LNWR ‘G’ 0-8-0

Before the war: The LNWR’s 0-8-0s have a rather convoluted history. In 1910 George Whale introduced the ‘G’ 0-8-0, which was a big improvement over the preceding designs thanks to a boiler that was pressed at 160lb/sq in. The LNWR built 60 ‘Gs’ from scratch in 1910 and rebuilt a further 32 ‘Bs’ – a four-cylinder compound take on the design of 1901 vintage – to produce a class of 92 powerful freight haulers.

Call-up: The LNWR sent 26 ‘Gs’: Nos. 1322/ 54/85, 1462, 1540/70/78/ 91, 1609/29/34/37/39/ 90/99, 1700/27/35/74/76, 2014/32/54/56/58/60.

Theatre of operations: These locomotives were used in the Hazebrouck-Calais area, mainly on the overnight supply trains before being displaced by ‘43XXs’. They were later used on stone trains from Marquise quarry.

Demobilisation: All 26 ‘Gs’ made it through the conflict unscathed. They were later incorporated in the ‘G1’ and ‘G2a’ classes, the latter being fitted with Belpaire fireboxes. All ‘Gs’ were fitted with superheaters to become ‘G1’; 21 of the ex-ROD locomotive were fitted with Belpaire fireboxes as part of the ‘G2a’ class. BR withdrew the last ‘G1s’ in 1951, while the ‘G2s’ soldiered on until December 1962. The last withdrawals included six locomotives used in France.

Survivors: The sole surviving LNWR 0-8-0 is the National Collection’s 1921-built ‘G2’ No. 49395.

K. FAIREY/COLOUR RAIL LNWR ‘G’ 0-8-0 No. 49113 awaits its next duty at Pontypool Road on August 22 1957. This locomotive was rebuilt to ‘G2a’ specification in 1939 and looks quite different to how it was when it was ROD No. 1634. It served between May 11 1917 and July 17 1919 but returned to Crewe in May 1918 for a month-long repair.