LNER Locomotive Classification

The London & North Eastern Railway used an alpha-numeric system for classifying its locomotives. Each class was identified by a letter followed by a number, the letter denoting the wheel arrangement of the class:

 

Code

Wheels

  

Code

Wheels

A

4-6-2

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

O

2-8-0

B

4-6-0

P

2-8-2

C

4-4-2

Q

0-8-0

D

4-4-0

R

0-8-2

E

2-4-0

S

0-8-4

F

2-4-2

T

4-8-0

G

0-4-4

U

2-8-8-2

H

4-4-4

V

2-6-2

J

0-6-0

W

4-6-4

K

2-6-0

X

2-2-4

L

2-6-4

Y

0-4-0

M

0-6-4

Z

0-4-2

N

0-6-2

    

 

The wheel arrangements are shown in the Whyte notation, the system used in Great Britain and North America. The middle number is the number of coupled, or driving, wheels, which are the powered wheels. The end numbers are the number of unpowered or carrying wheels; on the left the number of unpowered wheels in front of the coupled wheels, and on the right the number behind the coupled wheels.

The wheel arrangements also have names, although some are rarely used outside North America. Those most commonly used in the U.K. are Pacific (4-6-2) Atlantic (4-4-2) Mogul (2-6-0) Mikado (2-8-2) and Prairie (2-6-2).

In mainland Europe axles are counted, rather than wheels, so that for instance a Pacific, which is 4-6-2 in the Whyte notation, is shown as 2-3-1 in European notation.

Further information:

Link to ~ listing, classes designed by Sir Nigel Gresley

Link to ~ listings, the Gresley Pacifics

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