GCR Class 8K No. 102

GCR 8K #102
No.102 operational in 2009.
Overview -
Propulsion:	Steam
Loco Type:	Tender Engine
Gauge:	4 ft 8 1/2 in
History -
Designer:	John G. Robinson
Livery:	BR Unlined Black
Former Liveries:	GCR Goods LNER Black British Railways Black
Manufacturing Details:
Builder:	GCR Gorton Works, Manchester
Build Date:	January 1912
Service:
Operator:	National Railway Museum of the United Kingdom
Former Operators:	Great Central Railway London North Eastern Railway British Railways
Railway:	Great Central Heritage Railway
Former Railways:	Great Central Railway Company London & North Eastern Railway Company British Railways
No.	63601
Former Numbers:	102 (GCR) 5102, 3509, 3601 (LNER) 63601 (BR)
Years in Operation:	1912 - 1963
Disposition:	Preserved: Under Overhaul
Wheel Arrangement:
Whyte Notation:	2-8-0
UIC-Classification:	1'D
Axle No.	5
Boiler & Firebox:
Current Boiler Pressure:	180 p.s.i.
Grate Area:	26.24 sq. ft.
Heating Surface:	1809 sq. ft./1745 sq. ft.
Tubes:	1077 sq. ft. (134 in x 2 in)/885 sq. ft. (110 in x 2 in)
Cylinders:
Cylinders (Dia. x Stroke):	21 in x 26 in
Operation:
Weight of Locomotive:	73 Tons
Total Weight:	121 Tons
Weight of Tender(s):	48 Tons
Performance Statistics:
Tractive Effort:	31,326 lb
Valves & Motion:
Valve Gear:	Stephenson

No.102 is a preserved 2-8-0 tender steam locomotive.

History

No.102 was built in January 1912 at Gorton Locomotive Works of the Great Central Railway 8K class being numbered 102. In 1923 the GCR was merged with several other railway companies to create the London and North Eastern Railway becoming it's #5102, later was renumbered #3509 in 1946 and then again as #3601 in 1947.

In 1948, the big four railway companies merged to create British Railways and the locomotive was renumbered to #63601, and it continued to operate hauling mineral trains on the Pennine line of the former GCR until June 1963 when it was withdrawn from revenue service at Frodingham shed after a 51 year career. No.63601 had already been put on British Railway's preservation list in 1960. After being transferred several times in storage awaiting the construction of the National Railway Museum.

It was eventually planned for display at GCR sheds and preservation centre, Dinting in 1976. However staff inspected the locomotive finding restoration to operation a plausible and viable option. And thus it was loaned permanently to the GCR heritage railway where it was restored to operation in December 2000. It visited several other heritage lines since and was withdrawn in June, 2012. The overhaul is still underway as of 2023.

Trivia

• It is the last Robinson 8K existing in the United Kingdom.
• It is one of only 2 (3 if you count the new build of GCR Class 2 No. 567) preserved locomotives of the Great Central Railway. The other being No.506 'Butler-Henderson'.

Gallery

Biography

Preserved LNER Locomotives
A1/A10/A3 Class	No.4472 'Flying Scotsman'
A4	No.4464 'Bittern' • No.4468 'Mallard' • No.4488 'Union of South Africa' • No.4489 'Dominion of Canada (Originally 'Woodcock') • No.4496 'Dwight D. Eisenhower' (Originally 'Golden Shuttle') • No.4498 'Sir Nigel Gresley'
Peppercorn A2 Class	No.60532 'Blue Peter'
B1 Class	No.1264 • No.61306
D49 Class	No.246 'Morayshire'
V2 Class	No.4771 'Green Arrow'
Y1 Class	No.59
J94 Class	No.8077 • No.8078
K4 Class	No.3442 'The Great Marquess' (Originally 'MacCailein Mor')
K1 Class	No.62005
V2 Class	No.4771 'Green Arrow'
Y1 Class	No.59
J52 Class	No.1247
C1/C2 Class	No.251 • No.990 'Henry Oakley'
N2 Class	No.1744
M1/Q Class	No.1621
1463 Class	No.1463
901 Class	No.910
1001 Class	No.1275
Q6 Class	No.2238
Q7 Class	No.901
J21 Class	No.876
J27 Class	No.2392
ES1 Class	No.ES1
X1 Class	No.66 'Aerolite'
H Class	No.1310 • No.985
E1 Class	No.69023
F Class	No.49 'Gordon Highlander'
Y9 Class	No.42
K Class	No.256 'Glen Douglas'
J36 Class	No.673 'Maude'
T26 Class	No.490
G58 Class	No.1217
Y14 Class	No.564
S56 Class	No.87
209 Class	No.229
L77 Class	No.999
S69 Class	No.8572
8K Class	No.102
11F Class	No.506 'Butler-Henderson'