To go into Stanier Class 8F:
The Stanier Class 8F is a design of 2-8-0 steam locomotive, originally built by the London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) from 1935 (see LMS Stanier Class 8F), the design was subsequently adopted by the War Department as the standard British war locomotive (see WD Stanier Class 8F). The story is somewhat complex however, as transfers occurred between LMS and WD stock. The WD employed some engines abroad during the war, particularly in the Middle Eastern Theatre. After the war, although most ended up working in Great Britain (for them see LMS Stanier Class 8F), some also worked in Italy, Turkey (TCDD 45151 Class) and the Middle East countries of Egypt, Iran, Iraq and Israel.
Construction edit
A total of 852 locomotives were built, which can be summarised in the following table:
| Order | Years | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| LMS pre-war | 1935–9 | 126 |
| War Department | 1940–2 | 208 |
| LMS wartime | 1941–5 | 205 |
| Railway Executive Committee order, built by GWR | 1943–5 | 80 |
| Railway Executive Committee order, built by LNER | 1943–5 | 60 |
| Railway Executive Committee order, built by SR | 1943–5 | 105 |
| LNER Class O6 | 1944–6 | 68 |
| Total | 852 | |
Preservation edit
Eleven 8Fs have been preserved (i.e. are owned by preservationists, reasonably complete with restoration planned). Six of these are ex-BR and preserved in Britain. A further ex-BR survivor has been scrapped by preservationists to provide parts for the GWR County Project (boiler) and the LMS Patriot Project (axleboxes). Three ex-TCDD locomotives have been repatriated to Britain from Turkey, giving a total of nine 8Fs in Britain. Additionally, there are believed to be a few remaining hulks slowly rusting in Turkey and one in Iraq[1]. The long term future of these engines is unclear; their best hope for joining the preserved 8Fs is that they are also repatriated to Britain. Two more are also visible underwater on the wreck of the SS Thistlegorm.
| Number | Location | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LMS | BR | WD | TCCD | ||
| 8151 | 48151 | - | - | West Coast Railway Company | Certified for mainline use. |
| 8173 | 48173 | - | - | Churnet Valley Railway | Loco is in ex-Barry scrapyard condition. |
| 8233 | 48773 | 307 | - | Severn Valley Railway | Persian Railways no. 41.109. Currently in the Engine House awaiting overhaul [2]. |
| 8274 | - | 348 | 45160 | Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway | Restored and running as 8476 during GWR 175. |
| 8279 | - | 353 | 45165 | Turkey | - |
| - | - | 341 | 45166 | Barry Island Railway | Repatriated to Britain 2010 |
| - | - | 554 | 45170 | Shildon Locomotion Museum | Repatriated to Britain 2010 |
| - | - | 522 | 45161 | Camlik Railway Museum, Turkey | - |
| 8305 | 48305 | - | - | Great Central Railway | Built at Crewe Works, 48305 spent much of her career operating across the Midlands. She was withdrawn in 1968, just before the end of steam. During the time spent at Barry scrapyard she was sprayed with the words "Please don't let me die!" on the smokebox door, but was saved by Roger Hibbert in 1985 and was restored back to steam in the next 10 years. In 2011, half way though her boiler ticket the decision was taken to perform another overhaul. It is hoped she will return to traffic in 2013/14. This loco is currently undergoing a major overhaul. |
| 8431 | 48431 | - | - | Keighley and Worth Valley Railway | Only surviving Swindon-built example. |
| 8624 | 48624 | - | - | Great Central Railway | This is the only surviving Southern-built example in preservation. 48624 was brought back to life in spring 2009 at Peak Rail carrying a fictional LMS Crimson Lake livery as 8624. This was only ever worn authentically by express-passenger classes of the company. She ran at Peak Rail for about a year & was then put on loan to other lines (including Churnet Valley Railway) , but became a semi-permanent resident of the Great Central Railway in early 2011. 48624 is now sporting the same livery with BR numbering. Her boiler ticket expires in 2019. |
References edit
- Tourret Allied Military Locomotives of the Second World War.