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BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4T

photograph by Mike Morant

BR Standard Class 4 Tank photographed outside Victoria. This picture was taken through the plate glass window of the Central Section Signalbox.

First outshopped from Brighton works in July 1951, 155 of these locomotives were built in Brighton, Derby and Doncaster works between then and 1957 and became general workhorses on all the regions of British Railways, except the Western. Not things of beauty with their somewhat unattractive "rear ends", they were a product of the development by British Railways of a series of twelve "Standard" locomotive designs embracing the best practices of the pre-nationalisation railways.

Designed by RA Riddles, British Railways' Chief Mechanical Engineer, these tanks were one of the most successful of the "Standards", doing well all that was asked of them.

The Standard 4s shared much of the basic design of the LMS Railway's Class 4 2-6-4Ts built under both Stanier and Fairburn (some of the latter locos were built at Brighton after nationalisation) but with considerable improvements. They had smaller cylinders and higher pressure boilers, were more economical in operation and were popular with footplate crews for their better running and improved cab facilities.

Classified as 4MT on the Eastern, Midland, and Scottish Regions, their Southern classification was 4P/4F. Most were to be found working on the Central and South Western sections of the Southern Region, the LTSR lines of the Eastern Region and the Glasgow commuter lines in Scotland. When the LTSR lines were electrified many of the displaced Standard 4s were transferred in July 1962 to Shrewsbury, in the Western Region, who then lost them again to the Midland Region during the boundary changes that took effect from 1 January 1963. In the same boundary changes the Western Region was handed all of the Southern Region west of Salisbury, also inheriting the locomotives based in that area, including Standard 4Ts. However, the mainly dieselised Western Region seemed determined to send them to the scrapyards as quickly as they could either get their hands on DMUs to replace them, or close down the lines where they worked.

Fourteen of this class have been purchased for restoration and are proving their worth all over again on many of Britain's preserved railways.<.p>

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  • 80015
    East Croydon
    N°80015 when new, photographed awaiting departure from East Croydon with an Oxted train.
    Photograph by Mike Morant.
  • 80145
    Southwater
    N°80145 at Southwater with Bulleid Coach Set 85 during 1961.
    Photograph by Keith Harwood.
  • 80145
    Southwater
    Another shot of N°80145 at Southwater in 1961, with Bulleid Coach Set 977 in the other platform.
    Photograph by Keith Harwood.
  • 80069
    Clapham Jn
    N°80069 at Clapham Junction whilst working the "Kenny Belle", the postal workers service from Kensington Olympia to Clapham Junction.
    Photograph by Ray Soper.
  • 50018
    Oxted
    N°80018 arrives at Oxted with four non-corridor MkI coaches and some Bulleids.
    Photograph by Keith Harwood.
  • 80153
    Hailsham
    Brighton-built N°80153 at Hailsham, with a horsebox and two Maunsell coaches, heading for Tunbridge Wells during 1963.
    Photograph by Keith Harwood.
  • 30041
    Wadebridge
    In Western Region days .... just over 4 months until replacement by diesel. Brighton-built N°80041 at Wadebridge, 22 August 1964
    Photograph by Alan Robinson.
  • 30059
    Wadebridge
    N°80059 through the engine shed at Wadebridge, 22 August 1964.
    Photograph by Alan Robinson.
  • 8033
    Hellingly
    N°80033 doubleheads a service train past Hellingly, on the Cuckoo Line, a few weeks before the line was closed in 1965. The absence of ahead code is most noticeable Photograph by Keith Harwood.
  • 80140
    Clapham Jn
    N°80140 shunting Pullman stock and a Rail Blue and Grey Full Brake at Clapham Junction, November 1966.
    Photograph by Ray Soper.
  • 80150
    Upper Warlingham
    N°80150 departs Upper Warlingham with a London bound service.
    Photograph by Keith Harwood.
  • 80085
    Last SECR Loco?
    Was this the last ever SECR loco to be built? N°80085 was seen to be wearing a confusing pair of owners' IDs at Redhill.
    Photograph by Keith Harwood.
  • 80142
    Groombridge
    N°80142 at Groombridge. Note the modern signalbox on the left, built in 1958. The rear view of these locos is definitely not the prettiest!
    Photograph by Keith Harwood.
  • 80141
    "The Mohican"
    N°80141 taking water at Polegate on 12th June 1965. The writing on the tank says "The Mohican", no doubt because this was the last day of services on the Cuckoo line!
    Photograph by Ian Fosse.
  • 80141
    Groombridge
    N°80141 nears Groombridge on 5 June 1965.
    Photograph by Ray Soper.
  • 80095
    Upper Warlingham
    N°>80095 heading a down evening peak hour service pulls into Upper Warlingham.
    Photograph by Keith Harwood.
  • 80032
    Wareham
    N°80032 waits in the bay platform at Wareham on 21 June 1966 for the next journey to Swanage.
    Photograph by Ray Soper.
  • 80145
    Olympia
    Almost at the end of steam on the Southern, N°80145 is about to depart from Olympia for Clapham Junction in June 1967.
    Photograph by Mike Morant.
  • 80015
    Clapham Jn
    Seen earlier when new, a rather grubby N°80015 is seen here shunting at Claphan Junction during 1966.
    Photograph by Ray Soper.
  • 80015
    Clapham Jn
    N°80015 again, this time at the head of a passenger train arriving at Clapham Junction in 1966.
    Photograph by Ray Soper.
  • 80151
    Waterworks
    A classic late 1950s scene - in 2002!
    N°80151 with train at Waterworks, Bluebell Railway, 16th February 2002.
    Photograph by Lewis Nodes.
  • 80151
    Horsted Keynes
    Brighton-built N°80151 at Horsted Keynes on 18 October 2001. This is the youngest "Brighton" locomotive still in existence.
    Photograph by Lewis Nodes.

Technical Details

Introduced:
Driving Wheel:
Pony and Trailing Wheels:
Length:
Weight:
Water Capacity:
Cylinders:
Boiler Pressure:
Tractive Effort:
Coal Capacity:
Route Availability:
July 1951
5 ft 8 ins
3 ft
44 ft 9 7/8 ins
86 tons 13 cwt
2,000 gals
18 in x 28 in
225 lb sq in
25,100 lb
3 1/2 tons
5
Locomotives built at Brighton: 80010-53, 80059-105 and 80116-54

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