HOME | DD

Description
The need for more powerful express engines is a constant forward movement, the Precursor class was in essence an enlarged Improved Precedent, and was design Whale's first attempt at producing a locomotive which would remove the requirement for express trains to be double headed.

The massive number of 130 engine allowed for the replacement of Webbs compounds, with engines being built at Crewe from March 1904, and August 1907, As built, they were saturated, although a small number were fitted with superheaters between February 1913 and September 1919.

The LNWR reused numbers and names from withdrawn locomotives, with the result that the numbering system was completely haphazard.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.

Four engines would be withdrawn in 1927, A single example, 25297 "Sirocco", was inherited by British Railways in 1948, but this was withdrawn in June 1949 before the number it had been allocated 58010 could be applied, leaving a massive gap in locomotive development history.

Includes, Top As built, Middle superheated, Bottom Belipaire

Credits: Swiftwin4ds, ThomasFan21, and Amelheronemus, all edits by Midnight Express

Description
The need for more powerful express engines is a constant forward movement, the Precursor class was in essence an enlarged Improved Precedent, and was design Whale's first attempt at producing a locomotive which would remove the requirement for express trains to be double headed.

The massive number of 130 engine allowed for the replacement of Webbs compounds, with engines being built at Crewe from March 1904, and August 1907, As built, they were saturated, although a small number were fitted with superheaters between February 1913 and September 1919.

The LNWR reused numbers and names from withdrawn locomotives, with the result that the numbering system was completely haphazard.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.

Four engines would be withdrawn in 1927, A single example, 25297 "Sirocco", was inherited by British Railways in 1948, but this was withdrawn in June 1949 before the number it had been allocated 58010 could be applied, leaving a massive gap in locomotive development history.

Includes, Top As built, Middle superheated, Bottom Belipaire

Credits: Swiftwin4ds, ThomasFan21, and Amelheronemus, all edits by Midnight Express