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

Model: LNER ‘J17’ 0‑6‑0 Scale: ‘OO’ Proposed by: Eric Lynch What is it?

In the early part of the 20th Century, Steven Holden of the Great Eastern Railway (GER) produced a new heavy freight locomotive, with greater power than previous designs, which would ultimately become the LNER Class J17 0-6-0. The classic GER design incorporated cylinder and boiler arrangements from the recently introduced ‘Claude Hamilton’ 4-4-0s and was provided with the GER large tender.

The locomotives proved highly successful and, following trials, more were built, with the class eventually totalling 90 examples. All were fitted with Belpaire boilers, either from new or during modification works. Later, they were converted to superheating and remained virtually unaltered for the next 40 years.

In the 1930s, increasing train loads displaced the engines from GE heavy freight duties, but they proved to be versatile and popular when redeployed. Although some of the engines spent time on other parts of the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) network, including the former London, Tilbury & Southend and Great Northern sections, most remained in East Anglia working secondary freight and branch line passenger traffic. Eventually, all returned to the former GER section. Their duties frequently took them off GER metals as far as York and Manchester and to the Southern Railway, on cross-london freights.

After the Second World War, many of the engines were allocated to the ex-midland &

Great Northern lines where their versatility allowed them to work, effectively as mixed traffic engines, on freight and passenger trains, being particularly seen on, and adept with, heavy summer weekend vacation specials.

It was always a pleasure to see these engines in the late 1950s, with their distinctive tall chimneys and large square cabs, along with a few ‘J15’ and ‘E4’ cousins, the last GE section engines with these features. They were frequent visitors to the sorting yards at Goodmayes, or on the relief line at Ilford when held there during the rush hours with inter-yard goods trains. They were commonly on view at Stratford Depot and I can remember seeing these engines from the beach at Caister during childhood summer holidays too.

Withdrawals started in the mid-1950s, but most engines survived until late into that decade, with many surviving into the early 1960s. The last example, No. 65541, was finally withdrawn in September 1962.

What would make it viable?

Although mostly restricted to East Anglia, EX-GER engines appear to be very popular with modellers and have traditionally sold well, Hornby having success with its ‘B12’, ‘D16’, and ‘J15’ models. The ‘J17’ would make an interesting, versatile and, I’m sure, popular addition to this range and have the advantage that the tender has already been produced.

Can I see a real one?

One example, No. 65567, is preserved as part of the National Collection. Previously housed at the National Railway Museum, York, it currently resides at Barrow Hill Roundhouse and carries LNER livery, numbered 8217.

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