BR 0-6-2T N2 Class - Late BR

After the First World War, in 1919, Nigel Gresley considered a number of possible designs for a new suburban tank engine, including an improved 0-6-2T, a 2-6-2T and a 2-6-4T. His improved 0-6-2T was accepted by the Great Northern Railway (GNR) for development and was introduced in 1920.

Based on the Class N1, the new Class N2 design featured larger diameter cylinders, Stephenson (Piston valve) Gear, a superheated boiler and a greater water capacity. The piston valves were positioned above the cylinders, requiring a high-pitched boiler. This, combined with a short chimney to keep the locomotive within the Metropolitan loading gauge, gave the N2s a powerful appearance.

60 GNR Class N2 locomotives were built between 1920 and 1921 and these were followed by 47 LNER Group Standard Class N2s between 1925 and 1929. Although initially built for passenger operations in the King's Cross area, subsequent locomotives were built for similar services around Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee.

There were four main variants of the Class N2.

1. N2/1, built for GNR between 1920 and 1921 at the Doncaster Works, numbered 4606-15 and the North British Locomotive Co., numbered 4721-70.
2. The N2/2s were built in 1925 by Beyer, Peacock & Co. and numbered 2583-94.
3. The N2/3 batch was built at the Doncaster Works in 1925 and numbered 892-7.
4. The N2/4 locomotives were built in two batches in 1928 and 1929. The first batch by Hawthorn, Leslie & Co., numbered 2662 - 81, the second batch by Yorkshire Engine Co., numbered 2662 - 81.

The locomotive represented here, No. 69543 in BR livery, was built by the North British Locomotive Co. for the GNR and entered traffic on the 30th April 1921. Locomotive No. 69543 was withdrawn from Shed 35A, New England on the 30th September 1961 and cut up on the 30th October 1961.