2-6-0 Class K4 LNER Profile and Models

2-6-0 Class K4 LNER

61994 'The Great Marquess' at Carlisle in June 2013. ©Ray Forster

The London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) Class K4 is a class of 2-6-0 steam locomotives designed by Nigel Gresley for the steep grades of the West Highland Line. The K4s quickly endeared themselves to the Scottish crews and, apart from some heavily loaded summer trains, eliminated uneconomic double-heading over the West Highland. However, as with all Gresley 2-6-0s it could be a rough ride at speed, and a locomotive designed to climb was not suited to the flat straight stretches of the line into Glasgow Queen Street railway station, or the 8.5 miles stretch alongside Loch Eil. Crews began to prefer the LNER Class V4, but their lower power restricted their use and the K4s retained their pre-eminence on the West Highland line until the 1947 arrival of the first B1 4-6-0s, which replaced the K4s from Glasgow to Fort William. These were followed after nationalisation by an influx of Stanier 5MT 4-6-0s and the new K1s, that left the K4s increasingly confined to goods workings. One of the six strong class has survived into preservation, following the efforts of the late Viscount Garnock, who purchased No. 61994 The Great Marquess from British Rail (BR) and had the engine overhauled to working order.

(Information provided via Wikipedia)

Type of Locomotive

Steam

Builder

Darlington Works

Build Date

1937 to 1939

Total Built

6

Tractive Effort

36,600 lbf

Wheel Configuration

2-6-0

Operated By

London & North Eastern Railway
British Railways

Main Duties

Passenger Services

In Service Until

1961

Surviving Examples

1

 

Products awaiting categorisation

Scale Brand Image Construction Type DCC Capability Product Code Product Title Livery
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) Dave Alexander Models No image available Requires assembly Not set K4DA
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LNER/BR K4 2-6-0 Steeam locomotive kit Awaiting Categorisation