GNR Gresley H2 class 1630 (Bunzo bunny)

## Bunzo bunny

A recoloured photo depicting Bunzo bunny.

The Great Northern Railway **Class H2** (classified **K1** by the LNER)(PTCR 1630 Bunzo bunny) is a preserved 2-6-0 steam locomotive designed for mixed-traffic work.

The class was created as a locomotive which could haul heavier goods trains at speeds of up to 40 mph. The class were later developed into the more powerful H4(LNER K3) class. After formation of the London and North Eastern Railway, the type became known as class K1 and K2 and was adopted as an LNER standard design. They got the nickname "Ragtimers" because of their lively nature when running at speed and their use of Walschaerts valve gear which was uncommon on the GNR at the time.

## Construction

The ten K1s were built at the GNR's Doncaster Works in 1912–1913, to the design of Nigel Gresley. Five batches of K2s, also to the design of Gresley, were built at Doncaster, the North British Locomotive Company, and Kitson and Company between 1914 and 1921. These were the first design to incorporate Gresley's patented double swing link pony truck design.

## Use

she is an excellent mixed-traffic locomotive, but began to be displaced by the larger and stronger K3s. They were moved to former Great Eastern lines to supplement existing engines. Twenty K2s were fitted with Westinghouse pumps so they could pull passenger trains from Liverpool Street on the Colchester and Cambridge lines.

## Rebuilding

No. 4635 was rebuilt from K1 to K2 in 1920. No. 4631 was rebuilt in 1921. No further K1s were rebuilt until 1931, when a shortage of K1 boilers necessitated rebuilds. The remaining eight were rebuilt between 1931 and 1937, making the K1 class extinct, and Marking 4630’s days as a K1 over.

## Preservation

Number 61720 was purchased directly from BR by the nearby Playtime company Railway for preservation, arriving on the PTCR in March 1960 under its own power. Due to BR requiring that preserved steam locomotives did not wear the BR livery with their then current crest, it was repainted into LNER Apple green livery with the letters PTCR written on her tender. It wore this livery for the railway's reopening in June 1968. Until 1989 It was repainted Apple green, but with a yellow running board, Cylinders and dome, Renumbered 1630 Renamed to Bunzo Bunny, and taken to the USA to pull trains in the 1989 Railway worlds fair, ran by the railway worlds fair organisation,

It was later repainted into authentic BR black livery in 2010 that shows the locomotive’s 50th anniversary of preservation from BR. But some people criticise BR black by yelling “THERE’S TOO MUCH BR BLACK!” because it’s what BR black is, With 2018 being the 50th anniversary since the PTCR was reopened in 1968 (originally opened in 1943) as well as the 50th anniversary since 1T57 in August 1968, the PTCR had decided that it would return to its original Yellow and apple green livery with the PTCR lettering on her Tender. it was able to run in the PTCR 75th Anniversary gala in July 2018, and now operates regularly on the PTCR. Pulling Passenger trains and local goods.

## Basis

Bunzo Bunny is based on a Great Northern Railway **Class H2** (classified **K1** by the LNER) was a class of 2-6-0 steam locomotive designed for mixed-traffic work.

The class was created as a locomotive which could haul heavier goods trains at speeds of up to 40 mph. The class were later developed into the more powerful H4(LNER K3) class. After formation of the London and North Eastern Railway, the type became known as class K1 and K2 and was adopted as an LNER standard design. They got the nickname "Ragtimers" because of their lively nature when running at speed and their use of Walschaerts valve gear which was uncommon on the GNR at the time.

## Trivia

Despite her rebuild, in 1961, she was given her original K1 boiler, from new, because her old one, from her rebuild was too big to produce that much.

the other K1 are rebuilt into K2, in the 60s they were converted to stationary boilers before scraping commenced on them.

She’s the only GNR H2 (LNER K1) in preservation.

Her whistle came from a LNER A4, which was used for tornado’s second whistle in trainz

She’s the Playtime co railway’s only LNER locomotive.