The Locomotives

This list, on the face of things seems as though all is cut and dried, but there are, as with all things, anomalies.  Different sources provide differing accounts and information.  Consequently, while every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, I fear some discrepancies may have crept in.  It is hoped that any such are few and far between, as I am deeply aware of the passion with which some people regard this subject.  I therefore apologise in advance in case any have been made here.  They were not intentional, I would not dare!!. 

In 1921, the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the North Eastern Railway, Sir Vincent Raven, authorised the conversion of two Atlantic C7 class engines into Pacific's, meaning greater acceleration and running power which were necessary for the ever increasing loads demanded on the east coast mainline.  Originally designated as class A2's, the first two proved satisfactory, and a further three were then ordered to be built as a result.  At grouping, in 1923, the five were the:

Specifications. 

Class A1 - (Class A10 from 1945)

Built at the Doncaster works 1922 to 1925 - a total of 32 locomotives

Built at the North British Locomotive Company works 1924 a total of 20 locomotives

The original running numbers of the first class of Sir Nigel Gresley's Pacific's were designed and ordered prior to the formation of the LNER, the Great Northern Railway had built two Gresley designed Pacific engines.  They were the true forerunners of the engines, which were to become the flagships of the company.  A year later in 1923, ten more followed, the later names were of famous racehorses:

Specifications. 

Between 1927 and 1947, all A1's were rebuilt as A3's except 4470 Great Northern, which was rebuilt by Thompson as a A1/1 class.  The remaining A1's were reclassified in 1945 by Thompson, as A10's. 

A3's

After these, another 77, called Class A3, which continued to be built from 1928until 1935 at Doncaster, in chronological order of their building of each subdivision; they were; again named after famous racehorses, the:

** The name plate makers of this engine omitted to include the word 'the', making the official title Knight of Thistle rather than the intended Knight of the Thistle.

Specs. 

In 1929 an experimental loco with a high pressure boiler system was built, known only as the Hush Hush, because of the secrecy with which the enterprise was conducted, it was given the LNER running number 10000.  It was later rebuilt to more or less conform to the standard A4 class Pacific.  It had a wheel configuration of 4 - 6 - 4, compared with its sisters, which were 4 - 6 - 2.