The London and North Western Railway (LNWR) Greater Britain class was a class of ten 2-2-2-2 steam locomotives designed for express passenger work by F. W. Webb.
History The first of the ten locomotives was built in October 1891, and a second followed in May 1893; the remaining eight came from Crewe Works in April and May 1894.
They were three-cylinder compound locomotives: the two outside high pressure cylinders drove the trailing drivers via Howe-Stephenson valve gear, the one inside low pressure cylinder drive the leading drivers via a slip eccentric. There was no connection between the two sets of drivers.
All the locomotives were named; one unusual feature (shared with the John Hick class) was that the names were split over two nameplates, one on each driving wheel splasher. This necessitated the use of two-word names, rather than some of the abbreviated names the LNWR had previously used.
They continued in service until Webb's retirement. His successor, George Whale preferred simple superheated locomotives; consequently they were all scrapped between 1906 and 1907.
Fleet list + Table of locomotives LNWRNo. Name CreweWorksNo. Datebuilt Datescrapped Notes 2525 Greater Britain 3292 Renumbered 2053 in Dec 1891 3435 Queen Empress 3435 Renumbered 2054 in Jan 1894 2051 George Findlay 3472 2052 Prince George 3473 525 Princess May 3474 526 Scottish Chief 3475 527 Henry Bessemer 3476 528 Richard Moon 3477 529 William Cawkwell 3478 772 Richard Trevithick 3479
References
External links LNWR Society Photographs of the Webb 2-2-2-2 Greater Britain class steam locomotives.