London & North Western Railway Society
Passenger Locomotives - Dreadnought
No. 643 'RAVEN' Standing next to a water column with fireman on ground operating the control lever. Single post signal on left, wall and warehouse in left distance. Manchester London Rd engine yard.
Designed by F.W. Webb, the ‘Dreadnought’ class was basically an ‘Experiment’ enlarged to produce more power. The boiler was larger, with 176 psi instead of 150 psi, and the valve gear was modified. In many ways the ‘Dreadnought’ was the first modern Webb engine. In addition to a circular smoke box door, tommy-bar screw coupling, it was the first engine to have the new 3in thick tyres made of steel.
Main Statistics
| Storage Type | Tender |
| Water Capacity | 1800 gallons |
| Wheel Arrangement | 2-2-2-0 |
| Size Leading (2 3/4 in) | 3ft 71/2in |
| Size Leading (2 3/4 to 3 in) | 3ft 9in |
| Number Spokes Leading | 10 |
| Size Driving (2 3/4 in) | 6ft 3in |
| Number Spokes Drivers | 18 |
| Size Trailing (2 3/4 in) | 3ft 9in |
| Tender Wheel | 3ft 71/2in 3ft 9in |
| Number of Spokes Tender | 10 |
| Wheel Base | 8ft 5in + 9ft 8in |
| Total Wheel Base | 18ft 1in |
| Chimney Height | 3ft 3ins |
| Boiler Pressure | 175psi |
| Grate Area | 20.5sq ft |
| Number of Tubes | 1 242sq ft |
| Heating Area | 1379sq ft |
| Cylinders | Three: 14 dia (O) 30in dia (I) |
| Cylinders Stroke | 24in |
| Weight | 42tons 10cwt |
| CME | Mr. F.W. Webb |
| Number Built | 40 |
| Lifespan | 1884-88 |
