LB&SCR H2 class

LB&SCR H2 class
H2 32421 'South Foreland', at Farnborough 8 July 1950
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer D. E. Marsh/L. B. Billinton Builder Brighton Works Build date 1911–1912 Total produced 6
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-4-2 Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Leading dia. 3 ft 6 in (1.067 m) Driver dia. 6 ft 7 1⁄2 in (2.019 m) Loco weight 69 long tons 5 cwt (155,100 lb or 70.4 t) (77.6 short tons) Fuel type Coal Boiler pressure 170 psi (1.17 MPa) 200 psi (1.38 MPa) (1938) Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 21 in × 26 in (533 mm × 660 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 20,840 lbf (92.7 kN) 24,518 lbf (109.1 kN) (1938)
Career Class H2 Power class BR: 4P Withdrawn 1949–1958 Disposition All original locomotives scrapped, replica under construction

170 psi (1.17 MPa)

20,840 lbf (92.7 kN)

The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway H2 class was a class of 4-4-2 steam locomotives for express passenger work. They were designed when D. E. Marsh was officially Locomotive Superintendent, and were built at Brighton Works in 1911 and 1912

During 1911 D. E. Marsh was on leave of absence due to sickness, and his assistant Lawson Billinton was granted authority to construct a further six 4-4-2 'Atlantic' locomotives similar to the Marsh H1 class but incorporating the Schmidt superheater.

The new H2 class locomotives built by Brighton railway works and introduced between June 1911 and January 1912. They were an immediate success and shared with the H1 class the London to Brighton express trains including the heavily loaded Pullman services the Brighton Limited, and the Southern Belle, which the LB&SCR described as "the most luxurious train in the World".

As with the non-superheated class they were gradually replaced on the London-Brighton express trains in 1925/6 by the "King Arthur" and "River" classes, but there was still plenty of work for them on other express services, including boat trains connecting with the Newhaven-Dieppe ferry service. At the same time they were all named after geographical features of the south coast.

Oliver Bulleid, familiar with the class from his time at LNER, increased the boiler pressure of the H2 class from 170 psi to 200 psi starting in 1938 to match the H1.