LNWR John Hick class
LNWR No. 20 John Hick
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer F. W. Webb Builder Crewe Works Serial number 3505, 3858–3866 Build date 1894–1898 Total produced 10
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-2-2-2  • UIC 1AA1 n3v Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Leading dia. 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm), plus 3 in (76 mm) tyres Driver dia. 6 ft 0 in (1.829 m) Trailing dia. 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm), plus 3 in (76 mm) tyres Wheelbase 8 ft 5 in (2.565 m) + 8 ft 3 in (2.515 m) + 7 ft 3 in (2.210 m) Loco weight 52 long tons (53 t) Fuel type Coal Water cap. 2,000 imp gal (9,100 L; 2,400 US gal) Boiler: ​  • Pitch 7 ft 8+1⁄4 in (2.343 m)  • Diameter 4 ft 3 in (1.295 m)  • Tube plates 18 ft 6 in (5.639 m) Heating surface 1,505.7 sq ft (139.88 m2) Cylinders Three, compound: two outside high pressure for trailing drivers, one inside low pressure for leading drivers High-pressure cylinder 15 in × 24 in (381 mm × 610 mm) Low-pressure cylinder 30 in × 24 in (762 mm × 610 mm) Valve gear Stephenson, Slip-eccentric.
Career Operators London and North Western Railway Scrapped October 1907 – May 1912 Disposition All scrapped

The London and North Western Railway (LNWR) John Hick class was a class of ten 2-2-2-2 steam locomotives designed for express passenger work by F. W. Webb.

History

They were broadly similar to the earlier Greater Britain class, the principal difference being smaller driving wheels, as their intended use was on the more-steeply graded Northern Section.

The first of the ten locomotives was built in February 1894, and the remaining nine came from Crewe Works between January and April 1898.

They were three-cylinder compound locomotives: the two outside high-pressure cylinders drove the trailing drivers via Howe-Stephenson valve gear, the one inside low-pressure cylinder drive the leading drivers via a slip eccentric. There was no connection between the two sets of drivers.

All the locomotives were named; one unusual feature (shared with the Greater Britain class) was that the names were split over two nameplates, one on each driving wheel splasher. This necessitated the use of two-word names, rather than some of the abbreviated names the LNWR had previously used. The names chosen continued the Greater Britain theme.

They continued in service until Webb's retirement. His successor, George Whale, preferred simple superheated locomotives; consequently they were all scrapped between 1907 and 1912.

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