#1202
LNWR Whale Precursor Class
🇬🇧 United Kingdom ·built by Crewe Works· from 1904· G. Whale’s class of 130 two-cylinder simple 4-4-0 steam locomotives built 1904–1907
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3 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. LNWR Precursor class locomotive 513 Precursor (Howden, Boys' Book of Locomotives, 1907): Andy Dingley (scanner)· Public domain
- 2. LNWR engine No. 513 Precursor: Unknown author Unknown author· Public domain
- 3. LNWR Whale Precursor Class No 1117: P. W. Pilcher.· Public domain
what is it?
The London and North Western Railway (LNWR) "Precursor" Class was a type of 4-4-0 ("American") steam locomotive designed by the company's Chief Mechanical Engineer, George Whale. Introduced in 1904, it should not be confused with the LNWR 2-4-0 "Precursor" Class of 1874 designed by Francis Webb, the last example of which was scrapped in 1895. In 1906, a 4-4-2T ("Atlantic") tank variant of Whale's engine, the "Precursor Tank" Class, also entered service.
who runs it
base stats
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 122 years ago, in 1904.
- Served for 45 years (1904–1949).
steam locomotive: Burns coal, wood or oil to boil water; the steam drives pistons that turn the wheels.
spec sheet
- built
- 1904–1907
- in service from
- 1904
- retired
- 1949
- status
- retired
- number built
- 130
- kind
- Steam
- traction
- steam
- origin
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- builders
- Crewe Works
- designer
- George Whale
- operators
- London and North Western Railway, London, Midland and Scottish Railway, British Rail, London Midland Region of British Railways
- top speed
- —
- power
- —
- gauge
- 1,435 mm standard gauge
- wheel arrangement
- 4-4-0
From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q6459434, Wikipedia: LNWR Whale Precursor Class (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.