PROTOTYPE NOTES.
The Greater Britain class were VVebb’s largest 3 cylinder compound passenger locomotives.
Essentially they were an enlargement of the Teutonic class, with a longer boiler which incorporated
a centre combustion chamber and Stephenson rather than Joy valve gear for the outside cylinders.
Despite being one of Webb’s least succesful compound designs and relatively shortlived, they were
imposing locomotives. The overall length of the engine and tender was 54’ 12’2” and they weighed
just under 80 tons in working order. The diiving wheels were 7’0” diameter 20 spoke and the
leading and trailing wheels 4’ 11/2” diameter 10 spoke. Tender wheels were 3 ’9” diameter 10 spoke.
Although visually similar, the 6’3” “John Hick” class were suf?ciently different to be dif?cult to
build from this kit without considerable modi?cation.
The first two engines built had an “L" shaped cab sidesheet, with the lower part of the L extending
forward to meet the rear splasher. These two locomotives were built in 1891 but were later fitted
with the standard design of Webb cab, probably when the rest of the class were built in 1894. The
kit is designed around the later version, with a 2000 gallon tender which was the norm for the class.
They were scrapped between 1906 and 1907.
Although all originally painted in the standard LNWR “Blackberry Black” livery, 2053 “Greater
Britain” and 2054 “Queen Empress” were repainted in 1897 to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of
Queen Victoria. 2053 was painted scarlet with dark blue and gold lining, while 2054 was white
with lavender panel edging and gold lining (see LNWR Engines and LNWR Liveries for details).
We recommend reference to relevant infonnation and photographs of your chosen prototype.

Recommended reference books are:
An Illustrated History of LNW'R Engines - Ted Talbot
An Illustrated History of LMS Locomotives, Volume 2 - Essery and Jenkinson
LNWR Miscellany, Volumes 1 & 2 - Talbot
LNWR Portrayed - Jack Nelson
LNWR Liveries - HMRS
Locomotives Illustrated No. 121 - The LNWR 2-4-0 and Three-cylinder C ompound 2-2-2-0 & 2-2-2-
2 express engines.