LNER Locomotive Numbering and Classification - Numbering - 1946 Renumbering

1946 Renumbering

The downside of the numbering system used by the LNER - and which had not been tackled by the 1942 renumbering - was that locomotives were carrying scattered numbers without reference to class, let alone type of locomotive. In 1943, a scheme was drawn up that would see a complete renumbering of the LNER stock, so that locomotives of the same class would be numbered together and placed in a series with classes of the same type. Due to the pressures of World War II, the scheme was not actually implemented until 1946, but the basic principles remained the same, as set out in the table below:

Number Series Locomotive Type Principal Wheel Arrangements
1-999 Express passenger tender locomotives 4-6-2, 2-8-2 and large 2-6-2
1000-1999 Six-coupled passenger and mixed traffic tender locomotives 4-6-0, 2-6-0 and small 2-6-2
2000-2999 Four-coupled passenger tender locomotives 4-4-0, 4-4-2 and 2-4-0
3000-3999 Eight-coupled freight tender locomotives 0-8-0, 2-8-0 and 2-8-2
4000-5999 Six-coupled freight tender locomotives 0-6-0
6000-6999 Electric locomotives Various types
7000-7999 Passenger tank locomotives 2-4-2, 0-4-4, 4-4-2, 4-4-4 and 2-6-2
8000-8999 Shunting tank locomotives (steam and diesel) 0-4-0, 0-4-2 and 0-6-0
9000-9999 Mixed traffic and freight tank locomotives 0-6-2, 4-6-2 and other miscellaneous types
10000 Experimental Class W1 locomotive (retained 1923 number) 4-6-4

In each class, individual engines were numbered in order of construction (with a small number of exceptions, most notably the 'A4' class where locomotives carrying the names of the LNER's directors were given 'significant numbers' 1-4).

Self-evidently the renumbering process was very complicated as the LNER was keen not to have two locomotives running in service with the same number. This meant renumbering engines whose new numbers were already vacant first and then following through the chain of renumberings.

There was a further complication in that part-way through the renumbering, there was a change of plan in terms of the numbers allocated in the 1-999 series (for reasons that are mostly unclear), the 1xxx series (to allow more space for new 'B1' class engines), and the 3xxx series (to allow more space for engines purchased from the War Department). This meant some of these engines were renumbered twice (106 in total - 59 of which were 'O1' or 'O4' engines). The changes were as follows:

Class Original Allocation Revised Allocation
A1 500 113
A3 501-578 35-112 (in order of original number, not age)
A4 580-613 (already changed so that 596/608/609/611 would be 1-4) 1-4 (unchanged), 5-8 (prestigious people names), 9-13 (dominion names) and 14-34 (order of age)
V2 700-883 800-983
A2 990-995 501-506 (plus new engines from 507 onwards)
B5 1300–1312 1678–1690
B15 1313-1327 (8 survivors only) 1691–1698
B6 1328–1330 1346–1348
B8 1331–1341 1349–1359
B9 1342–1351 1469–1478
B18 1470–1471 1479–1480
B19 1472-1477 (4 survivors only) 1490–1493
B3 1480–1485 1494–1499
B4 1490–1499 1481–1489
O6 3100-3167 3500-3567
O1 & O4 3500-3569 Blanks between 3572-3809 (left vacant for engines loaned to the War Department but not returned)

In addition, there were a number of other minor changes from the original plan where engines had since been withdrawn, but in these cases the numbers allocated under the new plan were carried from the start and no additional renumbering was required.

Read more about this topic:  LNER Locomotive Numbering And Classification, Numbering