The Great Central Railway (GCR) Class 8A (LNER Q4) was designed by Robinson in 1902. The first three locomotives were built alongside the first GCR Class 8 (LNER B5) locomotives and they shared similar 4ft 9in diameter saturated boilers. The main difference was that the Q4's smaller wheels enabled a deeper firebox to be used.

All were inherited by the LNER at the start of 1923, which classified them as Class Q4 and the GCR numbers were increased by 5000 during 1924–27. [8] . Following the Grouping, the LNER redeployed some of class Q4 to former Great Northern Railway (GNR) and Great Eastern Railway depots, such as Ardsley, Bradford, Doncaster, March and Retford. [9] .

Only one 0-8-0 tank locomotive (the GCR No. 400B) entered LNER ownership at Grouping in 1923, and was quickly withdrawn from service. For heavy wartime shunting needs, Thompson rebuilt thirteen of the Robinson Q4s as Q1 0-8-0T heavy shunters between 1942 and 1945.

The London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) produced several classes of locomotive, mostly to the designs of Nigel Gresley, characterised by a three-cylinder layout with a parallel boiler and round-topped firebox.

The London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) Thompson Class Q1 was a class of 0-8-0T steam locomotives. They were rebuilds of the GCR Class 8A (LNER Class Q4) 0-8-0s. Thirteen were rebuilt between 1942 and 1945 at Gorton Works .

A notable class was the 8A (LNER Q4) 0-8-0 goods engines of 1902. These set the trend for Robinson to become known as a "big engine" designer.

The Q4 had already proven itself as a successful design that was robust and simple. The first GCR 8K (LNER O4/1 class) class locomotive (966) was built in September 1911. A superheated boiler was fitted of similar size to that used by Robinson on his C4 Atlantics.

They all passed to the LNER in 1923, who redesignated them Class Q4. They were withdrawn from service between 1934 and 1951.

Feb 25, 2015 · A Great Central Q1 (LNER Q4), heavy tank engine, built by Robinson and long associated with duties in the Frodingham Steel Works. In the vicinity of Scunthorpe and Frodingham Station. Updated and revised - September 2021.

Jul 19, 2019 · Robinson took his Q4 0-8-0 design, added cylinder volume by increasing cylinder diameter from 19" to 21", fitting a superheated boiler and Belpaire firebox, and replacing the slide valves inside 10" (254 mm) piston valves.