The Great Central Railway Class 11F or Improved Director Class is a class of 4-4-0 steam locomotive designed by John G. Robinson for passenger work. The LNER classified them as Class D11 from 1923. They were based on the earlier GCR Class 11E "Director" class (LNER D10).
There were two subclasses: D11/1 were the original GCR engines and D11/2 were those built in 1924 by the LNER to a reduced loading gauge with smaller boiler mountings for hauling passenger trains in Scotland.
Operational career[]
The 11F Class was initially used on passenger work on the GCR system, including fast expresses from Sheffield Victoria to London Marylebone. Later in their careers, they were used on short-distance passenger trains. On lines of the Cheshire Lines Committee during the late 1940s and early 1950s, they hauled expresses between Manchester Central and Liverpool Central; also semi-fast trains from Manchester Central via Northwich to Chester Northgate.
Their 6 ft 9 inches driving wheels made them fast locos, but consequently unsuitable for hauling freight trains. The eleven original 11F locos were withdrawn during 1959 and 1960 as diesel multiple units took over operation of the shorter distance passenger trains.
Preservation[]
Barrow Hill in March 2011
The sixth member of the class, No. 506 Butler-Henderson, was withdrawn from use by British Railways during 1960. It has been preserved as part of the UK National Collection and currently wears restored GCR colors. No. 506 is the only surviving GCR passenger locomotive. The locomotive operated passenger trains on the preserved Great Central Railway in Leicestershire during the late 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s but is now out of running order. The locomotive was placed on long-term loan for static display at Barrow Hill Engine Shed, near Chesterfield, in 2005, where she currently resides.
Stock list[]
| GCR No. | Name | Date built | LNER No. | 1946
LNER No. |
Date withdrawn | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 501 | Mons | September 1922 | 5501 | 2665 | May 1959 | File:GCR 501 Mons.JPG | |
| 502 | Zeebrugge | October 1922 | 5502 | 2666 | December 1960 | File:GCR 502 Zeebrugge.jpg | |
| 503 | Somme | November 1922 | 5503 | 2667 | August 1960 | File:GCR 503 Somme.jpg | |
| 504 | Jutland | November 1922 | 5504 | 2668 | November 1960 | File:SCREENSHOT 20170415 0100-L.JPEG | |
| 505 | Ypres | December 1922 | 5505 | 2669 | August 1960 | File:GCR 505 Ypres.JPEG | |
| 506 | Butler-Henderson | December 1919 | 5506 | 2660 | November 1960 | Preserved | File:229c70ef0a43a38e6e550458954cb771--first-world-steam-locomotive.jpg |
| 507 | Gerard Powys Dewhurst | February 1920 | 5507 | 2661 | November 1960 | File:33537325914 768a855a6b b.jpg | |
| 508 | Prince of Wales | March 1920 | 5508 | 2662 | August 1960 | File:GCR 508 Prince of Wales.JPEG | |
| 509 | Prince Albert | March 1920 | 5509 | 2663 | May 1960 | ||
| 510 | Princess Mary | May 1920 | 5510 | 2664 | August 1960 | ||
| 511 | Marne | December 1922 | 5511 | 2670 | November 1960 | ||
| 1378 | Bailie MacWheeble | July 1924 | 6378 | 2671 | May 1961 | ||
| 1379 | Baron of Bradwardine | August 1924 | 6379 | 2672 | September 1961 | ||
| 1380 | Evan Dhu | August 1924 | 6380 | 2673 | July 1959 | ||
| 1381 | Flora MacIvor | August 1924 | 6381 | 2674 | July 1961 | ||
| 1382 | Colonel Gardiner | August 1924 | 6382 | 2675 | October 1959 | ||
| 1383 | Jonathan Oldbuck | August 1924 | 6383 | 2676 | October 1959 | ||
| 1384 | Edie Ochiltree | September 1924 | 6384 | 2677 | August 1959 | ||
| 1385 | Luckie Mucklebackit | September 1924 | 6385 | 2678 | March 1959 | ||
| 1386 | Lord Glenallan | October 1924 | 6386 | 2679 | September 1958 | First one to be withdrawn | |
| 1387 | Lucy Ashton | October 1924 | 6387 | 2680 | September 1961 | ||
| 1388 | Captain Craigengelt | October 1924 | 6388 | 2681 | July 1961 | ||
| 1389 | Haystoun of Bucklaw | October 1924 | 6389 | 2682 | September 1961 | ||
| 1390 | Hobbie Elliott | October 1924 | 6390 | 2683 | September 1958 | ||
| 1391 | Wizard of the Moor | October 1924 | 6391 | 2684 | October 1959 | ||
| 1392 | Malcolm Graeme | October 1924 | 6392 | 2685 | January 1962 | Last one to be withdrawn | |
| 1393 | The Fiery Cross | October 1924 | 6393 | 2686 | July 1961 | ||
| 1394 | Lord James of Douglas | October 1924 | 6394 | 2687 | August 1961 | ||
| 1395 | Ellen Douglas | November 1924 | 6395 | 2688 | July 1961 | ||
| 1396 | Maid of Lorn | November 1924 | 6396 | 2689 | July 1961 | ||
| 1397 | The Lady of the Lake | November 1924 | 6397 | 2690 | July 1961 | File:D11.2.62690.jpg | |
| 1398 | Laird of Balmawhapple | November 1924 | 6398 | 2691 | November 1961 | ||
| 1399 | Allan-Bane | November 1924 | 6399 | 2692 | November 1959 | ||
| 1400 | Roderick Dhu | November 1924 | 6400 | 2693 | November 1961 | ||
| 1401 | James Fitzjames | November 1924 | 6401 | 2694 | November 1959 |
Models[]
Bachmann Branchline produce model of the D11 in other Great Central liveries, LNER liveries and British Railway liveries, including a NRM exclusive model of 'Butler Henderson'.
