The LNER had three seperate classes of 2-2-4 'Single Driver' Tanks, all were inherited from the North Eastern Railway and designated 'X1, X2 and X3'. Each class had just one locomotive except the 'X3s' with two! They had very similar appearances but their history and origins were quite different and too complex to relate here. Pictured inside York MPD is one of the pair of 'X3s' No. 190, it had been built at Gateshead in March 1881 and was withdrawn in Dec. 1936.

All these locomotives were used for hauling engineers and management inspection saloons around the ex-North Eastern Railway's territory. The 'X1' Compound 2-2-4 Tank No. 66 'Aerolite' is preserved at the N.R.M.

© Stephen Barrett Archive-SA Collection