Due week commencing 26/01/09

Bassett-Lowke - The Diesel Era

A limited release from Bassett-Lowke of a BR class 20 locomotive and three BR box vans in the classic tinplate style, with switchable 2 or 3-rail power collection and a 12-14 volt motor. Directionally controlled lighting is fitted, with the nose lights switched for nose-to-nose operation of two locomotives. Each model is individually numbered on the base and full operating/maintenance instructions are included.more..

Expected early 2009

64744 was built at Darlington in July 1928 and was originally numbered 2691 in LNER service. It was withdrawn in March 1962.

Designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, the J39 was introduced in 1926. It became the new LNER group standard 0-6-0 goods locomotive and over 15 years a total of 289 were produced. The J39s were powerful and versatile and, although primarily designed to haul freight trains, they were used from time to time on passenger routes as well. In 1948, following the nationalisation of the railways, all the J39s passed into British Railways ownership. They continued in service until 1959 when a fairly rapid programme of withdrawal commenced and by the end of 1962 the entire production had ceased operations. None have survived into preservation.

Expected early 2009

2714 was built at Darlington in November 1928 and passed into British Railways ownership in November 1948 when it was renumbered 64767. It was withdrawn in January 1961.

Designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, the J39 was introduced in 1926. It became the new LNER group standard 0-6-0 goods locomotive and over 15 years a total of 289 were produced. The J39s were powerful and versatile and, although primarily designed to haul freight trains, they were used from time to time on passenger routes as well. In 1948, following the nationalisation of the railways, all the J39s passed into British Railways ownership. They continued in service until 1959 when a fairly rapid programme of withdrawal commenced and by the end of 1962 the entire production had ceased operations. None have survived into preservation.

Built between 1930 and 1934 the LMS Patriot Class engines were on paper rebuilt Claughton Class engines inherited from the old LNWR, following grouping of the railways in 1923. In reality this was a paper exercise designed to appease the accountants and in fact all but the first two ‘Patriots’ were actually new-builds. In total 52 engines were produced to operate as express passenger steam locomotives. Between 1946 and 1948, 18 were rebuilt with Stanier 2A boiler, cab and tenders and these were then similar to the rebuilt Scot and rebuilt Jubilee classes, all 3 being known as class 6P. Built at Crewe in April 1933, LMS 5935 was renumbered in 1934 as 5534. In 1937 it took the name ‘E. Tootal Broadhurst’ and following nationalisation in 1948 it took the BR number 45534. Re-built December 1948 it continued in service until its withdrawal May 1964.

Designed by Richard Maunsell the ‘N’ Class was designed as a mixed traffic locomotive and was introduced by the South Eastern and Chatham Railway in 1917. The first batch of 15 were built in Ashford between 1917 and 1923. Following grouping of the railways these were taken over by Southern Railways and a further 50 were assembled in Ashford from kits of parts manufactured on the site of the wartime Woolwich Arsenal. The ‘N’ class was a reliable locomotive and operated throughout the SR network and excelled during World War 2 hauling heavy loads. In 1948 they passed over to British Railways ownership and their phased withdrawal took place from 1962 to 1966. A810 was the first prototype of the class and was built in August 1917. It was renumbered 1810 by SR in 1923 and then 31810 by British Railways in 1948. It was withdrawn from service in March 1964.