Present Your Case

Want to voice your opinion on potential new models? This is the place to do it.

If there’s a locomotive that you think needs to be offered ready-to-run, here’s the place to voice your opinion… The Metropolitan Railway’s Beyer Peacock 4-4-0T is an ideal model for all layouts, not just those around London. They were long-lasting and worked alongside many of the pre-grouping and post-grouping locomotives of the various companies. The first of the Beyer Peacock 4-4-0Ts arrived on the Metropolitan Railway in 1864 and lasted through to the days of London Transport, surviving in service until 1946. There were two similar classes, the ‘As’ and ‘Bs’ (the latter had larger bunkers, along with other detail differences). Early examples were built with an open cab, so this model could be offered with both. At various times, the locomotives were fitted with condensing apparatus and over-boiler tank equalising pipes, all of which could be supplied in model form as optional, separate components, and fitted according to the era being modelled. The Metropolitan District Railway ordered 54, while the Midland Railway bought five in 1867. The South Eastern Railway bought three in 1883 from the Metropolitan Railway as a stopgap measure, and subsequently sold them back to the Metropolitan when their own bespoke locomotives had been built and delivered. The London & South Western Railway bought six in 1885 (Nos. 318-323), the last one being scrapped in 1913. Many of the 4-4-0Ts were sold out of service when the Metropolitan was electrified, and examples went to the Cambrian Railways (Nos. 2/12/33/37), where two others (Nos. 34 and 36) were rebuilt as 4-4-0 tender engines. The 4-4-0Ts became Great Western Nos. 1129-1132, with the 4-4-0s becoming Nos. 1113 and 1114. Only No. 1130 survived to carry its Great Western number. The Mersey Railway also had one (Mersey Railway No. 2), as did the West Somerset Mineral Railway. The Nidd Valley Railway took two, No. 20 becoming No. 1 ‘Holdsworth’ and No. 34, which was named ‘Milner’. Seven were sold into industrial use, six going to collieries in the North East. Three of these went to Pelaw Main Colliery (Nos. 24, 26 and 44) and No. 26, as No. 26a, lasted into the NCB era, as it was withdrawn at the end of 1948. South Hetton Colliery had an example, which was rebuilt as an 0-6-0T.

What would make it viable?

It’s an attractive locomotive unlike anything else on the market. They were an enduring design, lasting from 1864 to 1946, meaning they could run on many pre-grouping and post-grouping layout scenarios. The single basic design could be individualised with add-on pipework for the era required. Many different liveries are possible, including Metropolitan, Metropolitan District, London Transport, Great Western, Cambrian, London & South Western and Mersey railways, and also industrial.

Can I see a real one?

Metropolitan No. 23 (LT No. L45) can be seen at the London Transport Museum, Covent Garden, London.