GCR Class 11F

Infobox Locomotive
powertype=Steam
name = GCR Class 11F
LNER Class D11


caption = GCR Class 11F no. 506 "Butler Henderson" is the only preserved Great Central Railway passenger locomotive
designer = Robinson
builder = GCR
builddate = 1920-1924
totalproduction =
whytetype = 4-4-0
gauge = 4' 8½"
leadingsize =
driversize = 6' 9"
length =
weight = 61 Tons 3 cwt
fueltype = coal
fuelc

waterc

cylindercount = two inside
cylindersize = 20" x 26"
firearea =
boilerpressure = 180 psi
tractiveeffort = 19,645 lbf
railroadclass= 3P2F|

The Great Central Railway Class 11F or Improved Director Class is a class of 4-4-0 steam locomotive designed by John G. Robinson for passenger work. The LNER classified them as Class D11. They were based on the GCR Class 11E "Director".

There were two subclasses: D11/1 were the original GCR engines and D11/2 were those built in 1924 by the LNER to a reduced loading gauge with smaller boiler mountings for use in Scotland.

Preservation

The first of the class, 506 "Butler Henderson" has been preserved. It ran on the preserved Great Central Railway in Leicestershire during the late 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s but is now out of order and is a static exhibit in the National Railway Museum. The locomotive was on display at Barrow Hill Roundhouse in 2005. It is the only surviving GCR passenger locomotive, the only other surviving GCR engine (in the UK) being the 8K (O4) Class 2-8-0 No. 63601. Other surviving GCR engines can be found in Australia.

Gerard Powys Dewhurst & her Driver

The mounted, but not framed, black and white photograph reproduced above was taken at Neasden shed. Gerard Powys Dewhurst, No 507, was the latest type of passenger express engine in 1920. It was only the second of the class delivered and was still in service to BR in 1958. In 1920 it would have been the centre of interest and the pride of the crew. Known then as Directors’ Class D11 the engines were built by the Great Central and were maintained in an immaculate condition as they were the focal point of the services out of Marylebone at this time. In 1923 No 507 was renumbered 5507 when the LNER took over from the Great Central and 62661 in 1948 when it came under BR ownership.There are three men standing on the track in front of the loco. The central one is Richard Hinson, born on 1 November 1880 and died in 1958.

Richard had risen to be a top Express driver on the Great Central having left the Buckinghamshire farm land to seek his fortune on the Railways. In the photograph there is a bold watch chain showing across his waistcoat. Richard apparently marched into Wintergarten's shop after driving his engine all day, still in his overalls, and purchased the chain and the gold watch attached to it with a roll of banknotes!

Richard lived with his wife Ethel and son Lawrence in the Great Central Cottages in Gresham Street, Neasden. Ethel’s Mother had Great Central Drivers as lodgers in her house in Woodford. Her Father, Richard David Nicolson, was a Signal Engineer. Richard gave the watch to Lawrence who wore it everyday right through the Second World War. The watch passed to Richard’s Great Great grandson on the death of Lawrence in 2005.

External links

* [http://www.lner.info/locos/D/d11.shtml LNER encyclopedia]
* [http://www.railuk.co.uk/steam/getsteamclass.php?item=D11/1 Railuk database D11/1]
* [http://www.railuk.co.uk/steam/getsteamclass.php?item=D11/2 Railuk database D11/2]
* [http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/locos/e506.htm Great Central Railway page on 506]