LNER Class J39


The London and North Eastern Railway Class J39 was a class of medium powered 0-6-0 steam locomotive designed for mixed traffic work throughout the former LNER system between London and the north of Scotland.

History

The class was introduced by Nigel Gresley in July 1926, based on his previous Class J38 but with larger driving wheels. The larger wheels enabled them to be used on both passenger and freight trains, although at the expense of a lower tractive effort. As a result they were given the BR power classification 4P/5F, rather than the 6F of the earlier class. A total of 289 examples were built over next fifteen years.
The larger wheels necessitated the provision of low splashers over the front two wheels, which is the main means of differentiating between the two classes. The locomotives were all fitted with superheaters and Ross 'Pop' safety valves.
All passed into British Railways ownership in 1948 and they were numbered 64700-64988. They began to be withdrawn from service in 1959 and all examples had been scrapped by the end of 1962.

Sub-classes

The class was divided into three sub-classes depending on the type of tender fitted.
None have survived to preservation but there are plans to build a replica of an LNER J39, along with a J38, for preservation in a few years to come.

In model form

manufactures the J39/2 version in 00 gauge model form.
Bassett-Lowke manufactures the J39/2 version in 0 gauge model form.
Union Mills manufactures the J39 in British N-Scale
Graham Farish-Bachmann manufactures the J39 in N Scale|British N-Scale as BR black with late crest & stepped tender numbered as 64841 and 64880