LNWR Large Bloomer Class

LNWR 7 ft. Large Bloomer
Overview -
Official Name:	Large Bloomer
Propulsion:	Steam
Loco Type:	Tender Engine
Gauge:	4 ft. 8 1/2 in. (1,435 mm.) - Standard Gauge
Scrapped:	1876 - 1888
History -
Former Names:	Bloomer
Designer:	James Edward. McConnell
Livery:	LNWR Deep Red LNWR Green LNWR Lined Black
Sibling Locomotives:	Small Bloomer H Class 'Special'
Manufacturing Details:
Builder:	Sharp, Stewart & Co. Kitson & Co. LNWR Wolverton Works
(b/n) Builder's No.	677 - 715, 1289 - 1293, 899 - 903
Build Date:	1851 - 1862
Re-Builder:	Wolverton Works
Date Rebuilt:	1860s - 1870s
Service:
Operator:	London & North Western Railway Co.
Railway:	London North Western Railway
Classification:	7 ft. Large Bloomer
Entered Service:	1851
Years in Operation:	1851 - 1888
Total Produced:	40 (+2 New Builds)
Total Scrapped:	40
Fleet No's:	247–256, 287–296, 389–408 (1854) 847 - 1008 (1862)
Withdrawn:	1876 - 1888
Disposition:	All originals scrapped; 1 replica on display, another under construction.
Wheel Arrangement:
Whyte Notation:	2-2-2+T
UIC-Classification:	1A1
Picture-Scheme:	oOo
Axle No.	3
Boiler & Firebox:
Boiler Pressure:	100 p.s.i.
Grate Area:	18 - 18.9 sq. in.
Heating Surface:	1,448.5 sq. ft. (134.57 m2)
Tubes:	195 - 1.875 in. (48 mm.)
Cylinders:
Cylinder Type:	Inside
No. of Cylinders:	2
Cylinders (Dia. x Stroke):	16 in. × 22 in. (406 mm. × 559 mm.)
Operation:
Fuel Type:	Coal
Water Capacity:	2000 Gallons.
Coal Capacity:	2 Tons.
Weight of Locomotive:	29.5 long tons. (30 Tons.)
Weight on Drivers:	27,763 lbs. (12,593 kg.)
Performance Statistics:
Tractive Effort:	5,700 lbf. (25 kN.) - 11,016 lbf. (49.00 kN.)
Factor of Adhesion:	3.25
Dimensions:
Leading Wheels (Diameter):	4 ft. 6 in. (1.372 m.)
Driving Wheels (Diameter):	7 ft. (2.134 m.)
Trailing Wheels (Diameter):	4 ft. (1.219 m.)
Wheelbase:	16.83 ft. (5.13 m.)
Valves & Motion:
Valve Gear:	Stephenson

The London and North Western Railway 7 foot. "Large Bloomer" class were 2-2-2 tender steam locomotives.

History

The Large Bloomers (originally simply "Bloomers") were designed by James E. McConnell of the Southern Division within the London and North Western Railway (LNWR). They were constructed from 1851 to 1862, with twenty-five being built by Sharp, Stewart and company, five by Kitson and company, and ten by the LNWR's own Wolverton Works.

The Large Bloomers name originates from the look of their splashers appearing like a flower that is blooming. The Large Bloomers are notable in that they were one of the first locomotives in the world to have their boilers set high; this was done to accommodate the the crank-axle of the driving wheels. The firebox, motion and cylinders were all fitted-in by extending the wheelbase to Connell's liking.

The Large Bloomers were used on top-link expresses from London to Birmingham and later on from 1860 on-wards the Rugby to Stratford expresses. They remained the LNWR's primary express locomotive until the 1880s, being highly successful locomotives. Withdrawals started in 1876 with the last of the class being withdrawn in 1887, with all Large Bloomers being scrapped days from their withdrawal dates.

Preservation

The first of the Large Bloomers to be withdrawn was No.856 'Ingestre' in June 1876, and the last of the class to be withdrawn and scrapped in November 1888 being No.992 'Stork' leaving none to be preserved.

