LNWR Whale Precursor Class

The London and North Western Railway (LNWR) "Precursor" Class was a type of 4-4-0 ("American") steam locomotive designed by the company's Chief Mechanical Engineer, George Whale. Introduced in 1904, it should not be confused with the LNWR 2-4-0 "Precursor" Class of 1874 designed by Francis Webb, the last example of which was scrapped in 1895. In 1906, a 4-4-2T ("Atlantic") tank variant of Webb's engine, the "Precursor Tank" Class, also entered service.
== History ==
The Precursor Class was essentially a larger version of the LNWR "Improved Precedent" Class, being Whale's first attempt at producing a locomotive which would remove the requirement for express trains to be double headed (then standard practice on the LNWR). 130 examples of the class were constructed at Crewe Works between March 1904 and August 1907, their introduction allowing Whale to phase out the unreliable compound locomotives favoured by his predecessor, Francis Webb. As built, they were saturated, although a small number were fitted with superheaters between February 1913 and September 1919.
Whilst the Precursors created issues for crews as some of the cab controls were difficult to operate or reach, they were generally successful in terms of operating performance. However, having apparently experienced difficulty keeping time on trials between Crewe and Carlisle, they were not used on heavier gradients such as the climb to Shap. A consequence of this was the introduction of an extended version of the Precursors, the 4-6-0 "Experiment" Class, in 1905. Nevertheless, double heading was still necessary on many trains north of Preston due to accelerated schedules and increased loads.
In 1919, the Precursors were developed by Whale's successor, Charles Bowen-Cooke, into the 4-4-0 superheated "George the Fifth" Class. The main visual difference was that the Precursors had separate splashers over each of the driving wheels while the Georges had combined splashers that covered both pairs.
The LNWR reused numbers and names from withdrawn locomotives, with the result that the numbering system was completely haphazard. Starting with the first of the class 513 "Precursor" in 1913, were given superheaters, the process continuing until just after grouping in 1923. Most of the superheated engines were also converted from having slide valves to piston valves.
This resulted in two main subclasses; saturated locomotives with 19 by 26 inches (480 mm × 660 mm) cylinders, and superheated locomotives with 20.5 by 26 inches (520 mm × 660 mm) cylinders. The LMS gave them the power classification 3P. The saturated engines were given the LMS numbers in the 5187–5266 series, though not all survived long enough to receive them. The superheated engines were given the LMS numbers 5270–5319 (5267–5269 were not used).
The LMS continued to superheat engines until 1926, these rebuilds retained their LMS number. Also, three superheated engines became saturated via boiler swaps.
Withdrawals of the saturated engines started in 1927 and the last engine in as built condition was withdrawn in 1935. The four superheated engines which retained slide valves were withdrawn from 1931 to 1936. Withdrawals of the superheated engines with piston valves began in 1935. Those not withdrawn had 20000 added to their numbers from 1934 to 1937 to make room for Black Fives.
By the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, only 11 Precursors were still in service. A single example, 25297 "Sirocco", was inherited by British Railways in 1948, but this was withdrawn in June 1949 before the number it had been allocated (58010) could be applied.
None were preserved.
