LNER Thompson Class A2/2

LNER Thompson Class A2/2
No. 60503 'Lord President' at London King's Cross railway station in 1958
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerEdward Thompson
Build date1934-1936
Total produced6
Rebuild date1943-1944
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte4-6-2
 • UIC2’C1 h3
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Leading dia.3 ft 2 in (0.965 m)
Driver dia.6 ft 2 in (1.880 m)
Trailing dia.3 ft 8 in (1.118 m)
Wheelbase63 ft 0.875 in (19.22 m)
Length72 ft 8.375 in (22.16 m)
Adhesive weight66 long tons (67 t; 74 short tons)
Loco weight101.5 long tons (103.1 t; 113.7 short tons)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity9 long tons (9.1 t; 10 short tons)
Water cap.5,000 imp gal (22,700 L; 6,000 US gal)
Firebox:
 • Grate area50 sq ft (4.6 m2)
Boiler pressure225 psi (1.55 MPa)
Heating surface:
 • Firebox237 sq ft (22.0 m2)
 • Tubes1,004.5 sq ft (93.32 m2)
 • Flues1,211.57 sq ft (112.559 m2)
 • Total surface2,453 sq ft (227.9 m2)
Superheater:
 • Heating area619.67 sq ft (57.569 m2)
CylindersThree
Cylinder size20 in × 26 in (508 mm × 660 mm)
Valve gearWalschaerts
Valve typePiston valves
Performance figures
Tractive effort40,318 lbf (179.34 kN)
Career
OperatorsLondon and North Eastern Railway
British Railways
ClassA2/2
Power classBR: 8P7F
NumbersLNER: 501-506;
BR: 60501-60506
Withdrawn1959 – 1961
DispositionAll scrapped

The London and North Eastern Railway Class A2/2 was a class of six 4-6-2 steam locomotives rebuilt by Edward Thompson in 1943 and 1944 from his predecessor Sir Nigel Gresley's P2 Class of 2-8-2 express passenger locomotives. The rebuilds improved reliability and reduced maintenance, but also suffered from a variety of issues during service, and all were withdrawn and scrapped between 1959 and 1961.