BRITAIN’S BEST BANKERS

SOUTHERN RAILWAY ‘Z’ 0-8-0T Number built: 8. Builder: SR Brighton. Wheel diameter: 4ft 8in. Cylinders: 16in by 18in (3). Tractive effort: 29,376lb. Duties: Lots of coupled wheels was a good way to maximise adhesion, which is why Richard Maunsell designed the ‘Z’ 0‑8‑0T for use in Feltham yard, rather than persist in EX-LSWR designs. The ‘Zs’ were replaced there by new diesel shunters and were transferred to Exeter for banking between stations… only were replaced here by WR pannier tanks when both stations became part of the Western Region. Model it: ‘OO’ kits from Falcon Brassworks (www.falconbrassworks. com) and Golden Arrow Productions (www.goldenarrow.me.uk); in ‘N’ from GEM (http://lytchettmanor.co.uk). CALEDONIAN RAILWAY ‘944’ 4-6-2T Number built: 12. Builder: North British Locomotive Company. Driving wheel diameter: 5ft 9in. Cylinders: 19½in by 26 (2). Tractive effort: 21,922lb. Duties: Some bankers were designed specifically for the task; others became bankers out of necessity. The LMS transferred the remaining Pickersgill 4‑6‑2Ts to Beattock for banking duties on the arduous climb, as Stanier and Fairburn 2‑6‑4Ts made them redundant in the Glasgow suburbs. Their reign at Beattock didn’t last long - they’d all gone by 1953. Model it: In kit form from DJH in ‘OO’ (www.djhmodelloco.co.uk) and Ace Products in ‘O’ (www.a4ace.supanet.com).

LNER ‘U1’ 2-8-0+0-8-2T Number built: 1. Builder: Beyer Peacock. Driving wheel diameter: 4ft 8in. Cylinders: 18½in by 26in (6). Tractive effort: 72,940lb. Duties: It may have been Britain’s only six-cylinder steam locomotive, and it may have had a tractive effort of over 70,000lb, but the Nigel Gresleydesigned Garratt was not a success. Electrification was the only way to properly work the line to Wath (see p47), and that made No. 69999 homeless. It couldn’t surplant ‘Big Bertha’ on the Lickey and was withdrawn in 1955. Model it: In kit form only: DJH in ‘OO’ (www.djhmodelloco.co.uk) and Gladiator in ‘O’ (www.gladiatormodels.com).

STEAM RAILWAY COLLECTION A fine portrait of ex-cr ‘944’ 4‑6‑2T No. 15356. Displaced from the Glasgow area by more modern designs, the class continued as Beattock bankers until the last was withdrawn in 1953.

GEOFF RIXON Maunsell ‘Zs’ Nos. 30952 and 30954 prepare to bank a heavily laden train for Plymouth out of Exeter St Davids up to Exeter Central in August 1959.

LES NIXON Nigel Gresley’s giant ‘U1’ 2‑8‑0+0‑8‑2T No. 69999 arrives at the foot of Worsborough bank in March 1953.