Present your case

If there’s a locomotive that you think needs to be offered ready-to-run, here’s the place to voice your opinion…

Locomotive: Great Eastern Railway ‘R24’/’R24 Rebuilt’/’s56’ (LNER ‘J67’/’J69’) 0‑6‑0T

‘OO’

Gauge: Proposed by: What is it?

Steve Pearce, Chelmsford

The ‘Buckjumper’ is famous for working the Liverpool Street ‘Jazz’ suburban passenger services and was a capable shunter used throughout the GER area and beyond. The last were withdrawn by BR in 1962.

This 0-6-0T was produced in large numbers; 140 ‘R24s’ were built in 1890–1901, (100 for passenger duties) while 95 ‘R24s’ were rebuilt between 1902–1921 with larger side tanks and fireboxes. A further 20 ‘S56s’ were built in 1904 with higher pressure boilers and larger side tanks.

In the 1920s, with the arrival of the N7 0-6-2, the LNER converted 59 of the passenger ‘J69s’ to shunting locomotives by removing the Westinghouse brakes and condensing gear.

What would make it viable?

How about this for a start? This locomotive has never been available as a ‘OO’ gauge ready-to-run model before, although it has been the subject of a number of kits.

As well as variations in the side tanks and cabs, brakes and condensing gear, there were changes in chimneys, cab roofs, coal rails, safety valves, buffers and toolbox positions, these could provide opportunities for models with a small number of add-on parts or production variations on the basic chassis. A change of cab and chimney could even produce the 30 GER ‘C72’ (LNER ‘J68s’).

It is an attractive small locomotive that lasted in various guises for over 70 years. Originally a GER design, between the 1930s and 1950s they were allocated across most of the LNER, including Scotland. Their use on the East London Line would make them useful for SER and LBSCR modellers too, while, in 1940, the War Department purchased five ‘J67s’ and eight ‘J69s’ for use at Longmoor and Melbourne, which also widens their scope.

There’s a whole host of liveries to offer, from GER blue, LNER green and BR lined black to the fabulous Great Eastern-inspired livery that Liverpool Street pilot No. 68619 carried in its final years.

Can I see a real one?

‘J69/1’ No. 87 (BR No. 68633) is preserved as part of the National Collection and is currently on display at Bressingham Steam Museum in Norfolk.