LMS Route: Trent Valley Line

LMS Route: Nuneaton to Leamington

Nuneaton Station: lnwrns3261

LNWR 2-2-2 Problem Class No 1428 Eleanor is one of two locomotives standing at the north end of Nuneaton station on a down local stopping service. Built at Crewe works in July 1865, No 1428 was to remain in service for some considerable time bearing in mind she had only one very large driving wheel, being withdrawn in July 1907. The Lady of the Lake class was the second type of locomotive designed by Ramsbottom. It was typical of express passenger locomotives of its era in having a single driving axle with large 7 ft 6 inch driving wheels to achieve high speeds, while avoiding the friction associated with coupled driving wheels. They were all painted in the green livery used by the Northern Division.

These locomotives saw the first use of Henri Giffard's steam injector in Britain, as well as the use of a water scoop. The first locomotive built, No 184 'Problem', was reputed to have gained the name because of the problem of getting the new injector to work, but the first ten engines were actually fitted with a traditional crosshead pump so the name may have a more mathematical origin, as the DX Goods locomotive No 183 was given the name 'Theorem'. The first locomotives built were given 2,000 imperial gallon tenders, but with the introduction of water scoops for refilling en-route they were replaced with 1,500 imperial gallon tenders.

back