens. ISBN 0-85059-735-8.
• ABC of British Railways Locomotives, part 2 (1949 ed.). Ian Allan. p. 24.

External links

• Rail UK database, B4
• Rail UK database, B4X
• LB&SCR online, B4 class