GER Class R24


The GER Class R24 was a class of 0-6-0 steam tank locomotives designed by James Holden for the Great Eastern Railway. They passed to the London and North Eastern Railway at the grouping in 1923 and received the LNER classification J67. Some R24s were rebuilt with higher boiler pressure in which form they were similar to the later Class S56. The rebuilt R24s, together with the S56s, were classified J69 by the LNER.

History

These locomotives were very similar to the Class T18 locomotives, sharing the same dimensions for most major components. They were all built at the GER's Stratford Works between 1890 and 1901.
YearOrder No.QuantityGER Nos.LNER No.LNER 1946 No.Notes
1890R2410327–3367327–73368490–8495, —, 8496–8498
1890S2410337–3467337–73468499–8505, —, 8507–8508
1890A2610397–4067397–74068509–8513, —, 8514, — 8515, —
1890–91B2610407–4167011–70208516–8521, —, 8522–8523, —Renumbered 11–20 in January 1920
1892P2910347–3567347–73568524–8533
1892R2910357–3667357–73668534–8538, — 8540, — 8541–8542
1894N3310367–3767367–73768543–8552
1895F3610377–3867377–73868553–8562
1895–96Y3610387–3967387–73968563, —, 8565–8572
1896C3710265–2747265–72748573–8579, — 8581, —
1899H4510255–2647255–7264—, 8583–8585, —, 8586–8590
1899–1900G4710199–2087199–7208—, 8606, —, —, 8591–8592, —, 8593–8595
1900S4810189–1987305, 7190–71988596–8603, —, 8605189 renumbered 305 in January 1909
1901R5010160–1697160–71698607–8613, —, —, 8616

Eighty-nine locomotives were rebuilt between 1904 and 1921 with boilers and increased water capacity. Most were fitted with air brakes and used in suburban and branch line passenger service alongside the Class S56. The 51 locomotives not rebuilt were used for shunting and working local goods trains.

Withdrawal

The first withdrawal was in 1931 due to accident damage. Eleven were withdrawn in 1937, and one in 1939. Thirteen class J69 locomotives were lent to the War Department in October 1939, of which eight had been built as Class R24. They were sold to the War Department in October 1940, where they were used on the Melbourne and Longmoor Military Railways. The remaining locomotives were renumbered 8490–8616 in order of construction ; however gaps were left where the locomotives sold to the War Department would have been. At nationalisation in 1948, they all passed to British Railways, who added 60000 to their number. Post-war withdrawals started in 1953, and by 1962 all had been retired.
YearQuantity in
service at
start of year		Quantity
withdrawn		Locomotive numbersNotes
193114017364Accident damage
1937139117017, 7020, 7199, 7201, 7202, 7205, 7255, 7259, 7402, 7404, 7406
193912817333
194012787274, 7272, 7197, 7168, 7388, 7344, 7362, 7167to WD 78–79, 81–82, 84, 88–90 respectively
1953119468505/25/33/48
1954115468493/509/34/72
195511111
195610013
1957879
19587822
19595618
19603812
19612618
196288