List of preserved BR Standard Class 9F locomotives

BR standard class 9F

The British Railways BR Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 is a class of steam locomotive designed for British Railways by Robert Riddles. The Class 9F was the last in a series of standardised locomotive classes designed for British Railways during the 1950s, and was intended for use on fast, heavy freight...

steam locomotives that survive in preservation

Historic preservation

Historic preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...

. Nine 9F locomotives avoided being scrapped at the end of steam traction

Steam locomotive

A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...

on British Railways. Seven locomotives were obtained from Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales

South Wales

South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...

. The other two were preserved upon withdrawal, with 92220 Evening Star reserved for the National Collection, and 92203 being purchased direct from BR by the noted artist and conservationist, David Shepherd

David Shepherd (artist)

Richard David Shepherd CBE FRSA FGRA is a British artist and one of the world's most outspoken conservationists. He is most famous for his paintings of wildlife, although he also often paints steam railways, aircraft and landscapes...

in 1967.

As of 2009, four of the locomotives have not been restored to working order since withdrawal: 92134, 92207, 92219 and 92245. All were stored rusting in the open air for 20 or more years, and had component parts removed. Most have since received at least some cosmetic restoration to prevent them from deteriorating further. However, the 9F was one of the largest locomotives to run on British railways, and the cost of restoration is high; consequently these locomotives are not expected to be fully restored in the foreseeable future.

92134

92134 is the sole-surviving 'single chimney' 9F. Currently under restoration at The Railway Age

The Railway Age

The Crewe Heritage Centre, formerly the Crewe Railway Age is a railway museum, located in Crewe, England. The Railway Age was rebranded to its original name of Crewe Heritage Centre in early 2008...

in Crewe

Crewe

Crewe is a railway town within the unitary authority area of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census the urban area had a population of 67,683...

, it is intended to be run on the Churnet Valley Railway

Churnet Valley Railway

The Churnet Valley Railway is a standard gauge heritage railway to the east of Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire. The CVR has two main operational headquarters - Cheddleton station, where the motive power department is based and where the first trains ran, and Kingsley and Froghall station, where...

when finished.

92203

92203 was the third 9F built by Swindon

Swindon Works

Swindon railway works were built by the Great Western Railway in 1841 in Swindon in the English county of Wiltshire.-History:In 1835 Parliament approved the construction of a railway between London and Bristol. Its Chief Engineer was Isambard Kingdom Brunel.From 1836, Brunel had been buying...

in January 1959. When withdrawn after a working life of less than nine years, it was working the heavy iron ore trains out of Birkenhead Bidston Dock to Shotwick Shotton

Shotton

-Places:England* Shotton, Northumberland, a village in the County of Northumberland* Shotton, Peterlee, a village in County Durham* Shotton, Sedgefield, a village in County Durham* Shotton Colliery, a village in County DurhamWales...

steelworks, and worked the last steam-hauled ore train in November 1967. The locomotive was purchased straight from BR by the artist David Shepherd

David Shepherd (artist)

for £3,000 and moved to the Longmoor Military Railway

Longmoor Military Railway

The Longmoor Military Railway was a British military railway in Hampshire, built by the Royal Engineers from 1903 in order to train soldiers on railway construction and operations.-Route:...

. He named her Black Prince, a name never carried by 92203 in British Railways service. On closure of the LMR, 92203 moved to Eastleigh Depot and then, in 1973, to the East Somerset Railway

East Somerset Railway

The East Somerset Railway is a heritage railway in Somerset, running between Cranmore and Mendip Vale. Prior to the Beeching Axe, the railway ran from Witham to Wells, meeting both the Cheddar Valley line and Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway at the latter station.- History :The line was...

, where it was based until 1998. During this period 92203 visited several other heritage railways and in September 1982 hauled the heaviest freight train in Britain, 2198 tonnes, at Foster Yeoman's Tor Works. The locomotive is presently based at the North Norfolk Railway

North Norfolk Railway

The North Norfolk Railway – also known as the "Poppy Line" – is a heritage steam railway in Norfolk, England, running between the coastal town of Sheringham and Holt, It cuts through the countryside to the east of Weybourne with views of its windmill and passes through the well preserved country...

on loan from Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway is a volunteer-run heritage railway on the Gloucestershire/Worcestershire/Warwickshire Borders that has reopened the closed railway line between Laverton Halt and Cheltenham Racecourse railway stations in Gloucestershire/Worcestershire., it currently...

