Preserved 9Fs

Something that has puzzled me, is that Evening Star was the last loco built by BR - It was given the number 92220, yet there were other locos in the class that were numbered higher than that (92221 to 92250). How come the last loco to be built, didn't get the last number?

 

92207 is at Shillingstone Station see: http://www.shillingstone.addr.com/the_m ... _story.htm

Also 92085 which got the chop at Barry in 1980 still survives in part as the Bluebell stripped most of the motion, recovered the cylinders, firebox and I believe the pony truck as well. 92212 left Barry with 92085 BR1F tender and other bits and pieces.

After 92085 got cut up it left only 92134 as an example of a single chimney version all others are (in my opinon the rather ugly) double blastpipe version, it was said at the time that '85 was the best of the 9F's to grace Mr Woodham's yard so its a shame she was cut up.

 

Numbers were allocated when the locos were ordered. The last batch to be ordered was 92221-92250, ordered from Crewe Works and programmed for delivery and delivered in 1958. 92203-92220 were ordered from Swindon for delivery in 1957 but not actually deliverd until 1959-60.

 

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 ?[/quote]

Anyone with the heads up on how feasible this is ?
Converting to the original proposed class 8 design wouldn't make sense - Whole Smoke box/Boiler/firebox shebang wrong and size and/or shape, driving wheels (and thereore position of axleboxes in frames) different... could probably use the pony truck, cylinders, and any other 'standard fixtures and fittings (cab ?) but thats it
Just removing the centre wheels and moving the others forward onto the existing axles and putting a trailing truck onto the frame behind where the 5th driving pair were to create 4/5ths of a 9f style 2-8-2 does look very acheivable but how usefull a mainliner would this be ? Would NR consider it running faster than 50Mph on current guidelines ?

Answers on a postcard with Massive donations attatched to me please and ill get straight onto it...

'the future's loud -the futures BR-Caprotti'

 

Here's a shot of 92085 at Derby, in 1961.
http://michael170.fotopic.net/p59256263.html

Very Best Wishes,
Bob.

 

I don't think the firebox survived somehow. It sat under a pile of rails with three others for several years.

 

The fireboxes were still there in 1986...

 

Evening Star spent a season on the West Somerset in 1989. http://www.wsr.org.uk/cgi-bin/gallery.c ... ld1980spix

 

Clipping my latest thoughts to the relevant thread:
As there are several examples restored and running, one can see that such a large locomotive (actually no bigger as any of the pacifics and a lot simpler machine all round) is a bit of a monster project with a limited no of potential uses/homes on heritage railways, and the flangeless driver keeps them off Network Rail (How do the continental 2-10-0's get on in this respect ?)

As the least standard of the standards there isnt much mileage as parts doners. I have looked quite hard into the convert to BR Standard 2-8-2 idea but this is an evoloution of the Brittannia and thats where most of the commonality is. Only bits of 9F could be used and most of these have long since been donated.

Have also looked ito what bits might be of benefit to 72010 and come to a similar conclusion.

ES Cox said that the 9F should have been trialled in the highlands after revelling on the S&D. Someone (memory not what it used to be) alsowrote that the light pacific be it Clan or wc/bb wasnt the answer to the problematic highland lines perhaps a 4-8-0 would have been better. Then i got thinking about the fate of the P2's 2-8-2 converted to 4-6-2's Whirr crunch clang lightbulb, = a 9F could rebuild as a 4-8-0.

All the Major components are there, Boiler, Cylinders, frames, (which would need a bit of surgery) driving wheels.
so a for a reworked front end and a new bogie, rearrange the driving wheels = No flangeless middle wheel= effectively a Mainline 9f...

Even inspite of the state of some of these Locos and the Flaming hoop of derogation. Cant think of a more cost effective way of producing a locomotive of this power availability and potential usefulness...

 

does anyone know what's happening/happened with 92245? appears to have vanished from Barry

 

There was talk of it going to the NRM as a "Barry Exhibit". Not sure if any more come of it though.

Link to picture of it at Barry Depot as a 0-10-0!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/taffytank/4568474335/

 

92134: Does anyone know how this unique single chimney 9F is progressing ? There was a lot of progress made with the restoration of this loco around 5 or 6 years ago. I even remember seeing it at a Crewe event around 2004 ! Things seem to have gone quiet now though ?

92219: I've always thought this engine is more significant than it's given credit for ! Why? Because it is the last 'ordinary' BR built engine. Evening Star was always 'special', with a different livery and finish. It was always destined to have a celebrity existence and preservation. 92219 on the other hand was in some ways the very last 'ordinary build'.

92245: If you are familiar with the Ivo Peters films of the S&D you'll know this engine features again and again. It's such a shame it still languishes at Barry. If I had the funds £££ !!!!

 

92134: A quick google brought up these pics from August 2010: Loco and Tender
Looks like the cladding has been made for the loco and some fittings are starting to appear (I'm not 100% but I think it looks like she might now have rods), I have assumed that the tender frames are for the 9F, they look quite well advanced too.
The pics are not mine by the way!

92219: Still at Butterley I assume and presumably still owned by the same group. As I understand it, the loco was bought as a source of spares for 92214, but since the group sold 92214 last year it would be interesting to know what plans they now have for 92219. I don't think they have ever expressed any interest in restoring her.

92245: There were rumours a while back about this loco going to the NRM and Anthony Coulls hinted that the rumours could be correct. Perhaps he is the best man to provide an update on this one (if he can!).

Keith

 

It's a shame 92085 was cut up at Barry, we would of had two remaining single chimney 9F's. I agree about 92219 plus the fact it may of been the only other new steam loco built for BR in 1960. Regarding 92245, I have some old VHS films of 92245 taken in service at Broadstone Junction, presumably they were taken by Ivo Peters.

 

I've read that Swindon slowed production so that they would build the last 9F rather than Crewe.

 

Thanks for the info, Keith.

 

As a matter of interest, if Crewe had built the last 9F as the last new BR steam loco (92250?), how would of it been turned out? I wouldn't have thought Crewe would of "Great Westernised" it. Black with LMS/LNWR lining out perhaps? With an appropriate LMS name.

 

probably something like a 2-1-0 version of this

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/236/entry-6943-2-8-2-after-a-couple-of-weeks/
or ex works
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/in...&attach_rel_module=blogentry&attach_id=100115

 

They might have chosen LMS red, in Duchess Style perhaps ?