GCR Class 11F

The Great Central Railway Class 11F or Improved Director Class is a class of 4-4-0 steam locomotive designed by John G. Robinson for passenger work. The LNER classified them as Class D11 from 1923. They were based on the earlier GCR Class 11E "Director" class (LNER D10).
There were two subclasses: D11/1 were the original GCR engines and D11/2 were those built in 1924 by the LNER to a reduced loading gauge with smaller boiler mountings for hauling passenger trains in Scotland.
==Operational career==
The 11F Class was initially used on passenger work on the GCR system, including fast expresses from Sheffield Victoria to London Marylebone. Later in their careers, they were used on short-distance passenger trains. On lines of the Cheshire Lines Committee during the late 1940s and early 1950s, they hauled expresses between Manchester Central and Liverpool Central; also semi-fast trains from Manchester Central via Northwich to Chester Northgate.
Their 6 ft 9 inches driving wheels made them fast locos, but consequently unsuitable for hauling freight trains. The eleven original 11F locos were withdrawn during 1959 and 1960 as diesel multiple units took over operation of the shorter distance passenger trains.
==Preservation==
The sixth member of the class, No. 506 Butler-Henderson, was withdrawn from use by British Railways during 1960. It has been preserved as part of the UK National Collection and currently wears restored GCR colors. No. 506 is the only surviving GCR passenger locomotive. The locomotive operated passenger trains on the preserved Great Central Railway in Leicestershire during the late 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s but is now out of running order. The locomotive was placed on long-term loan for static display at Barrow Hill Engine Shed, near Chesterfield, in 2005, where she currently resides.
==Stock list==
GCR/LNER stock list
GCR No.	Name 	Date built 	LNER No.	1946
LNER No.	Date withdrawn	Notes 	Image
501 	Mons 	September 1922	5501 	2665	May 1959 	 	120px
502 	Zeebrugge 	October 1922 	5502 	2666	December 1960 	 	
503 	Somme 	November 1922 	5503 	2667	August 1960 	 	
504 	Jutland 	November 1922 	5504 	2668	November 1960 	 	120px
505 	Ypres 	December 1922 	5505 	2669	August 1960 	 	120px
506 	Butler-Henderson 	December 1919 	5506 	2660	November 1960 	Preserved 	
507 	Gerard Powys Dewhurst	February 1920 	5507 	2661	November 1960 	 	
508 	Prince of Wales 	March 1920 	5508 	2662	August 1960 	 	120px
509 	Prince Albert 	March 1920 	5509 	2663	May 1960 	 	
510 	Princess Mary 	May 1920 	5510 	2664	August 1960 	 	
511 	Marne 	December 1922 	5511 	2670	November 1960 	 	
1378 	Bailie MacWheeble 	July 1924 	6378 	2671	May 1961 	 	
1379 	Baron of Bradwardine 	August 1924 	6379 	2672	September 1961	 	
1380 	Evan Dhu 	August 1924 	6380 	2673	July 1959 	 	
1381 	Flora MacIvor 	August 1924 	6381 	2674	July 1961 	 	
1382 	Colonel Gardiner 	August 1924 	6382 	2675	October 1959 	 	
1383 	Jonathan Oldbuck 	August 1924 	6383 	2676	October 1959 	 	
1384 	Edie Ochiltree 	September 1924	6384 	2677	August 1959 	 	
1385 	Luckie Mucklebackit 	September 1924	6385 	2678	March 1959 	 	
1386 	Lord Glenallan 	October 1924 	6386 	2679	September 1958	First one to be withdrawn	
1387 	Lucy Ashton 	October 1924 	6387 	2680	September 1961	 	
1388 	Captain Craigengelt 	October 1924 	6388 	2681	July 1961 	 	
1389 	Haystoun of Bucklaw 	October 1924 	6389 	2682	September 1961	 	
1390 	Hobbie Elliott 	October 1924 	6390 	2683	September 1958	 	
1391 	Wizard of the Moor 	October 1924 	6391 	2684	October 1959 	 	
1392 	Malcolm Graeme 	October 1924 	6392 	2685	January 1962 	Last one to be withdrawn 	
1393 	The Fiery Cross 	October 1924 	6393 	2686	July 1961 	 	
1394 	Lord James of Douglas	October 1924 	6394 	2687	August 1961 	 	
1395 	Ellen Douglas 	November 1924 	6395 	2688	July 1961 	 	
1396 	Maid of Lorn 	November 1924 	6396 	2689	July 1961 	 	
1397 	The Lady of the Lake 	November 1924 	6397 	2690	July 1961 	 	
1398 	Laird of Balmawhapple	November 1924 	6398 	2691	November 1961 	 	
1399 	Allan-Bane 	November 1924 	6399 	2692	November 1959 	 	
1400 	Roderick Dhu 	November 1924 	6400 	2693	November 1961 	 	
1401 	James Fitzjames 	November 1924 	6401 	2694	November 1959 	 	
==Models==
Bachmann Branchline produce model of the D11 in other Great Central liveries, LNER liveries and British Railway liveries, including a NRM exclusive model of 'Butler Henderson'.
==Gallery==
File:D11.2.62690.jpg|GCR Class 11F 62690 (LNER D11/2 No. 6397) The Lady of the Lake at Haymarket MPD, Edinburgh, in 1958
File:Hugh llewelyn 506 (6961065414).jpg
==External links==
*LNER encyclopedia
*Railuk database D11/1
*Railuk database D11/2
*Great Central Railway page on 506
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Category:Standard gauge steam locomotives of Great Britain