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HISTORY OF THE LEVIATHANS

The CR Pacific was never anything more than a concept that never made it past a preliminary weight diagram of an idea that John F. McIntosh had in 1914. He was increasingly frustrated that his biggest 4-6-0s (CR 903s) were still being banked up Beattock incline on the CR Mainline from Carlisle to Glasgow. So, in his mind & other CMEs at that time, a bigger loco meant more power & more cylinders. So, his idea was to make a bigger Cardean essentially. However due to the outbreak of World War I & McIntosh’s retirement in 1914, the idea was shelved and would never be picked up again.

The following below is a fictional history of the class I wrote if it were a reality.

In 1914, before the outbreak of World War I, the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Caledonian Railway, the renown John Farquharson McIntosh sat at his desk pondering an issue that had plagued him for the past 10 years. The growing issue of bigger trains and his growing concerns of his famous locomotives, namely the Cardean class, ability to cope over the steep inclines of Beattock without the need of a banker. Due to larger carriages such as the Grampian stock & the West Coast carriages, heavier & longer trains were now putting strain on the 4-6-0s that had been the biggest locomotives the CR had ever built.

Previously in 1906, McIntosh had seen the performance of the Star Classes on the Great Western Railway as well as the LNWRs Claughton 4-6-0s, both which impressed him greatly. What peaked his interest was the use & power of the 4-cylinder design producing no need for banking assistance. So, McIntosh would design his own but as a Pacific design which had already become popular in the United States as well as Europe. It would also allow for a larger boiler which would mean more steam. This would become the largest pre-grouping design ever in Scotland.

Built in 1914 at St. Rollox Works, No. 1000 would roll out of the works after a cost of £16,000. It was indeed a very impressive machine with a certain demanding presence to it. The locomotive featured a tractive effort of 31,286 lb, 6’6″ driving wheel & boiler pressure of 180 lb./sq. in.

The press would indeed make much of this new & massive locomotive built to conquer Beattock & immediately it was put to work on the most prestigious & largest trains. Upon its first run in (with McIntosh at the regulator himself) it was found to have good head of steam & could run 75mph on level track with 13 in tow. On the first climb up Beattock it was found to not need much of a banker but would slow significantly up the bank due to such a large train. However, the trial was a success as there was no need for a banker. However, the locomotive was very costly on coal & water due to needing to be worked very hard. It would also show its flaws in having such a shallow & short firebox, much like the previous 4-6-0s. The board was impressed regardless and would allow the building of 3 more of the class.

No. 1000 would go on to be named “Leviathan” by McIntosh after the powerful creature of the bible (McIntosh being Anglican himself & very devout) a week later after its first run.  3 more members would be outshopped six months later at a cost of £16,000 each to the same design. These members would also be named as well from inspiration from the Bible apart from 1003.

Named locomotives:

– No. 1000 ‘Leviathan’

– No. 1001 ‘Behemoth’

– No. 1002 ‘Samson’

– No. 1003 ‘Caledonia’

The class would continue to work the most prestigious & largest trains until 1923 & would become the new flagship locomotive for the Caledonian Railway. They would also become the “go-to” class for the Royal Trains.

All four class members were absorbed into the London, Midland & Scottish Railway in the 1923 grouping act. They would undergo a few cosmetic modifications during this period such as the removal of the smokebox wing-plates that were characteristic of Caledonian designs, giving it a more modern appearance. They would also see their name removed much like the other named CR locomotives into LMS ownership. In the LMS Crimson Lake livery (based upon the Midlands livery) the 1000 Class were quite striking & still retained their elegant look. They would be renumbered to 14770-14773.

Their duties would remain unchanged into the grouping, however, as certain Fowler 4-6-0s arrived upon the scene, the 1000s soon had competition to deal with. These locomotives such as the Royal Scots & Patriots were more efficient and during this period efficiency was worth more than power. They consumed significantly less coal & water than the 1000s. Although the 1000s would retain some of their prestigious work, during the years to come it would become clear that they were soon to be outclassed by new & more modern machines… dark clouds loomed into the 1930s era for the 1000s.

After 1928 the 1000s would be painted into the LMS Lined Black. At this point in their career with the arrival of the LMS Stanier Princess Royals, the writing was on the wall & the days of the 1000s were numbered. They were displaced from their top-link express trains and given secondary passenger trains. By this point, the class was surplus to requirement so that meant that when an engine failed or needed heavy maintenance, that locomotive would be withdrawn. Unfortunately, Nos. 14770 & 14773 would meet this fate as they were in desperate need of new cylinders & boilers, so they would be withdrawn in November 1936. In April 1939, No. 14772 would have an accident where it struck the rear of a coal train due to a signal failure and the locomotive would be beyond logical repair, so it would be scrapped shortly after.

The light would shine for a little while longer for No. 14771 as it would remain in service due to the outbreak of World War II & would be the sole survivor of its class. It would be seen hauling troop & evacuation trains. It would also become somewhat of a pet at Kingmoor shed due to it being the last survivor of the famous CR McIntosh big express locomotives. It would affectionately be nicknamed “Big Mike” by the Kingmoor crews.

No. 14771 would be painted into the LMS Post-War Ivatt livery as seen on the Princess Royals & Duchess to gather some interest into preserving this famous class. Unfortunately, it would be for naut as the interest was not yet there for preservation as it would be in the late 1950s & 1960s.

So on September 27th 1947 it would haul its very last passenger train from Carlisle Citadel to Glasgow Central with an 11 coach express. Much fanfare was made as a last goodbye to this class & the train completely sold out. It would be this run that would be a swan song for the class as driver “Patrick Boyd McKellar” would give it the locomotives all & during the decent down Beattock bank would be clocked at 104 mph according to the O.S. Nocks timing. Though this is debated to this day.

‘Big Mike’ would be withdrawn shortly after where it would remain at St. Rollox for 8 days before scrapping. Thus concludes the famous “Leviathans”.