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The Gresley Class V4.

The V4 Class 2-6-2 was Sir Nigel Gresley’s last design for the LNER, as a mixed traffic locomotive, before he died in 1941. Two in total were built at Doncaster in 1941: No. 3401 and 3402. No. 3401 was named Bantam Cock to highlight the lightweight nature of the design but No. 3402 was never officially named, however it acquired the unofficial name of Bantam Hen. Following Gresley’s death, the Class was discontinued.

Trials on the Great Eastern section

After trials on the Great Eastern section of the LNER, both V4s moved to Scotland where they worked passenger services in and around Edinburgh before moving to the Glasgow - Fort William line in 1943. They proved to be best on the faster stretches of this line, but were found wanting on the steeper gradients. In 1949, they were replaced and moved to Eastfield, operating goods trains to Edinburgh, Perth, and Kinross. Occasionally they were hauling passenger services in the 1950s, and, for a while, No. 3401 was based at Stirling shed specifically for that task.

Move to Aberdeen

In 1954, they both moved Aberdeen to replace O7 WD 'Austerity' locomotives which were unsuitable for the required fast running. Subsequently, both locomotives were scrapped in 1957 when their boilers became due for renewal. Again, this extinct locomotive class, which had not survived into preservation, was a key driver in the decision to build the next in sequence. The A1 Trust will build the next V4, No. 3403, to ensure the continuing heritage of a notable member of the former LNER fleet.