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The LNER Class W1 (also know as the “Hush Hush” due to its secrecy) was an experimental steam locomotive fitted with a high pressure water-tube boiler. Nigel Gresley had been impressed by high-pressure steam in marine applications and approached Yarrow shipyard and boilermakers to produce a suitable boiler. The W1 was the only locomotive with a 4-6-4 configuration to ever run on a British railway. Due to poor performance in test runs and following fruitless modifications, the W1 was rebuilt with a conventional boiler and three simple expansion cylinders before being withdrawn in 1959. |
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Type of Locomotive |
Steam |
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Builder |
Darlington Works |
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Build Date |
1929 (Rebuilt with new boiler in 1936) |
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Total Built |
1 |
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Tractive Effort |
Original Build: 32,000 lbf Rebuild: 41,437 lbf |
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Wheel Configuration |
4-6-4 |
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Operated By |
London & North Eastern Railway British Railways |
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Main Duties |
Express Passenger |
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In Service Until |
1959 |
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Surviving Examples |
0 |