Preserved 9Fs

I've always been a big fan of the BR Standard Loco designs, in particular Brits and 9Fs.

I was just wondering how many 9Fs are currently operational across the country, and how many have been mainline post 1968.

I have seen 92203 hauling a stone train at merehead, and have been fortunate enough to travel between 92214 on the East Lancashire Railway.

I also went to a Gala at the Midland Railway Centre where 92214 has been moved to. Is this a permanent move, or just a temporary one? Although the MRC is a brilliant museum/demostration line, I think that the line is a bit short for the likes of a 9F to be running long term.

Cheers

Jon

 

The only one that comes to mind is David Shepards one on the GWR although the one on the Mid-Hants is looking like it will be back in traffic soon and the one at Crewe can't be that far off.

 

Evening Star is the only one that I can think of that ran on the mainline post 68. During the 80's I think.

 

The MRC is 92214's base. Although it was at the ELR for quite a while, it was only a visiting loco.

 

You'll find that there's a problem with them running on the mainline anymore. They've flangeless centre driving wheels, which NR don't like. Evidently, they are concerned about them damaging modern raised check rails.

 

wiki link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_preserved_BR_Standard_Class_9F_locomotives of the preserved 9fs

 

92212 also steamed in preservation and is due back in steam quite soon, though it's preserved lines only.

Best chance for a highspeed 9F would be if a willing owner would take it to Poland.

 

The raised check rail certainly seems to be a thorn in the side of getting a 9F mainline again. I doubt that the NRM would be interested in restoring Evening Star to operational condition if its only prospects were to be trundling up and down preserved lines at 25 mph. It's a shame it has spend so long out of ticket, you never know, if it (or any 9F) had run on the mainline within the last 10-15 years, Network Rail may have less concerns about the raised checkrail issue.

I wonder if 92220 had to be hauled over NR to get to/from the unloading points when it was getting low loadered from the NRM South Yard to Swindon.

Incidentally, I read in another thread that the height of Check Rails may have increased by up to 6.5 mm since the 1960s. Is such a small increment really worthy of such concern?

Also, in the same thread, it was mentioned when 92220 was running mainline back in the 1980s, it was constantly attacked over the flangeless drivers vs raised check rail issues. John Peck (then involved with the NRM) managed to invalidate the argument against 92220 on the mainline based on the fact that some breakdown cranes have flangeless axles.

Maybe there is scope for mainline running, the case for it just needs arguing for more intensley....

 

If I have understood correctly, it can be some modern pointwork too. (Certainly check rails used as part of it). I think it's the seriously high speed types that are the problem, eg Colton Junction (125mph), and I'm not sure that they were about when Evening Star last ran?
This is something that the NYMR need to investigate with our Austerity 2 10 0. Same potential problem, but there's nothing of that nature between Grosmont & Whitby, and it would be rather handy if we could get even limited dispensation to use her, as & when she is returned to traffic.

 

After a small enquiry into 92219 I have been informed by the group owning 92214 that 19 is not to be restored and is not for sale. This loco is stored purely as a lifetime garantee package for 14 by way of being a spares donour. 19's boiler is in good condition and can be used when the time comes that 14's is beyond reasonable repair. The driving wheels on 9F's also take a lot of hammer, therefore these are also reserved. 19 also has alot of missing parts such as connecting and coupling rods, etc, but most notably no tender!

If it were to be taken over by another group and restored (assuming it did become for sale) the likely cost for completion purely for preserved line use would easily be into 7 figures!

 

Shame, I assume this was the last but one steam loco to be built for BR, ie just before Evening Star sometime early 1960.

 

And some Welsh Marches Expresses.

 

I assumed it was the WME as I photographed David Shepherd on the footplate whilst at Bulmers in Hereford. I know that there were some other railtours around that time with steam based on Hereford, but never as many as the WME.

Thanks for the correction.

 

quick 9F summary

out of 9 preserved, 5 have run in preservation, 1 is coming along, 3 are somewhat optimistic

92134 - under overhaul, has never run in preservation (Original Tender is behind 71000)
92203 - overhauled and run in preservation, only 9F besides 92220 not to goto Barry, run many times in preservation
92207 - missing pony wheel, Unrestored Barry Wreck, no restoration started since preservation 1986, stored outside since 1960's, probably worst of them all - has to be seen as a long shot.
92212 - overhauled and run in preservation
92214 - overhauled and run in preservation
92219 - as stated above, spare parts engine (much same as 92207) probably never run again
92220 - overhauled and run in preservation, NRM York, last loco for BR etc.. run once in preservation 1975-1985 period.
92240 - overhauled and run in preservation
92245 - Unrestored Barry Wreck.

Of this lot I guess 92134 is next, then it may be a generation before any of the other Barry wrecks (92207, 92219, 92245) see steam again. maybe someone could take 92245 and do a proposed 8F 91xxx 2-8-2 conversion from it ?

 

Now there's a thought! :-#

 

Are you sure on that? I'm sure i read somewhere (probably one of the magazines when it moved from the ELR down to its current base) that it's had a large amount of work done / money spent / missing parts aquirred?

 

Quite correct Diamond Gaz. A lot of work was carried out on the chassis before it was moved from the ELR to Shillingstone.

 

That's the impression I got, I am sure it is based on one of the old S&D station restoration projects.