2 thoughts on “Stockton & Darlington railway celebrations. 1925”
This is 2393, a Gresley designed P1 loco and was brand new at the time of its appearance at the 1925 S & D Centenary. Sir Nigel Gresley, the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the L N E R, was always keenly aware of what the railway might need tomorrow, as opposed merely to today. He envisaged 2393 and its sister engine as hauling 100 wagon coal trains between Peterborough and London,thus saving on train paths ,crews and locomotives.To assist in starting these trains the engines were also fitted with a steam booster engine working on the trailing wheels under the cab, though the boosters were later removed. Performance wise the engines did all that was asked of them, but sadly the infrastructure was not in place to fully utilise their capabilities. Loop lines and sidings to hold such long trains were not always available, which rather defeated the original object of the design. So the class was restricted to two in number. As a non-standard design they were withdrawn in 1945.
This appears to be a class P1 2-8-2 heavy freight locomotive. Designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, designer of world steam speed record holder “Mallard” and the famous “Flying Scotsman” these powerful locomotives were built to haul coal trains of 1,000 tons plus. At the time of this photo it was probably the most powerful steam locomotive in the British Isles. Only two were built, in 1925, and they were withdrawn in 1945 after only 20 years service.
This is 2393, a Gresley designed P1 loco and was brand new at the time of its appearance at the 1925 S & D Centenary. Sir Nigel Gresley, the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the L N E R, was always keenly aware of what the railway might need tomorrow, as opposed merely to today. He envisaged 2393 and its sister engine as hauling 100 wagon coal trains between Peterborough and London,thus saving on train paths ,crews and locomotives.To assist in starting these trains the engines were also fitted with a steam booster engine working on the trailing wheels under the cab, though the boosters were later removed. Performance wise the engines did all that was asked of them, but sadly the infrastructure was not in place to fully utilise their capabilities. Loop lines and sidings to hold such long trains were not always available, which rather defeated the original object of the design. So the class was restricted to two in number. As a non-standard design they were withdrawn in 1945.
This appears to be a class P1 2-8-2 heavy freight locomotive. Designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, designer of world steam speed record holder “Mallard” and the famous “Flying Scotsman” these powerful locomotives were built to haul coal trains of 1,000 tons plus. At the time of this photo it was probably the most powerful steam locomotive in the British Isles. Only two were built, in 1925, and they were withdrawn in 1945 after only 20 years service.