Bachmann 31-061 LNER J72 Class 68733 BR Black Early Emblem DCC Ready OO Gauge

Bachmann 31-061

LNER J72 Class
Running No. 68733
BR Black Early Emblem
Next 18 DCC Ready
OO Gauge

Condition - NEW

E1/J72 HISTORY

The J72 Class steam locomotive possess the unique record of having been constructed at varying periods over a span of 53 years by three different railway companies: the North Eastern Railway (NER), the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) and British Railways (BR).

Designed by Wilson Worsdell and originally designated Class E1 by the NER, the J72 was introduced in 1898 for light goods and shunting duties. Worsdell’s brother Thomas had introduced a similar locomotive in 1886, known as the E Class (later LNER J71), and the E1s were a development of this design, with smaller wheels but larger cylinders. Built at the NER’s Darlington Works and by Armstrong Whitworth, a total of 75 passed from NER to LNER ownership in 1924.

The LNER built ten further J72s at its own Doncaster Works in 1925 and had plans for a further 65 but these did not come to fruition. Remarkably, following Nationalisation BR built another 28 locomotives giving a total of 113 J72s with the last completed almost 53 years after the first had entered traffic.

Primarily designed for shunting and light goods duties, the NER and LNER locos were built with steam brakes, but during the 1940s vacuum brakes were fitted to some allowing them to be used on carriage shunting duties and several examples were allocated as station pilots.

Withdrawals began in 1958 and all had gone by 1964, except for two which were transferred to departmental stock for de-icing duties at Gateshead, North Blythe and Heaton. This life-extension sealed the fate of No. 69023 which was not withdrawn until 1967, by which time the preservation movement was gathering momentum and the loco was purchased by Mr R. Ainsworth who restored the loco to running order and named it ‘Joem’ after his parents, Joseph and Emmeline. Decorated in BR ‘Station Pilot’ livery, No. 69023 is now cared for by the North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group and is a regular performer at the Wensleydale Railway.