, having had a major overhaul in 2004.

92207

Built by BR (W)

Western Region of British Railways

The Western Region was a region of British Railways from 1948. The region ceased to be an operating unit in its own right in the 1980s and was wound up at the end of 1992...

in Swindon "A" Shop

Swindon Works

during May 1959, 92207 was the 13th-from-last steam locomotive to be built for British Railways. It was part of lot number 429 (the final order for main line steam locomotives by British Rail).

Costing £38,000 to build, including a 5,000-gallon tender, 92207 was completed in May 1959, and despatched to Bristol St Phillips Marsh Depot

St Philips Marsh

St Philip's Marsh is an industrial inner suburb of Bristol, England. It is bounded by River Avon and Harbour feeder canal making it an almost island area, unlike the other two areas surrounded by water, it was historically part of Gloucestershire...

. Its main duties were heavy iron ore trains from South Wales

South Wales

, but during its stay at Bristol it did make a rare venture to on an excursion

Excursion

An excursion is a trip by a group of people, usually made for leisure, education, or physical purposes. It is often an adjunct to a longer journey or visit to a place, sometimes for other purposes....

. In February 1960 it was transferred to Southall for use on fast 'fitted' freight trains, and occasional use on Paddington to passenger duties. After a short stay 92207 then moved to and sheds where it returned to providing the motive power for heavy iron ore trains from South Wales again. After a brief return to Bristol St Phillips Marsh, 92207 was transferred in November 1964 to its final depot, Newport Ebbw Junction

Newport railway station

Newport railway station is the 3rd busiest railway station in Wales , situated in Newport city centre. It is part of the British railway system owned by Network Rail and is operated by Arriva Trains Wales, although First Great Western and CrossCountry also provide services...

, where it acquired its 86b shed plate (the one it will carry in preservation). 92207 always stayed on the Western Region

Western Region of British Railways

The Western Region was a region of British Railways from 1948. The region ceased to be an operating unit in its own right in the 1980s and was wound up at the end of 1992...

carrying out a variety of freight and passenger duties. While stabled at Newport it worked Cardiff

Cardiff Central railway station

Cardiff Central railway station is a major railway station on the South Wales Main Line in Cardiff, Wales.It is the largest and busiest station in Wales and one of the major stations of the British rail network, the tenth busiest station in the United Kingdom outside of London , based on 2007/08...

to duties so would have been seen passing through regularly.

While shedded at Southall in 1961, 92207 was involved in a light collision which bent the front end. The main frame just ahead of the cylinders had to be cut and re-welded to straighten the damage and also relieve stress. As the damage was not thought to be too serious the repair work was carried out away from Swindon Works. (During 92207s restoration, when inspected for the first time by the Railway Inspectorate, as part of the requirement of MT276 for main line running, the inspector said he did not like the look of the repair made to the main frame at the front end. He changed his tune slightly when he found out that British Railways had made the repair in March 1961.)

After only a month stabled at Newport, and due for its five-year major overhaul, with the Western Region well advanced with its dieselisation programme, the decision was made to scrap 92207 after only five years and seven months in service. Withdrawn from Newport it was sold to Woodham Brothers scrap yard in Barry, South Wales. It arrived there as part of a convoy during March 1965. There it rested for 21 years and 7 months – four times longer than it was in service with BR – until it became the 180th locomotive to leave the now famous scrap yard, on 21 October 1986. On the day before the move, 92207 was christened Morning Star.

Initially, 92207 was moved to Bury Bolton Street railway station

Bury Bolton Street railway station

Bury Bolton Street railway station is a railway station in Bury, Greater Manchester.- History :It was formerly the main station serving the town, with links north to Ramsbottom, thence via Stubbins Junction either to Rawtenstall and Bacup or to Haslingden and Accrington; and south to Radcliffe...

(East Lancashire Railway

East Lancashire Railway

The East Lancashire Railway is a heritage railway in Lancashire and Greater Manchester, England.-Overview:After formal closure by British Rail in 1982, the line was reopened on 25 July 1987. The initial service operated between Bury and Ramsbottom, via Summerseat. In 1991 the service was extended...

