Factfile: BR Standard Class 9F 2‑10‑0

Viewed by many enthusiasts as the pinnacle of British Railways’ steam locomotive design, particularly in terms of freight traffic, the Standard Class 9F 2‑10‑0 had been overseen by R.A. Riddles. Informed by his experiences with the ‘WD’ 2‑10‑0s introduced during the war, Riddles had argued against a proposed

2‑8‑2 freight locomotive, asserting that a 2‑10‑0 would offer greater adhesion. The first ‘9F’ 2‑10‑0 appeared from Crewe Works in late 1953, entering traffic early the following year. Although the design was tweaked and various experimental batches were authorised, the class eventually totalled 251 examples. Construction of later batches took place at Swindon, which had the dubious honour of completing the final steam locomotive for BR in 1960, No. 92220 Evening Star.

Locomotives were delivered to the Western, Eastern and London Midland Regions and examples could be found on all manner of freight traffic, from heavy iron ore and coal workings to express vacuum‑fitted general goods. They were also gifted with a rapid turn of speed and proved popular on passenger turns during the summer months (they lacked steam heating equipment), most famously on the former Somerset & Dorset route. However, the London Midland Region frowned upon such work, due to the perceived wear on the motion caused by running the small wheels at sustained high speeds.

Despite being an all‑round success story, the ‘9Fs’ enjoyed criminally short working lives, with many examples being withdrawn and scrapped after less than a decade’s service. A small consolation comes in the fact that nine examples have been preserved, although only a few are currently in working order. The National Railway Museum has custody of No. 92220 Evening Star.

adequate. The decoder socket is located within the tender, as is the space for a speaker. The firebox glow effect operates on DC as well as DCC and looks effective.

FINISHING POINTS

The paint finish is the only area where our sample is less than perfect, as there’s a very slight ‘orange peel’ texture to certain areas of the black paint on both the locomotive and tender. This is no big deal for me, as my ‘9F’ was purchased with a view to applying a comprehensive weathering job at some point but, such is the excellence of the rest of the model that these minor blemishes probably appear worse than they are.

That said, the BR logos are a work of art, with lots of depth in the tampo-printed lion and wheel crests and No. 92167 sports a 21A shedcode, depicting the prototype during its days as a Saltley ‘9F’ in the early 1960s.

Without doubt, this is one of the best steam-era models

Hornby has released to date, offering modellers of the late BR steam era a worthy replica of an iconic prototype. Offering superb performance and impressive build quality, this is a very strong contender for the ‘OO’ steam locomotive Model of the Year – voting for which will open in a few months’ time. Mr Riddles would be proud! (GD)

COLOUR RAIL 1 1: Although pictured in immaculate condition outside Swindon Works in February 1954, No. 92002 was a Crewe-built ‘9F’ and is seen sporting a single chimney and BR1G tender. Starting its working life at Ebbw Junction shed, it spent most of its working life in the West Midlands before finishing its days at Birkenhead.

COLOUR RAIL 2 2: Built at Crewe in 1954, ‘9F’ No. 92017 is in typically grubby condition as it heads up the grade near Shap summit, July 1967. Withdrawal of this Carlisle Kingmoor-based example would take place just four months later.

COLOUR RAIL 3: No. 92167 is putting up an impressive display of smoke as it restarts a heavy fitted freight at Appleby West in 1961. The ‘9Fs’ were a regular sight on the Settle-carlisle route during the 1960s.