NER Class 3CC


The NER Class 3CC was a 4-4-0 steam locomotive designed by Wilson Worsdell for the North Eastern Railway and built in 1893. Only one was built and it was a compound expansion version of the simple expansion NER Class M1. The 3CC was originally classified M but was re-classified 3CC in 1914, at the same time as the M1 was re-classified M.

Overview

Number 1619 was built as a Worsdell-von Borries compound with two inside cylinders. In 1898, it was rebuilt as a three-cylinder compound with one inside high-pressure cylinder and two outside low-pressure cylinders, as a test-bed for the development of Walter Mackersie Smith's ideas.

Classification

Aside from its compound expansion, the 3CC was similar to several other NER classes and they are summarised here:
Original NER class1914 NER classLNER ClassCylindersDriving wheels
M1MD17/1 19″ x 26″7′ 1¼″
Q—D17/2 19½″ x 26″7′ 1¼″
Q1—D18 19½″ x 26″7′ 7¼″
M ——HP 20″ x 26″
LP 28″ x 26″		7′ 1¼″
M 3CCD19HP 19″ x 26″
LP 20″ x 26″		7′ 1¼″

Around 1907 the Class 3CC locomotive was allocated from the Leeds area to Hull Botanic Gardens engine shed where it generally worked fast trains between Hull Paragon railway station and Bridlington. In 1926 it was transferred to Bridlington although its duties remained unchanged until withdrawal in October 1930.

Accident

On 31 March 1920, the Class 3CC locomotive was derailed at station whilst hauling a passenger train.

Legacy

Number 1619 was a one-off but W. M. Smith went on to develop a four-cylinder compound system in the NER Class 4CC 4-4-2 locomotive. Number 1619 was withdrawn in 1930 and was not preserved.
Smith's three-cylinder compound system was also used in the Great Central Railway classes 8D and 8E 4-4-2s and achieved its greatest success in the Midland Railway 1000 Class and the LMS Compound 4-4-0. The Great Northern Railway 's class V was also a Smith compound.