BR Standard Class 4 4-6-0

File:Riddles 75076 (8164960266).jpg

The class was introduced in 1951. They were designed for mixed traffic use on secondary routes where the otherwise ubiquitous BR Standard Class 5 and their predecessors, the Black Fives, would be too heavy. They were essentially a tender version of the Class 4 2-6-4T, with similar characteristics to the GWR 7800 Class, though unlike the 7800s they were built to the universal loading gauge. They used the same running gear as the tank engine (with the leading bogie from the Standard Class 5), and substantially the same firebox, smokebox and boiler, although the boiler barrel was increased in length by {{convert|9|in|mm|0}}.{{cite book| last=Casserley| first=H.C.| authorlink=H. C. Casserley| title=The Observer's Book of Railway Locomotives of Britain| publisher=Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd| location=London| year=1960| page=226}}

Design work was done at Brighton by R. A. Riddles, with help from Swindon, Derby and Doncaster. Construction was at the BR Swindon Works.{{cite magazine|title=British Railways '4MT' 4-6-0|first=Evan|last=Green-Hughes|magazine=Hornby Magazine|pages=72–76|issue=17|date=November 2008|location=Hersham|publisher=Ian Allan Publishing|issn=1753-2469|oclc=226087101}}

The engine weighed {{convert|67.90|LT|t ST}}, was {{convert|60|ft|0|in|m|2|abbr=on}} long, with {{convert|5|ft|8|in|m|3|abbr=on}} diameter driving wheels. It had two cylinders of {{convert|18|in|mm|0}} diameter and {{convert|28|in|mm|0}} stroke operated at maximum boiler pressure of {{convert|225|lbf/in2|MPa|2|abbr=on}}, to produce {{convert|25515|lbf|kN|1|abbr=on}} tractive effort. Its British Railways power classification was 4MT.

It normally used the standard BR2 or BR2A tender, which weighed {{convert|42.15|LT|t ST}} and carried {{convert|3500|impgal|abbr=on}} of water and {{convert|6.00|LT|t ST}} of coal. In this configuration its route availability was 4, almost universal over the British Railways network.

The class was initially allocated to the London Midland Region (45) and the Western Region (20). The last 15 were allocated to the Southern Region. The Southern batch were built with BR1B tenders, which weighed {{convert|49.15|LT|t ST}}, and carried {{convert|4725|impgal|abbr=on}} of water and {{convert|7.00|LT|t ST}} of coal.{{Cite web |last=Duggan |first=Jamie |date=June 29, 2018 |title=BR Standard 4s (4-6-0, 2-6-0 and 2-6-4T) steam locomotives - Class Information |url=https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2018/06/br-standard-4s-4-6-0-2-6-0-and-2-6-4t-steam-locomotives-class-information.html |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=RailAdvent |language=en-GB}} This reduced their route availability to 7, the same as the Standard Class 5.

Six members of the class survive with both single chimney and double chimney examples. Two were purchased directly from BR (75027 & 75029); the remaining four were rescued from Woodham Brothers' scrapyard at Barry Island.

No member of the class is presently main line approved but three (75014, 75029 and 75069) have worked on the main line at various points in preservation. 75029 was passed to work on the main line between Grosmont and Whitby with occasional visits to Battersby during galas. All except for 75079 have operated in preservation.

Bachmann and Hornby have both released models of these engines in 00 gauge. Mainline Railways also released a OO gauge model of the Standard Class 4MT 4-6-0 in the 1970s, although this is no longer in production. In 1983, Mainline's model was reintroduced to their catalogue as locomotive 75033 in BR lined black.{{cite magazine|title=Mainline's big plans for 1983|pages=36–7|magazine=Rail Enthusiast|publisher=EMAP National Publications|date=March 1983|issn=0262-561X|oclc=49957965}}

{{Reflist}}

• A Detailed History of BR Standard Steam Locomotives, - Vol 2 - The 4-6-0 and 2-6-0 Classes. RCTS {{ISBN|0-901115-93-2}}
• {{Bradley-StdSteamBR}}

{{Commons category|BR Standard Class 4 4-6-0}}

• [http://www.semgonline.com/steam/std4-460_01.html Southern E-group photo gallery]
• [http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pics/75027.html 75027 webpage at the Bluebell Railway]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110615185133/http://www.watercressline.co.uk/The-Works/Locos/20 75079 webpage at the Mid Hants Railway]

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4 4-6-0

Category:4-6-0 locomotives

Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1951

Category:2′C h2 locomotives

Category:Standard-gauge steam locomotives of Great Britain