== Fleet list ==
Table of locomotives
LNWR No.	Name(s) 	Crewe
Works No.	Date built 	LMS No.	Date withdrawn
513 	Precursor 	4415	March 1904 	5278 	July 1936
1395 	Harbinger 	4416	March 1904 	5291 	June 1937
1419 	Tamerlane 	4417	March 1904 	5285 	March 1936
2023 	Helvellyn 	4418	April 1904 	5187 	March 1936
2164 	Oberon 	4419	May 1904 	5277 	August 1946
2 	Simoom 	4440	June 1904 	5308 	October 1936
7 	Titan 	4441	June 1904 	5276 	October 1935
412 	Alfred Paget,Marquis 	4442	June 1904 	5188 	April 1940
510 	Albatross 	4443	June 1904 	5189 	August 1933
659 	Dreadnought 	4444	June 1904 	5296 	May 1936
639 	Ajax 	4445	October 1904 	5190 	September 1928
648 	Archimedes 	4446	October 1904 	5191 	January 1928
685 	Cossack 	4447	October 1904 	5192 	April 1932
60 	Dragon 	4448	October 1904 	5298 	November 1938
106 	Druid 	4449	October 1904 	5294 	May 1937
301 	Leviathan 	4450	November 1904 	5289 	May 1936
305 	Senator 	4451	November 1904 	5307 	February 1937
643 	Sirocco 	4452	November 1904 	5297 	June 1949
1102 	Thunderbolt 	4453	November 1904 	5193 	September 1931
1117 	Vandal 	4454	November 1904 	5194 	October 1931
310 	Achilles 	4455	December 1904 	5290 	October 1936
333 	Ambassador 	4456	December 1904 	5284 	August 1936
515 	Champion 	4457	December 1904 	5282 	December 1939
622 	Euphrates 	4458	December 1904 	5195 	November 1927
638 	Huskisson 	4459	December 1904 	5196 	April 1933
303 	Himalaya 	4460	January 1905 	5305 	January 1936
645 	Mammoth 	4461	January 1905 	5197 	November 1930
806 	Swiftsure 	4462	January 1905 	5318 	October 1935
1120 	Thunderer 	4463	January 1905 	5310 	August 1939
1137 	Vesuvius 	4464	February 1905 	5299 	August 1936
323 	Argus 	4465	February 1905 	5303 	October 1936
1104 	Cedric 	4466	February 1905 	5199 	December 1933
1111 	Cerberus 	4467	March 1905 	5200 	September 1934
1431 	Egeria 	4468	March 1905 	5201 	November 1930
2064 	Jason 	4469	March 1905 	5273 	August 1931
40 	Niagara 	4470	March 1905 	5198 	November 1930
520 	Panopea 	4471	March 1905 	5202 	January 1934
1469 	Tantalus 	4472	March 1905 	5288 	March 1937
1737 	Viscount 	4473	March 1905 	5316 	July 1936
2031 	Waverley 	4474	March 1905 	5203 	November 1931
365 	Alchymist 	4475	April 1905 	5287 	June 1937
1115 	Apollo 	4476	April 1905 	5205 	February 1928
1545 	Cyclops 	4477	April 1905 	5206 	May 1932
1573 	Dunrobin 	4478	April 1905 	5286 	September 1937
2061 	Eglinton 	4479	April 1905 	5207 	August 1936
184 	Havelock 	4480	May 1905 	5204 	September 1931
366 	Medusa 	4481	May 1905 	5292 	April 1945
519 	Messenger 	4482	May 1905 	5208 	November 1931
2120 	Trentham 	4483	May 1905 	5209 	October 1927
1430 	Victor 	4484	May 1905 	5210 	October 1931
113 	Aurania 	4485	July 1905 	5211 	September 1936
300 	Emerald 	4486	July 1905 	5301 	October 1935
302 	Greyhound 	4487	July 1905 	5304 	January 1947
315 	Harrowby 	4488	July 1905 	5212 	December 1936
688 	Hecate 	4489	July 1905 	5274 	October 1935
1509 	America 	4490	July 1905 	5214 	March 1928
1617 	Hydra 	4491	August 1905 	5300 	July 1940
1723 	Scorpion 	4492	August 1905 	5295 	November 1936
2062 	Sunbeam 	4493	August 1905 	5279 	August 1939
2257 	Vulture 	4494	August 1905 	5215 	December 1933
311 	Emperor 	4495	September 1905	5213 	May 1933
374 	Empress 	4496	September 1905	5317 	June 1936
811 	Express 	4497	September 1905	5311 	March 1941
911 	Herald 	4498	September 1905	5216 	February 1936
1114 	Knowsley 	4499	September 1905	5217 	February 1933
1116 	Pandora 	4500	September 1905	5218 	April 1936
1510 	Psyche 	4501	September 1905	5219 	December 1930
1784 	Python 	4502	October 1905 	5220 	November 1931
2165 	Shooting Star 	4503	October 1905 	5280 	November 1935
2202 	Vizier 	4504	October 1905 	5221 	December 1930
117 	Alaska 	4510	October 1905 	5222 	September 1933
1301 	Candidate 	4511	October 1905 	5225 	November 1936
1363 	Cormwall,Brindley 	4512	October 1905 	5272 	December 1939
1396 	Harpy 	4513	November 1905 	5226 	November 1930
2007 	Oregon 	4514	November 1905 	5227 	October 1927
