GER Class S69

GER Class S69 LNER Class B12
B12/4 4-6-0 No. 61504 at Keith Locomotive Depot 1948
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer S. D. Holden Builder Stratford Works (51), Wm. Beardmore & Co. (20), Beyer, Peacock & Co. (10) Serial number WB 135–154, BP 6487–6496 Build date 1911–1921 (71) 1928 (10) Total produced 81
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-0  • UIC 2′C h2 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Leading dia. 3 ft 3 in (0.991 m) Driver dia. 6 ft 6 in (1.981 m) Wheelbase 48 ft 3 in (14.71 m) Length 57 ft 7 in (17.55 m) over buffers Axle load B12:15+13⁄20 t (15,650 kg) B12/3:17 t (17,000 kg) Adhesive weight B12/1&2: 43 long tons 8 cwt (97,200 lb or 44.1 t) B12/3: 48 long tons 2 cwt (107,700 lb or 48.9 t) Loco weight B12/1&2: 62 long tons 19.5 cwt (141,100 lb or 64 t) B12/3: 69 long tons 5 cwt (155,100 lb or 70.4 t) Tender weight 38 long tons 6 cwt (85,800 lb or 38.9 t) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 4 long tons 0 cwt (9,000 lb or 4.1 t) Water cap. 3,700 imp gal (16,800 L; 4,440 US gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 26.5 sq ft (2.46 m2) Boiler pressure 180 psi (1.24 MPa) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 154 sq ft (14.3 m2)  • Total surface 1,919 sq ft (178.3 m2) Cylinders Two, inside Cylinder size 20 in × 28 in (510 mm × 710 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 21,969 lbf (97.72 kN)
Career Operators Great Eastern Railway → London and North Eastern Railway → British Railways Class GER: S69, LNER: B12 Power class BR: 4P3F Number in class 81 Numbers GER/LNER 1946: 1500-1570, LNER: 8500-8580, BR: 61500-61580 Axle load class LNER/BR: RA 4 (B12/3), RA 3 (remainder) Withdrawn 1913 (1), 1945–1961 Disposition One preserved, remainder scrapped

The Great Eastern Railway (GER) Class S69, also known as 1500 Class, and later classified B12 by the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) is a class of 4-6-0 steam locomotive designed to haul express passenger trains from London Liverpool Street station along the Great Eastern Main Line.^[1] Originally they were designed by S. D. Holden, but were much rebuilt, resulting in several subclasses.

Seventy-one S69 locomotives were built between 1911 and 1921 and numbered 1500–1570. Fifty-one of these were built at the GER's Stratford Works and the remaining 20 by William Beardmore and Company. A further 10 locomotives were built by Beyer, Peacock and Company for the LNER in 1928 and numbered 8571–8580.^[2] From 1948 the British Railways numbers were 61500–61580 (with gaps).