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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…
Locomotive: LNER Class A8 4‑6‑2T Gauge: ‘OO’ Proposed by: Henry Martin, by email What is it?
Designed originally by Vincent Raven as 4‑4‑4 tank locomotives, an initial fleet was built by the North Eastern Railway at Darlington in 1913‑14, followed by a second batch just prior to the Grouping, creating a total of 45 examples.
The LNER Class H1 4‑4‑4Ts were fast, but the twin bogie arrangement led to ‘lively’ riding. Under Gresley, the entire class was rebuilt between 1931‑36 as a fleet of three‑cylinder 4‑6‑2Ts, classified as ‘A8’. Featuring piston valves and Stephenson valve gear, the 5ft 9in driving wheels and outside cylinders combined to create a very handsome design.
The rebuilt locomotives boasted far superior running characteristics and were employed – with great success – on fast, heavy suburban passenger services emanating from Newcastle, Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Darlington, as well as workings to coastal destinations such as Whitby and Scarborough.
The entire fleet was inherited by British Railways upon nationalisation, with the ‘A8s’ gaining new numbers – Nos. 69850‑94 – and the ‘3P’ power classification. All but two remained in service into 1957, when withdrawals began in earnest. The last ‘A8’ had been removed from stock by 1960.
What would make it viable?
The Class A8 4‑6‑2Ts worked across much of the North East, Yorkshire Coast and along the Leeds‑hull corridor, so their geographic coverage was quite extensive for a relatively small fleet of tank locomotives. Many of the locations served by the ‘A8s’ have been popular subjects for model railways over the years, from idyllic seaside termini to deeply rural countryside (they were a common sight on what is now the North Yorkshire Moors Railway) and also industrial centres.
They were really good looking engines too, bearing a family resemblance to the Robinson ‘A5’ 4‑6‑2T recently rendered in RTR ‘OO’ gauge by Sonic Models (see review on page 82).
The 4‑6‑2T chassis would be straightforward to replicate, with no complex elements. Minor detail variations existed, most notably around the boilers and coal bunkers, so the tooling could offer a few different versions at minimal expense.
There are also lots of liveries to choose from, encompassing the LNER and BR periods.
Can I see a real one?
No. Unfortunately, all of the ‘A8s’ were scrapped soon after withdrawal.