However a static new build was completed in 1991 for display at Milton Keynes station being numbered 1009 and named Wolverton. In 2006 No.1009 'Wolverton' was refurbished at Wolverton Works by Knorr-Bremse RailServices and after much debate was moved to the Milton Keynes Museum for display.

Another new build (to operation) was started earlier in 1986 with the locomotive being numbered 670 and being 90% complete before being abandoned. No.670 continues to languish at Tyseley Locomotive Works, however in June 2019 a new campaign was started up to complete the Large Bloomer by 2026, but for display at Birmingham Curzon Street Terminus.

List of Locomotives

Class list of locomotives of the 7 ft. "Large Bloomer" class. (Table incomplete)

Image:	Name:	No.	Built:	Builder:	b/n No.	Status:
-	Odin	847 (Formerly No.247)	August, 1851	Sharp, Stewart & Co.	677	December, 1878
-	Hecate	848 (Formerly No.248)	September, 1851	Sharp, Stewart & Co.	678	October, 1883
-	Aeolus	849 (Formerly No.249)	September, 1851	Sharp, Stewart & Co.	679	December, 1879

Trivia

• The class were rebuilt throughout the 1860s to 1870s at Wolverton Works.
• The character "Bloomer" from the Railway Series by the Rev. W. Awdry is both based and named upon the LNWR Larger Bloomer.

Bibliography

London North Western Railway Classes
2-2-2	6ft "Single" Class • 173 Cornwall • 7ft "Large Bloomer" Class • 7ft "Single" Class • "Patent" Class • 6ft 6in "Small Bloomer" Class • H "Special Bloomer" Class • 7ft 6in "Problem"/"Lady of the Lake" Class
2-4-0	6ft "Samson"/"Curved Link Passenger" Class • 6ft 6in "Newton"/"Curved Link Passenger" Class • 5ft 6in "Precursor" • 6ft 6in "Precedent" Class • 2234 "Chopper" Class • "Improved Precedent" Class • "Small Jumbo"/"Waterloo"/"Whitworth" Class • "Crewe Goods" Class
2-4-2	4ft 6in Class • 5ft 6in Class
2-2-2-0	"Experiment" Class (F. W. Webb) • "Dreadnought" Class • "Teutonic" Class
4-2-2-0	No.3026
2-2-2-2	No.687 • No.600 • "Greater Britain" Class • 6ft 3in "John Hick" Class
2-2-4-0	No.2974
4-4-0	"Metropolitan" Class • LNWR "Jubilee" Class • "Alfred the Great" Class • "Benbow" Class • 6ft 9in "Precursor" Class • "Renown" Class • "Queen Mary" Class • "George the Fifth" Class
0-6-2	5ft 3in "Watford" Class • 17in "Coal Tank"
4-6-0	"Experiment" (G. Whale) • "Prince of Wales" Class • "Claughton" Class • No.1361 Prospero • 1400 "Bill Bailey" Class • 19in "Express Goods" Class
4-4-2	"Metropolitan Tank" (Rebuild) • 6ft "Precursor Tank"
4-6-2	2665 "Prince of Wales Tank"
0-6-0	271 Class • DX "Goods" Class • D "Early Goods" Class • "Ostrich" Class • "Wolverton Express Goods" Class • "Special Tank" Class • 17in "Coal Engine" Class • 5ft/18in "Express Goods"/"Crested Goods"/"Cauliflower" Class • DX "Special Goods" Class • 4ft 3in "Square Saddle Tank" Class
0-4-0	"Tram" Class • 4ft 835 "Shunter" Class • 4ft 1201 "Shunter" Class • 2360 Class
0-4-2	835 "Crane Tank" Class • 317 "Bissel" Class
0-8-0	No.2524 • A Class • B Class (F. W. Webb) • C Class • C1 Class • D Class • G Class • G1 Class • G2 Class • G2A Class • G3 Class
2-8-0	E Class • F Class • MM Class
0-8-2	1185 "Shunter" Class
0-8-4	380 Class
2-2-0	"Bury Bar-Frame" Class • B Class (E. Bury)