BR standard class 9F

BR Standard Class 9F

Standard 9F 2-10-0 No. 92126. hauling a freight train on the Erewash Valley Line in 1957.

Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Robert Riddles Builder BR Crewe Works (198) BR Swindon Works (53) Build date January 1954 – February 1960 Total produced 251

Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-10-0 Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge Leading dia. 3 ft 0 in (0.914 m) Driver dia. 5 ft 0 in (1.524 m) Length 66 ft 2 in (20.17 m) Axle load 15.5 long tons (15.7 t; 17.4 short tons) Tender weight BR1B: 50.25 long tons (51.06 t; 56.28 short tons); BR1C: 53.25 long tons (54.10 t; 59.64 short tons); BR1F: 55.25 long tons (56.14 t; 61.88 short tons); BR1G: 52.50 long tons (53.34 t; 58.80 short tons) Total weight 139.2 long tons (141.4 t; 155.9 short tons) Tender type BR1B (20); BR1C (85); BR1F (85); BR1G (58); BR1K (3) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity BR1B/BR1F/BR1G: 7.00 long tons (7.11 t); BR1C: 9.00 long tons (9.14 t) Water cap BR1B: 4,725 imp gal (21,480 l; 5,674 US gal); BR1C: 4,725 imp gal (21,480 l; 5,674 US gal); BR1F: 5,625 imp gal (25,570 l; 6,755 US gal) BR1G: 5,000 imp gal (23,000 l; 6,000 US gal) Firebox:  • Firegrate area 40.2 sq ft (3.73 m2) Boiler pressure 250 psi (1,700 kPa) Cylinders Two Cylinder size 20 in × 28 in (508 mm × 711 mm)

Performance figures Tractive effort 39,667 lbf (176.45 kN)

Career Operators British Railways Power class 9F Numbers 92000–92250 Axle load class Route availability: 9; BR (WR): blue Locale British Railways: Eastern Region, Midland Region, Scottish Region, Southern Region, Western Region Withdrawn May 1964 – June 1968 Disposition 9 preserved, remainder scrapped

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 trains over long distances. It was one of the most powerful steam locomotive types ever constructed in Britain, and successfully performed its intended duties. The class earned a nickname of 'Spaceships', due to its size and shape. In profile daylight can be seen between the frames and the boiler.

At various times during the 1950s the 9Fs worked passenger trains with great success, indicating the versatility of the design, sometimes considered to represent the ultimate in British steam development. Several experimental variants were constructed in an effort to reduce costs and maintenance, although these met with varying degrees of success.

The total number built was 251, production being shared between Swindon (53) and Crewe Works (198). The last of the class, 92220 Evening Star, was the final steam locomotive to be built by British Railways, in 1960. Withdrawals began in 1964, with the final locomotives removed from service in 1968. Several examples have survived into the preservation era in varying states of repair, including Evening Star.

The British Transport Commission had proposed that the existing steam locomotive fleet be replaced by both diesel and electric traction. However the board of British Railways, which wanted the railways to be completely electrified, ignored the BTC and ordered a new fleet of 'standard' steam locomotive designs as an interim motive power solution ahead of electrification. Freight was well catered for in terms of locomotive availability after nationalisation in 1948, with a number of heavy freight locomotives built to aid the war effort forming part of British Railways' inheritance. This consisted of 666 LMS 8F class 2-8-0 and numerous Robert Riddles designed WD Austerity 2-8-0s and WD Austerity 2-10-0s.