Description

From slow heavy freights to express passenger services the 9F class was master of all; it could be said that the British railway industry left the best till last. Unfortunately, they were designed to see 25-30 years’ service; their lifespan was tragically short. Introduced in 1954, the Class 9Fs were the final main line steam locomotives built in any numbers and proved worthy of the role; whilst the other Standard designs were updated replacements of existing types – the 9Fs were something different and more than capable of handling any type of service. Designed at Brighton, built at Crewe and Swindon, the class suffered from the fact that, as with the rest of the Standard locomotive classes, they were withdrawn well before their intended demise. When the locomotives were under construction it was anticipated that steam traction would remain until well into the 1980s, by which time much of the network would be electrified. However, with the reduction in numbers of people willing to work with steam and the rush to change to diesel traction, the 9Fs were forced into retreat with many of the class never receiving a Heavy Overhaul. The last of the class, No 92220, was erected at Swindon Works in 1960 and named Evening Star in a ceremony that signalled the end of BR steam locomotive construction.

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