2012 	Penguin 	4515	November 1905 	5228 	October 1931
2115 	Servia 	4516	November 1905 	5229 	April 1932
127 	Snake 	4517	November 1905 	5223 	November 1936
229 	Stork 	4518	November 1905 	5224 	November 1927
1439 	Tiger 	4519	November 1905 	5275 	January 1933
2576 	Arab 	4520	December 1905 	5230 	September 1933
2577 	Etna 	4521	December 1905 	5313 	February 1936
2578 	Fame 	4522	December 1905 	5309 	August 1936
2579 	Ganymede 	4523	December 1905 	5231 	February 1936
2580 	Problem 	4524	December 1905 	5232 	November 1931
2581 	Peel 	4525	December 1905 	5233 	August 1934
2582 	Rowland Hill 	4526	December 1905 	5234 	November 1928
2583 	Teutonic,The Tsar,Moonstone	4527	December 1905 	5235 	April 1935
2584 	Velocipede 	4528	January 1906 	5312 	December 1935
2585 	Watt 	4529	January 1906 	5236 	December 1933
723 	Coptic 	4530	February 1906 	5239 	January 1936
837 	Friar 	4531	February 1906 	5240 	October 1933
1312 	Ionic 	4532	February 1906 	5242 	November 1930
1387 	Lang Meg 	4533	March 1906 	5306 	February 1936
1642 	Lapwing 	4534	March 1906 	5243 	November 1935
2513 	Levens 	4535	March 1906 	5293 	June 1939
234 	Pearl 	4536	March 1906 	5237 	February 1932
526 	Ilion 	4537	March 1906 	5238 	December 1928
1311 	Napoleon 	4538	March 1906 	5241 	January 1936
2017 	Tubal 	4539	March 1906 	5244 	November 1935
282 	Alaric 	4540	April 1906 	5314 	November 1935
561 	Antaeus 	4541	April 1906 	5245 	March 1941
675 	Adjutant 	4542	April 1906 	5246 	February 1936
772 	Admiral 	4543	April 1906 	5247 	October 1927
804 	Amphion 	4544	April 1906 	5248 	October 1935
990 	Bucephalus 	4545	April 1906 	5319 	December 1940
988 	Bellerophon 	4546	April 1906 	5249 	June 1933
1433 	Faerie Queene 	4547	April 1906 	5250 	November 1935
1650 	Richard Trevithick 	4548	May 1906 	5251 	February 1928
1787 	Hyperion 	4549	May 1906 	5252 	December 1930
1 	Clive 	4660	June 1907 	5253 	November 1930
218 	Daphne 	4661	June 1907 	5254 	August 1933
419 	Monarch 	4662	June 1907 	5255 	December 1930
564 	Erebus 	4663	June 1907 	5281 	September 1936
665 	Mersey 	4664	June 1907 	5256 	October 1927
469 	Marmion 	4665	June 1907 	5270 	May 1936
1011 	Locke 	4666	July 1907 	5257 	January 1933
1364 	Clyde 	4667	July 1907 	5258 	November 1930
2053 	Edith 	4668	July 1907 	5259 	March 1934
2181 	Eleanor 	4669	July 1907 	5260 	December 1933
276 	Doric 	4670	July 1907 	5261 	November 1927
754 	Celtic 	4671	July 1907 	5262 	December 1930
802 	Gaelic 	4672	July 1907 	5271 	November 1931
807 	Oceanic 	4673	August 1907 	5263 	December 1933
976 	Pacific 	4674	August 1907 	5264 	November 1928
1297 	Phalaris 	4675	August 1907 	5265 	October 1931
1309 	Shamrock 	4676	August 1907 	5302 	June 1937
1516 	Alecto 	4677	August 1907 	5266 	October 1931
2011 	Brougham 	4678	August 1907 	5283 	March 1936
2051 	Delamere 	4679	August 1907 	5315 	September 1936
== Accidents ==
# On 17 June 1932, locomotive number 5278 Precursor was hauling the 7:23 p.m. Crewe to Stafford and Birmingham New Street express passenger service when, at around 7:52 p.m., the engine and all four coaches derailed just to the south of Great Bridgeford station, Staffordshire.
#* Of the 70 to 80 passengers on board the train, three were killed immediately and a fourth died in hospital the next day. Together with the driver and fireman, 9 passengers received injuries serious enough to require hospital care, whilst a further 18 were treated at the scene and able to continue their journeys.
Category:LNWR locomotives
Category:Scrapped steam locomotives
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Category:Steam locomotives
Category:4-4-0 steam locomotives
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Category:Scrapped locomotives
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Category:Standard gauge steam locomotives of Great Britain
Category:Built in 1904
Category:Built in 1905
Category:Built in 1906
Category:Built in 1907
Category:Crewe Works locomotives