). During its 19-year stay there around £90,000 was spent on new parts acquisition, forgings and castings and the complete restoration of the main frames, axleboxes and 5 wheelsets to MT276 Mainline standard . On 21 December 2005, the locomotive was relocated to the Shillingstone Railway Project

Shillingstone Railway Project

The Shillingstone Railway Project is a heritage railway project based at Shillingstone railway station on the former Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway. It is supported by the North Dorset Railway Trust...

on the former Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway

Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway

The Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway – almost always referred to as "the S&D" – was an English railway line connecting Bath in north east Somerset and Bournemouth now in south east Dorset but then in Hampshire...

, in Dorset

Dorset

Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...

, with a view to complete restoration.

As of 2009, 92207 is parked on a short length of isolated track, (soon to be moved onto the north end of the former up main in the station) with the new cab and bogie frame adjacent belonging to the new BR Clan Pacific Hengist. 75% of parts have been made or sourced, while the boiler will be the last piece repaired, requiring pitted welding, major stay and tubing work. To enable reconstruction, a temporary single road shed will be built.

92212

No. 92212 was one of the last 9Fs to be built, being turned out from Swindon in September 1959. First allocated to Banbury, it was transferred in June 1961 to Bath (Green Park) for working over the Somerset and Dorset route to Bournemouth

Bournemouth

Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...

, it was transferred to Ebbw Junction, Newport in September 1961 and then to Tyseley

Tyseley

Tyseley is a district in the southern half of the city of Birmingham, England, near the Coventry Road and the districts of Small Heath and Yardley...

in July 1962. It remained there until November 1966, when it spent its last months at Carnforth

Carnforth

- References :...

. The locomotive was sold to Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, South Wales

South Wales

, where it arrived in January 1968. It was then bought by 92212 Holdings Ltd, and moved to the Great Central Railway

Great Central Railway (preserved)

The Great Central Railway is a heritage railway split into two adjacent sections, one in Leicestershire and the other Nottinghamshire.The Leicestershire section is currently Britain's only double track mainline heritage railway, with of working double track, period signalling, locomotives and...

at Loughborough

Loughborough

Loughborough is a town within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is the seat of Charnwood Borough Council and is home to Loughborough University...

in September 1979. Restoration was completed in September 1996, and the engine is currently based at the Mid-Hants Railway

Watercress Line

The Watercress Line is the marketing name of the Mid-Hants Railway, a heritage railway in Hampshire, England, running from New Alresford to Alton where it connects to the National Rail network. The line gained its popular name in the days that it was used to transport locally grown watercress to...

. Following a major overhaul lasting just over two years, in which time it was purchased by Jeremy Hosking

Jeremy Hosking

Jeremy J. Hosking is a British businessman, a co-founder and investment portfolio manager for private investment fund Marathon. Hosking is also well known for his extensive collection of steam locomotives, and 25% share holding in Crystal Palace F.C....

, the locomotive returned to operational service on 11 September 2009.

92214

Named in 2011 as 'Cock O' The North' by the current owners, 92214 is now fully operational at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway

North Yorkshire Moors Railway

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is a heritage railway in North Yorkshire, England. First opened in 1836 as the Whitby and Pickering Railway, the railway was planned in 1831 by George Stephenson as a means of opening up trade routes inland from the then important seaport of Whitby. The line...

. Between 2006 and 2008, 92214 was at the East Lancashire Railway

East Lancashire Railway

on loan. Since June 2010 it has been at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

Like no. 92203, this locomotive was named after being preserved. The name had previously been carried by three locomotives on the former London and North Eastern Railway

London and North Eastern Railway

The London and North Eastern Railway was the second-largest of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain...

(LNER), of classes A2/2

LNER Thompson Class A2/2

The London and North Eastern Railway Class A2/2 was a class of 4-6-2 steam locomotives. The A2/2 were former members of Sir Nigel Gresley’s P2 Class of eight-coupled express passenger locomotives. Edward Thompson was appointed on the 28 April 1941 and decided to gain experience by rebuilding the...

, P2

LNER Class P2

The London and North Eastern Railway Class P2 was a class of 2-8-2 steam locomotives designed by Sir Nigel Gresley for working heavy express trains over the harsh Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line...

and C11. The name was chosen due to popular demand by customers to the railway.

92219

Stored at the Midland Railway - Butterley

Midland Railway - Butterley

The Midland Railway – Butterley is a heritage railway, formerly known until 2004 as the Midland Railway Centre, at Butterley, near Ripley in Derbyshire.-Overview:...

