The L&YR Class 28 "Hughes", was a class of 0-6-0 steam locomotive designed by George Hughes for the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. It was a redesign of Aspinall's Class 27, and only forty-two engines were built new, whereas sixty-three were rebuilt from the class 27. All 105 engines in total were built (and rebuilt) at Horwich.
Rebuild & History[]
In 1905 George Hughes fitted a Schmidt superheating device to two locomotives as a trial. These two were also fitted with piston valves instead of slide valves although the joy valve gear was retained. The superheated locomotives operated alongside non-superheated engines which demonstrated that the superheated engines performed better in that they could haul heavier loads (about 10% greater) but also consumed less coal (about 12½% less). After a lengthy trial period approval was given to fit superheating to another 20 locomotives which was completed at Horwich works in 1909.
In 1912, The Class 28 was designed and built, adding a Belpaire firebox and extending the footplate and sandbox as opposed to the original Class 27. This locomotive was the first of the series from the Horwich works (March, 1912), and was fitted with the Schmidt Superheater.
The class often operated short freight and passenger trains, and were occasionally used on branch lines or as switchers or shunters. They were eventually retired during 1950's.
Ownership changes[]
The locomotives passed briefly to the London and North Western Railway (LNWR) in 1922 and then to the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) in 1923. The LMS gave them the power classification 3F. Their LMS numbers were 12515-12619. In 1948, the surviving locomotives (35) passed to British Railways (BR), which numbered them 52528-52619 (with gaps).
In Fiction[]
- The Class 28 was the inspiration for the character James the Red Engine from The Railway Series books by the Rev W. Awdry, and the TV series Thomas and Friends. Awdry describes James as an experimental rebuild as a 2-6-0 with 5 ft 6 in driving wheels. The other obvious visual difference from the Class 28 is the lack of a leading truck, and extended running board. James also has a Fowler tender.