The London and North Western Railway (LNWR) Alfred the Great class, after modification known as the Benbow class, was a class of 4-4-0 4-cylinder compound locomotives by F.W. Webb. A total of forty were built from 1901–1903. They were a development of the Jubilee class, with a slightly larger boiler.
Unusually for the LNWR, the locomotives were assigned a number series, this being 1941–1980.
Compounds had proven unreliable, so starting in 1908 Whale started rebuilding the Jubilees into the 2-cylinder simple Renown class. Bowen Cooke started the same process with the Benbows in 1913, and these too were added to the Renown class. Rebuilt engines retained their numbers. Benbow 1974 Howe was superheated in 1921; the only member of the class modified as such.
Number 1976 Lady Godiva was withdrawn in December 1922 without rebuilding. By the grouping of 1 January 1923, when the LNWR passed into London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) ownership, 25 had been rebuilt to Renowns, leaving fourteen Benbows. Of these, 1956 was withdrawn in early 1923 before it could be allocated an LMS number, but the remaining 13 (1944/52–55/64/66/67/69/70/74/77/79) were allocated the LMS numbers 5118–5130, sequentially. The LMS continued conversions, rebuilding another eight—1952–54/64/67/69/70/74 in 1923/4. The remainder four Benbows (1944/55/66/79) were withdrawn and scrapped between 1923 and 1927, with 1974 Howe going in 1928; none of these last five received their allocated LMS numbers.
Stock list +LNWR/LMS stock list LNWRNo. LNWR Name CreweWorksNo. Date built Date rebuilt LMSNo. Date withdrawn Notes 1941 Alfred the Great 4125 5179 1942 King Edward VII 4126 5185 1943 Queen Alexandra 4127 5145 1944 Victoria and Albert 4128 — 5118 Never carried its LMS number 1945 Magnificent 4129 5139 1946 Diadem 4130 5138 1947 Zillah 4131 5174 Originally named Australia 1948 Camperdown 4132 5141 1949 King Arthur 4133 5152 1950 Victorious 4134 5186 1951 Bacchante 4195 5136 1952 Benbow 4196 5119 1953 Formidable 4197 5120 1954 Galatea 4198 5121 1955 Hannibal 4199 — 5122 Never carried its LMS number 1956 Illustrious 4200 — — 1957 Orion 4201 5148 1958 Royal Oak 4202 5181 1959 Revenge 4203 5143 1960 Francis Stevenson 4204 5153 1961 Albemarle 4285 5140 1962 Aurora 4286 5171 1963 Boadicea 4287 5163 1964 Caesar 4288 5123 1965 Charles H. Mason 4289 5151 1966 Commonwealth 4290 — 5124 Never carried its LMS number 1967 Cressy 4291 5125 Never carried its LMS number 1968 Cumberland 4292 5164 1969 Dominion 4293 5126 1970 Good Hope 4294 5127 1971 Euryalus 4335 5135 1972 Hindostan 4336 5168 1973 Hood 4337 5175 1974 Howe 4338 — 5128 Superheated 1921. Never carried its LMS number 1975 Jupiter 4339 5167 1976 Lady Godiva 4340 — — 1977 Mars 4341 5129 1978 Merlin 4342 5177 1979 Nelson 4343 — 5130 Never carried its LMS number 1980 Neptune 4344 5182
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