L&YR Class 23

L&YR Class 23
L&YR Aspinall Class 23 0-6-0ST 51524 in operation at Fleetwood Docks in August 1958
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer John Aspinall Total produced 230 Rebuild date 1891-1900
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-6-0ST  • UIC C n2t Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Driver dia. 4 ft 6 in (1.37 m) Wheelbase 15 ft (4.6 m) Length 31 ft 2+1⁄4 in (9.506 m) Height 12 ft 2+1⁄4 in (3.715 m) Axle load 15 long tons 3 cwt (33,900 lb or 15.4 t) Loco weight 43 long tons 17 cwt (98,200 lb or 44.6 t) Fuel type coal Water cap. 932 imp gal (4,240 L) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 19+1⁄4 sq ft (1.79 m2) Boiler pressure 140 psi (970 kPa) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 97 sq ft (9.0 m2)  • Tubes 945 sq ft (87.8 m2) Cylinders Two, inside Cylinder size 17+1⁄2 in × 26 in (444 mm × 660 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 17,545 lbf (78,040 N)
Career Class L&YR: 23 Withdrawn 1926-1964 Disposition One preserved, remainder scrapped

The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR) Class 23 is a class of 0-6-0ST steam locomotive. Their main use was for shunting and for short-trip freight working.

Construction

The Class 23 0-6-0ST locomotives were initially built in 1876-87 by L&Y locomotive superintendent Barton Wright as a class of 280 0-6-0 tender engines. 230 of these were rebuilt as saddle tanks at Horwich Works by Aspinall between 1891 and 1900.

Ownership changes

EX-L&YR 0-6-0 saddle-tank No. 11429 at Low Moor Locomotive Depot 25 May 1947

The class was long-lived, with the first engine being withdrawn in 1926 by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway and the last surviving in use until 1964 with British Railways London Midland Region. 101 were in service at Nationalisation, 20 still in service in 1961.

Preservation

One locomotive, L&YR 752 (LMS 11456 but sold into colliery service in 1937), is preserved by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Trust, having been acquired by the NCB for continued operation and as of October 2019 could move under its own steam despite overhaul being incomplete. This progressed at the East Lancashire Railway in Bury using primarily their resources in close cooperation with the current owners of 752. The locomotive was featured on an episode of the television programme "Steam Train Britain" which showed the locomotive under rebuild. Since January 2020 752 has temporarily carried the early British Railways livery as 51456 had it not been sold to industry, and featured in various events in steam before a complete public relaunch in the East Lancashire Railway Gala event on 6-8 March 2020.

A sister locomotive, L&YR Class 25 no. 957, an 0-6-0 as built-in original tender configuration, was also bought for preservation in 1959 and has been based at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway since 1965.

References

• Marshall, John (1972). The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway. Vol. 3. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. pp. 87–88, 150. ISBN 0-7153-5320-9.