Locomotives
The two locomotives were converted during September 1937 from existing Class B17/4 locomotives, nos. 2859 and 2870, which had been built in June 1936 and May 1937 respectively (Class B17/4 had the Group Standard tender of wheelbase , shared with Classes D49, J39, K3, etc.; as opposed to Classes B17/1 to B17/3 which had a tender of wheelbase ). The footplate was removed, a streamlined casing similar to (but shorter than) that of Class A4 was fitted over the existing outer boiler covering, the cab sides were replaced, and the tender sides increased in height; they were renamed from Norwich City and Tottenham Hotspur to East Anglian and City of London respectively (the displaced football club names were used to rename Class B17/2 nos. 2839 and 2830); and they were reclassified B17/5. The longer tender and the streamlined front gave these two locomotives an overall length of , compared to the of the other Class B17 locomotives on the Great Eastern section, but were still over eight feet shorter than an A4. Livery was LNER green, lined out in black and white; the side valances were black, and on the smokebox sides, the green met the black in a parabolic arc similar to that of Class A4. The two locomotives were allocated to Norwich (Thorpe), but were not confined to the ''East Anglian'' service. Typically, one would work the ''East Anglian'' from Norwich to Liverpool Street, and return on less important services; the other would work lower-importance services from Norwich to London (such as the 15:17 Ipswich–Liverpool Street), and return with the ''East Anglian''. When one locomotive was stopped for maintenance, the other would work the ''East Anglian'' in both directions; and on the rare occasions that neither was available, another B17 would be used. The side valances were removed in August/September 1941; the locomotives were renumbered 1659 and 1670 in 1946, and 61659/70 in 1948. No. 61659 was given a Diagram 100A boiler (as designed for Class B1, and also used on classes B17/6, B2 and others) in July 1949, but unlike other locomotives fitted with this boiler, it was not reclassified, remaining Class B17/5. The streamlined casing was removed from both locomotives in April 1951, at which time no. 61670 was also fitted with the Diagram 100A boiler; following removal of the streamlined casing, they were both reclassified B17/6, in common with other B17s fitted with the Dia. 100A boiler (and retaining three cylinders).Carriages
One set of six carriages was approved in November 1936 for the 1937 Carriage Building Programme, and built against Lot no. 786 at York in 1937: Excluding the locomotive, the overall length was and the tare weight was . The first-class end was at the front as the train left Liverpool Street. Unlike the ''Coronation'', there was no "beaver tail" observation car. Unlike the special carriages built for the other streamlined services, the ''East Anglian'' carriages were not articulated, and were not streamlined either – they were of normal external appearance, with varnished teak finish, although they did conform to the latest LNER practice in that the external doors were in the vestibules, rather than in the seating areas. The body dimensions – x () (onThe service
The train was inaugurated in Autumn 1937. It ran on Mondays to Fridays only, between Liverpool Street and Norwich, calling only at Ipswich. It was originally allowed 135 minutes for the (an overall average of just over ); this was later reduced to 130 minutes (). There were two factors which limited the peak speeds: the general speed restriction on the Norwich line of , and the need to fit in with other services using the same tracks, particularly on the congested stretches west of Colchester ( from Liverpool Street) – the quadruple track finished at Shenfield (). The schedules were: The from Norwich to Ipswich was originally covered in 51 minutes, an average speed of . The from Ipswich to Liverpool Street was originally covered in 80 minutes, an average speed of . In 1938, the Norwich–Ipswich stage was accelerated, and was now run in 48 minutes, giving an average speed for that stretch of .Later years
Of the various high-speed services operated by the LNER, the ''East Anglian'' was the least profitable. The ''East Anglian'' service was withdrawn at the outbreak of war, and the carriages were pooled with the general service fleet. The service resumed again on 7 October 1946, using the six 1937 carriages (overhauled) plus a further two to make an eight-carriage train, but was now hauled by Class B1 4-6-0s.Notes
References
* * * * * * * * {{italic title Named passenger trains of the London and North Eastern Railway Railway services introduced in 1937