'Class B' 4-cylinder compound 0-8-0, No 859
Under the direction of Mr Webb Crewe Works produced its first 3-cylinder compound express loco in 1882 and commenced building 3-cylinder compound heavy freight engines in 1893. The final such express loco was produced in 1898 and freight loco in 1900. Between 1897 and 1903 4-cylinder compound express locos were produced and from 1901 to 1904 all heavy freight engines were likewise 4-cylinder compounds. I have no information on why Mr Webb made this drastic change in design but I often wonder why he took so long to do it. The production of compounds ceased very soon after Mr Whale became CME in 1903.
No 859 is one of a class of 170. Most were converted to 2-cylinder simples but a few remained as compounds until scrapped in the 1920s. The last two, when withdrawn on 31st December 1928, were the last Webb compounds of any type in service.
The LRM kit for the Class C/C1 0-8-0 formed the basis of this model. The boiler is of slightly larger diameter, achieved by widening the joint along the bottom. The 'piano front' extending under and in front of the smokebox was built up from layers of plasticard and care was needed to avoid melting it when other bits were soldered on. Fortunately, this time, a full length chassis could be constructed with similar cylinders attached to it as with the Class A. The mechanical and electrical arrangements of the chassis are identical to the Class A.
The loco weighs 326grms and exerts a pull of 65grms.
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No. 859 at Wigan in about
1910 with a gentleman, whom I assume to be the driver, standing proudly
alongside, dressed in his Sunday best
LNWR Society collection
The same gentleman in the cab of my model
Side view of No 859
View showing the 'piano front'
The works from above
The works from below