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BR standard class 9F 92220 Evening Star
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British Railways Standard Class 9F number 92220 Evening Star, is a preserved British steam locomotive. She was the last steam locomotive to be built by British Railways, in 1960.
Construction Evening Star was built at Swindon railway works in 1960. She was equipped with a BR1G-type tender. She was given a special livery of "passenger green", complete with copper-capped double chimney. All other members of her class of heavy freight locomotives were painted unlined black. She was the only Class 9F to be named, although 92203 was later named Black Prince and it is planned that when restored 92207 will carry the name "Morning Star". She was given the name Evening Star following a competition amongst staff at the Swindon works. The competition winner realised one of the first trains ever to be named was called Morning Star he thus offered up the name 'Evening Star' as he thought it a fitting end to steam. The name was chosen from hundreds of names entered. A special commemorative plate was affixed below the nameplate on the smoke deflectors. The commemorative plate reads:
No. 92220 built at Swindon
March 1960
The last steam locomotive for British Railways
Named at Swindon on March 18th 1960 by
K.W.C. Grand, Esq.
Member of the British Transport Commission
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This commemorative plate and the engine's name plate were both carved by pattern maker Fred Marsh.
Naming ceremony The naming ceremony took place on the morning of 18th March 1960 in the former Great Western Railway works at Swindon, Wiltshire, UK, where the locomotive was built. A speech was given by R.F.Hanks in which he began by saying, "There had to be a last steam locomotive, and it is a tremendous thing that that last steam locomotive should be built here in these great works at Swindon." After acknowledging the fine craftsmanship of the workers, he went on to say:
"I am sure it has been truly said that no other product of man's mind has ever exercised such a compelling hold upon the public's imagination as the steam locomotive. No other machine in its day has been a more faithful friend to mankind nor has contributed more to the growth of industry in this the land of its birth and indeed throughout the whole world... Those who have lived in the steam age of railways will carry the most nostalgic memories right to the end."
The loco was then named by K.W.C. Grand of the British Transport Commission, by the unveiling of the nameplate, lettered in the Great Western style. "Ladies & Gentlemen, I now unveil this locomotive (curtains draw back) "and christen it the Evening Star."
In service 92220 was used over the Western Region, over the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway line, and hauled the last Pines Express over S&DR metals on 8 September 1962. She was recorded hauling passenger express trains at over 90 mph She was withdrawn in 1965, after a working life of only five years but was subsequently preserved.
Preservation Although steamed since her retirement from BR, Evening Star is currently a static exhibit at the National Railway Museum, York. She is one of nine surviving 9Fs.
See also
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