. Locomotive is essentially in ex-scrapyard condition, with a number of significant components missing (such as the connecting rods and motion) although it received some cosmetic restoration in the 1980s. Consequently, returning it to working order would be an expensive task and, as of March 2009, no restoration work is planned.

92220 Evening Star

92220 was the last steam locomotive built by British Rail, and has for many years been a static exhibit at the National Railway Museum

National Railway Museum

The National Railway Museum is a museum in York forming part of the British National Museum of Science and Industry and telling the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. It has won many awards, including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001...

in York

York

York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...

.

After being displayed at the "Locomotion"

Shildon Locomotion Museum

Shildon Locomotion Museum is a railway museum in Shildon, County Durham, England. The museum is a branch of the National Railway Museum , which is part of the National Museum of Science and Industry...

museum at Shildon, County Durham, the engine returned to its birthplace, Swindon Works

Swindon Works

, on 3 September 2008. Evening Star is to be exhibited for two years at the Swindon 'Steam' Railway Museum

Swindon Steam Railway Museum

STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway, also known as Swindon Steam Railway Museum, is located at the site of the old railway works in Swindon, England – Wiltshire's 'railway town'...

, during which period the GWR locomotive King George V

GWR 6000 Class 6000 King George V

thumb|right|6000 King George V at Swindon having just hauled the last King-hauled train from Wolverhampton and Birmingham Snow Hill . Note the bell which was given to the engine when it toured the U.S...

will take its place in York.

92240

This locomotive was among the last steam locomotives to be completed at Crewe Works

Crewe Works

Crewe railway works is a British railway engineering facility built in 1840 by the Grand Junction Railway. It is located in the town of Crewe, in the county of Cheshire....

, finished in October 1958 with a double chimney and a BR1G tender according to Western Region

Western Region

The Western Region or West Region may refer to:*Western Region, Bahrain*Western Region, Eastern Cape, South Africa*Western Region, Ghana*Western Region, Nepal*Western Region, Serbia*Western Region, Uganda*Western Region, Nigeria...

preference. Allocated over its life to Newport (86A) in 1958, Old Oak Common (81A) from late 1958-1960 and Southall (81C) from 1960-1965. It was withdrawn in September 1965 and sold to Barry Scrapyard. The locomotive remained at Barry until it was bought by a consortium of members of the Bluebell Railway

Bluebell Railway

The Bluebell Railway is a heritage line running for nine miles along the border between East and West Sussex, England. Steam trains are operated between and , with an intermediate station at .The railway is managed and run largely by volunteers...

's locomotive department in 1978. The restoration of 92240 at the Bluebell Railway was one of the first to involve the construction of a new tender from a redundant underframe and a new tender body. Much of the restoration was financed through the recycling of old newspapers donated by the public.

Re-entering traffic in 1990 as the first restored Barry 9F, it ran only a few years before several boiler stays were found to need replacement. It was at this point that the boiler was re-certified for a further ten years. It was withdrawn from service in 2002 due to the poor condition of the tubes. After many years out of the public view awaiting overhaul in the sidings at Sheffield Park, it moved in September 2009 with cousin 4MT No 75027 to be on static display at platform 1 at Horsted Keynes

Horsted Keynes

Horsted Keynes is a village and civil parish in the Mid Sussex District of West Sussex, England. The village is located about eight kilometres north east of Haywards Heath, in the Weald...

.

The Bluebell Railway's under-16-year-olds volunteer club is called the 9F Club, as the restoration was completed around the time of the club's formation.

92245

One of the Barry Ten, the last ten locomotives to leave Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, South Wales

South Wales

. Owned by the Vale of Glamorgan Council

Vale of Glamorgan Council

The Vale of Glamorgan Council is the governing body for the Vale of Glamorgan, one of the Principal Areas of Wales. It is run by the Conservative Party after the United Kingdom local elections, 2008, taking over the council from no overall control....

, it is presently stored 'unrestored' at Barry Depot on the Barry Island Railway. As part of the Barry 10 clear-out it may be bought by the National Railway Museum

National Railway Museum

in its current state as a "Barry exhibit", though other offers for the locomotive have been made.

External links

92203's page at the GWSR
92203's page at the East Somerset Railway
92207 Morning Star photo gallery (at Shillingstone Station Project website)
92212 website
92214 website (original)
92214 website (new)
92219 webpage

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