# LNWR Alfred the Great Class

The London and North Western Railway (LNWR) Alfred the Great class, after modification known as the Benbow class, was a class of 4-4-0 4-cylinder compound locomotives by F.W. Webb. A total of forty were built from 1901–1903. They were a development of the Jubilee class, with a slightly larger boiler.
Unusually for the LNWR, the locomotives were assigned a number series, this being 1941–1980.
Compounds had proven unreliable, so starting in 1908 Whale started rebuilding the Jubilees into the 2-cylinder simple Renown class. Bowen Cooke started the same process with the Benbows in 1913, and these too were added to the Renown class. Rebuilt engines retained their numbers. Benbow 1974 Howe was superheated in 1921; the only member of the class modified as such.
Number 1976 Lady Godiva was withdrawn in December 1922 without rebuilding. By the grouping of 1 January 1923, when the LNWR passed into London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) ownership, 25 had been rebuilt to Renowns, leaving fourteen Benbows. Of these, 1956 was withdrawn in early 1923 before it could be allocated an LMS number, but the remaining 13 (1944/52–55/64/66/67/69/70/74/77/79) were allocated the LMS numbers 5118–5130, sequentially. The LMS continued conversions, rebuilding another eight—1952–54/64/67/69/70/74 in 1923/4. The remainder four Benbows (1944/55/66/79) were withdrawn and scrapped between 1923 and 1927, with 1974 Howe going in 1928; none of these last five received their allocated LMS numbers.

## Stock list

LNWR/LMS stock list :
| LNWR No. | LNWR Name | Crewe Works No. | Date built | Date rebuilt | LMS No. | Date withdrawn | Notes |
| 1941 | Alfred the Great | 4125 | May 1901 | February 1922 | 5179 | | |
| 1942 | King Edward VII | 4126 | May 1901 | September 1922 | 5185 | | |
| 1943 | Queen Alexandra | 4127 | June 1901 | September 1916 | 5145 | | |
| 1944 | Victoria and Albert | 4128 | June 1901 | — | 5118 | February 1927 | Never carried its LMS number |
| 1945 | Magnificent | 4129 | June 1901 | September 1915 | 5139 | | |
| 1946 | Diadem | 4130 | June 1901 | October 1914 | 5138 | | |
| 1947 | Zillah | 4131 | June 1901 | September 1921 | 5174 | | Originally named Australia |
| 1948 | Camperdown | 4132 | June 1901 | October 1915 | 5141 | | |
| 1949 | King Arthur | 4133 | June 1901 | January 1918 | 5152 | | |
| 1950 | Victorious | 4134 | June 1901 | October 1922 | 5186 | | |
| 1951 | Bacchante | 4195 | January 1902 | October 1913 | 5136 | | |
| 1952 | Benbow | 4196 | January 1902 | November 1923 | 5119 | | |
| 1953 | Formidable | 4197 | February 1902 | December 1923 | 5120 | | |
| 1954 | Galatea | 4198 | February 1902 | October 1924 | 5121 | | |
| 1955 | Hannibal | 4199 | February 1902 | — | 5122 | August 1923 | Never carried its LMS number |
| 1956 | Illustrious | 4200 | February 1902 | — | — | January 1923 | |
| 1957 | Orion | 4201 | March 1902 | April 1917 | 5148 | | |
| 1958 | Royal Oak | 4202 | March 1902 | April 1922 | 5181 | | |
| 1959 | Revenge | 4203 | March 1902 | April 1916 | 5143 | | |
| 1960 | Francis Stevenson | 4204 | March 1902 | February 1918 | 5153 | | |
| 1961 | Albemarle | 4285 | February 1903 | September 1915 | 5140 | | |
| 1962 | Aurora | 4286 | February 1903 | June 1921 | 5171 | | |
| 1963 | Boadicea | 4287 | February 1903 | June 1920 | 5163 | | |
| 1964 | Caesar | 4288 | February 1903 | September 1924 | 5123 | | |
| 1965 | Charles H. Mason | 4289 | February 1903 | August 1917 | 5151 | | |
| 1966 | Commonwealth | 4290 | February 1903 | — | 5124 | April 1925 | Never carried its LMS number |
| 1967 | Cressy | 4291 | March 1903 | November 1923 | 5125 | | Never carried its LMS number |
| 1968 | Cumberland | 4292 | March 1903 | June 1920 | 5164 | | |
| 1969 | Dominion | 4293 | March 1903 | April 1924 | 5126 | | |
| 1970 | Good Hope | 4294 | March 1903 | April 1924 | 5127 | | |
| 1971 | Euryalus | 4335 | July 1903 | April 1913 | 5135 | | |
| 1972 | Hindostan | 4336 | July 1903 | March 1921 | 5168 | | |
| 1973 | Hood | 4337 | July 1903 | September 1921 | 5175 | | |
| 1974 | Howe | 4338 | July 1903 | — | 5128 | March 1928 | Superheated 1921. Never carried its LMS number |
| 1975 | Jupiter | 4339 | July 1903 | January 1921 | 5167 | | |
| 1976 | Lady Godiva | 4340 | July 1903 | — | — | December 1922 | |
| 1977 | Mars | 4341 | July 1903 | February 1924 | 5129 | | |
| 1978 | Merlin | 4342 | July 1903 | December 1921 | 5177 | | |
| 1979 | Nelson | 4343 | July 1903 | — | 5130 | August 1923 | Never carried its LMS number |
| 1980 | Neptune | 4344 | August 1903 | May 1922 | 5182 | | |