#0825

LB&SCR B2 class

🇬🇧 United Kingdom ·built by Brighton Works· from 1895· class of 25 two-cylinder 4-4-0 locomotives

1 photo from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. B2 Bessemer: F. Moore· Public domain

what is it?

The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) B2 class was a class of small 4-4-0 steam locomotives intended for express passenger work on the LB&SCR London to Portsmouth line. They were designed by R. J. Billinton and built at Brighton works from 1895 to 1897. They proved to be reliable locomotives but barely adequate for the heaviest trains and acquired the nickname Grasshoppers.

who runs it

London, Brighton and South Coast Railway Southern Railway

base stats

built 25made in total

Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.

fun facts

First built 131 years ago, in 1895.
Served for 38 years (1895–1933).

steam locomotive: Burns coal, wood or oil to boil water; the steam drives pistons that turn the wheels.

spec sheet

built: 1895–1898
in service from: 1895
retired: 1933
status: retired
number built: 25
kind: Steam
traction: steam
origin: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
builders: Brighton Works
designer: R. J. Billinton
operators: London, Brighton and South Coast Railway, Southern Railway
top speed: —
power: —
wheel arrangement: 4-4-0

From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.

Sources: Wikidata Q6457229, Wikipedia: LB&SCR B2 class (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.