The LB&SCR G class were powerful 2-2-2 locomotives, designed by William Stroudley of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway in 1874.
History A prototype single locomotive, No. 151 Grosvenor, was designed by Stroudley and produced by Brighton railway works in December 1874. This was extensively tested before a second, scaled down locomotive No. 325 Abergavenny, was ordered in June 1876 and completed in January 1877. Both locomotives performed adequately, but Abergavenny was significantly less powerful than Grosvenor. A modified design was developed and twelve further locomotives were built between December 1880 and November 1881. The members of this class worked express trains between London and South Coast towns such as Portsmouth, Brighton and Eastbourne, and covered large mileages. The introduction of the Billinton B2 class made the singles redundant on the Portsmouth line and so several were transferred to Tunbridge Wells.
Withdrawals began in May 1907, and the last locomotive survived until May 1914. No examples have been preserved, but there is a model of No. 331 Fairlight in the museum at Sheffield Park on the Bluebell Railway.
Locomotive summary
+G class fleet summary LBSC No. Date Built New No. Date Name Withdrawn 151 326 Grosvenor 325 Abergavenny 327 Imberhorne 328 Sutherland 329 329A Stephenson 330 Newhaven 331 Fairlight 332 Shanklin 333 Ventnor 334 Petworth 335 Connaught 336 Edinburgh 337 Yarmouth 338 Bembridge 339 London 340 Medina 341 Parkhurst 342 St Lawrence 343 Wilmington 344 Hurstmonceux 345 Plumpton 346 Alfriston 347 Dallington 348 Lullington 349 Albany 350 Southbourne
Sources
External links Southern E-Group