BR Standard Steam in Action

BR Standard Steam in Action.

The BR Standard locomotives were produced from 1951 to 1960-totalling 999 in number, of eleven classes--as the final fling of steam on Britain's railway system. From the solitary and unsuccessful Class 8P Pacific, the more successful 'Britannias' and

'Clans', down through efficient 4-6-0 and 2-6-0 designs, to a range of tanks and a superb class of big freight

2-10-0's, the BR Standards covered virtually the whole range of British locomotive requirements for every purpose. They ranged far and wide, on every Region; from the Highlands to East Anglia, from the ex-Cambrian lines to the suburban lines south of London. As a result of Nationalisation and the submerging of the former individual railway companies, each with long traditions of loyalty and fierce rivalry, these new standard designs started life under a handicap.

They were liked by some railwaymen but disliked by many more, for no very valid reason. No better words can be found to sum them up than those of E. S. Cox--who himself played an important part in their design-"an adventurous rearguard action as the steam era drew to its close'