TABLE 6: CREWE – CHESTER
LNWR No. 2120 in October 1927, built in May 1905; the last was LNWR No. 643 Sirocco, dating from November 1904 and later rebuilt with high superheat and a Belpaire boiler. Eventually renumbered 5297, it was the last surviving Crewe-built 4-4-0; it was condemned in October 1949, without receiving its allotted BR number, 58010.
Expertise
Train: Loco: Load: Recorder: Date:
Miles
0.0 8.1 10.5 16.2 17.8 21.2
Timing point
CREWE Worleston Calveley Beeston Castle Tattenhall Rd Tattenhall Jct Waverton CHESTER
How about the ‘Georges’? During the 1930s the LMS had been flooded with ‘Black Fives’ and other types initially based on Swindon practice and improved with the expertise of chief draughtsman Tom Coleman and his ilk.
Although mighty performers in their time, despite their modest dimensions, the ‘Georges’ had to bow out. The first to go were a clutch of 10 in November 1935, and the final members of the class were LMS
Nos. 5321/50/73/76, all of which just made it into BR ownership.
Preservation was considered but fell through; but plans are afoot to build a replica 2.43pm Crewe-Chester 25348 Coronation 4/112/115tons
D S M Barrie
March 22, 1938
Sched min
0 19 26
Actual Speed ms mph
0 00 -
622 52/49 11 25 57 13 45 67 1705 73max 1837 68 20 00 72 24 33 - n/r
5395 Henry Crosfield 9/#251/265tons
D S M Barrie
August 17, 1936
Actual Speed m s mph 000 3.7
6 23 50/47 11 50 56 15 13 14.4
6 10 54 807 56 11 35 59/60 1247
of a ‘George the Fifth’ (see below).
As early as November 1929, Cecil J Allen had opined in The Railway Magazine :“Isita sound proposition to design the engine which can be ‘thrashed’...as was the case in North Western days?
“Or was the treatment that these engines received during their early life, and the excessive wear and tear so caused, one of the determining factors which...has compelled their early replacement?”
The superheated ‘Precursors’ and the ‘George the Fifths’ were nevertheless in the forefront of 4-4-0 performance until the advent of Maunsell’s three-cylinder ‘Schools’ in 1930. Acoustically and visually a ‘George the Fifth’ surely had the edge.
It may be possible to see and hear one again, thanks to the LNWR ‘George the
Fifth’ Steam Locomotive Trust. Formed in 2012 with the aim of building a working replica, the trust can be contacted on https:// newprincegeorgesteam.org.uk ■ Meanwhile, thanks for assistance to Edward Talbot, author and expert on LNWR locomotive matters.
“Visually, there was little similarity between the graceful lines of the LNWR ‘George the Fifths’ and the startling appearance of Bulleid’s ‘Q1’ 0-6-0s 35 years later on the Southern. Yet the two classes had one thing in common: potential power in a small space.”