NBR C Class LNER Class J36 & J32
65260 at Kipps Locomotive Depot
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Matthew Holmes Builder NBRCowlairs Works (138), Neilson and Company (15), Sharp, Stewart and Company (15) Build date 1888–1901 Total produced 200 168 (J36) + 32 (J32)
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-6-0 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Driver dia. 5 ft 0 in (1.524 m) Length Unrebuilt:49 ft0+1⁄2 in (14.948 m) Rebuilt: 49 ft 2 in (14.99 m) [1] Axle load 15 long tons 15 cwt (35,300 lb or 16 t) Loco weight 41 long tons 19 cwt (94,000 lb or 42.6 t) Tender weight 33 long tons 9 cwt (74,900 lb or 34 t) Fuel type Coal Boiler pressure 165 lbf/in2 (1.14 MPa) Cylinders Two, inside Cylinder size 18 in × 26 in (457 mm × 660 mm) Valve gear Stephenson
Performance figures Tractive effort 19,690 lbf (87.59 kN)
Career Operators North British Railway London and North Eastern Railway British Railways Power class BR: 2F Nicknames Eighteen inchers Withdrawn 1926–1967 Disposition One J36 preserved, remainder scrapped. All J32 locomotives scrapped.

The NBRC Class (LNER ClassJ36) is a class of0-6-0steam locomotives designed byMatthew Holmes for freight work on theNorth British Railway (NBR). They were introduced in 1888 with inside cylinders andStephenson valve gear. A total of 168 locomotives was built, of which 123 came intoBritish Railways ownership atnationalisation in 1948. This was the last class of steam engine in service in Scotland.

Holmes' predecessor,Dugald Drummond, had designed 32 earlier locomotives (classified by the LNER asClass J32) that were built between 1876 and 1877. The NBR gave these engines the same designation (C class) as the Matthew Holmes engines above. The two types were very similar, and shared the same (then unusual) 18 inch cylinder size. Between 1898 and 1903, Holmes had all 32 of the Drummond locomotives rebuilt to match his own C class design. Thus the locomotives were considered a single class by the NBR, although on passing to LNER ownership they received the separate designations of J36 and J32 respectively.

As built, they had a saturated (non-superheated) boiler at 140 lbf/in² or 0.97 MPa (150 lbf/in² or 1.03 MPa for the last 24)^[2] andStephenson valve gears withslide valves. Between 1913 and 1923, the class was rebuilt with larger boilers set at 165 psi and theReid side-window cab.

After the introduction of theDrummond Class C (LNER Class J32) 18-inch cylinder 0-6-0s for use on theWaverley Line in 1876, the NBR reverted to the 17-inch design with the Drummond Class D (J34) in 1879 and the Holmes Class D (J33) in 1883.

With the opening of the secondTay Rail Bridge in July 1887 and the upcoming opening of theForth Bridge in March 1890, the NBR needed more powerful goods locos. The result was the Holmes Class C (J36). Introduced in 1888, it was built in regular batches until 1900, eventually totalling 168 locos. 138 were built at the NBR'sCowlairs Works while the other 30 were split equally betweenNeilson and Company andSharp, Stewart and Company.

During theFirst World War, 25 of the class were sent toFrance for service with theRailway Operating Division. On return to Scotland, they were given names of battles, generals and acartoon soldier in recognition of their service. The names were hand-painted on the splasher above the middle driving wheel so often disappeared during repaints.

On 1 January 1923, all 168 locos passed into the hands of theLNER, becoming Class J36. As with all ex-NBR locos, they had 9000 added to their number. The final eight unrebuilt locos were rebuilt in 1923. In 1937, Nos. 9714 and 9716 (later 5285 and 5287)^[3] were rebuilt with cutdown chimney and dome for use on the Gartverrie Branch. In 1946 the remaining locos were renumbered from 5210 to 5346. A number of locos had tender cabs fitted for use withSnowplows.

Atnationalisationin 1948, 123 locos passed into service ofBritish Railways and had 60000 added to their number.65288 of Dunfermline (62C) and65345 of Thornton (62A) were the last to be withdrawn on 5 June 1967. They were the last steam locomotives in service in Scotland, outlasting the LNER andBR standard designs.^[4]

This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(February 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

One,673Maude (LNER number 9673; LNER 1946 number 5243; BR number 65243) has been preserved by theScottish Railway Preservation Society at theBo'ness and Kinneil Railway. It starred in the2000 remake of The Railway Children on theBluebell Railway in East Sussex. Last steamed in 2002, it is currently on static display awaiting funds for an overhaul.

• Ian Allan ABC of British Railways Locomotives, 1962 edition
• Aves, William A. T. (2009).The Railway Operating Division on the Western Front. Donnington: Shaun Tyas. pp. 147, 159.ISBN 978-1-900289-99-3.
• Casserley, H.C. & Johnston, Stuart W. (1974) [1966].Locomotives at the Grouping 2: London & North Eastern Railway. Shepperton, Surrey:Ian Allan Limited. p. 56.ISBN 0-7110-0553-2.
• Fry, E.V., ed. (September 1966).Locomotives of the L.N.E.R., part 5: Tender Engines – Classes J1 to J37. Kenilworth:RCTS.ISBN 0-901115-12-6.

Wikimedia Commons has media related toNBR C Class / LNER Class J36.

• Class J36 Details atRail UK
• Scottish Railway Preservation Society page onMaude
• NBR/LNER Holmes "J36" Class 0-6-0 at BRDatabase

• North British Railway locomotives
• 0-6-0 locomotives
• Neilson locomotives
• Sharp Stewart locomotives
• Railway locomotives introduced in 1888
• Railway Operating Division locomotives
• Standard-gauge steam locomotives of Great Britain
• Freight locomotives

• Use dmy dates from January 2024
• Use British English from June 2013
• Articles needing additional references from February 2025
• All articles needing additional references
• Commons category link is on Wikidata