BR Standard Class 4 2-6-0

The class was designed at the ex-LNER works at Doncaster which was also responsible for building 25 of the 115-strong class. The remaining 90 were split between Horwich and Derby Works.

The last in the series, No.76114, was also the final steam engine to be constructed at the 'Plant' (as Doncaster works was known). The Standard Four Mogul was essentially a standardised version of the LMS Ivatt Class 4, and was primarily intended for freight use.

Although a BR Standard, the 4 2-6-0 class did not have the same design of wheels as the Swindon-built 82XXX and 77XXX Class 3 engines which also had 5-foot-3-inch (1.600 m) driving wheels, yet all three locomotive classes share the same cylinder casting.

The cylinder covers of engines built early in the programme of construction were fitted with "screw-in" type pressure relief valves. From September 1955 revised cylinder covers were introduced for renewals incorporating "bolt-on" type pressure relief valves.[1]

With its 5-foot-3-inch (1.60 m) diameter driving wheels this sixth of the BR standard designs was clearly biased towards freight working. An axle-loading of only 16 long tons 15 cwt (37,500 lb or 17 t) meant its route availability was virtually unrestricted. Batches were allocated to every BR region except the Western.[2]

London Midland Region

76041 at Marylebone station in 1961 (the GCML having been transferred to the LMR in 1958).

Apart from a pair allocated to Leicester, most of the London Midland Region's batch of 15 spent their working lives in the Liverpool, Manchester and Preston areas. Some were allocated to the Nottingham area, and took over the working of the afternoon 16:45 fish train ex Grimsby from 4F 0-6-0s.

North Eastern Region

76023 at Sunderland MPD.

At first the North Eastern Region scattered its 13-strong allocation far and wide: Darlington, Gateshead, Hull, Sunderland and York. Later all were concentrated at either Kirkby Stephen or West Auckland to work over the Stainmore route whose viaducts had severe weight restrictions. Like their small cousins the 2MT 2-6-0 class the Moguls were ideal for working the line. They worked coal trains as well as passenger services and were a regular choice for excursions from Tyneside to the Lancashire coast resorts.

Southern Region

76064 (left) and 76065 (right) at Salisbury in 1963.

The Southern moguls (originally 37) were also concentrated in one area around Eastleigh, Southampton and Bournemouth. They were used between Portsmouth, Salisbury and Cardiff, Reading to Redhill, Brighton to Bournemouth and over the Swanage branch. Their most celebrated duty was the London Waterloo to Lymington boat train. However this had nothing to do with the engines' capabilities; it was simply that among tender engines only a 2-6-0 or 4-4-0 could fit on the turntable at Brockenhurst. In the last few years of steam operation on the 'Southern' a few examples were allocated to Guildford shed before moving on to Feltham shed in south-west London.

All 17 locomotives equipped with the BR1B high-sided tender were allocated to the Southern Region. The BR1B tender had a higher axle load than the locomotives.

• On 23 September 1954, locomotive No. 76017 was hauling a freight train that overran signals and was derailed by trap points at Whitchurch Town station, Hampshire.[3]
• In December 1957, locomotive No. 76016 was hauling a freight train that overran signals and was derailed by trap points at Woodhay station, Hampshire.[3]
• On 12 February 1960, locomotive No. 76026 was hauling a freight train that overran signals and was derailed by trap points at Whitchurch Town station.[3]

Four engines have survived into preservation, all four built at Horwich Works and rescued from Woodham Brothers scrapyard at Barry Island. Three members of the class have steamed so far in preservation but 76077 has yet to do so and is at present undergoing restoration from scrapyard condition. As of September 2023, no members of the class are mainline certified. All three engines that have run in preservation have been on the main line, but only two have hauled railtours, 76079 and 76084. On 13 October 2022, 76017 was moved by rail from its home at the Watercress Line to the Bluebell Railway.[4]

76079's main career on the main line was when it was owned by Ian Riley in Bury, Lancashire, but it was eventually sold to the NYMR. After completion of its most recent overhaul in 2014 it once again had a mainline certificate but was restricted between Battersby and Whitby on the Esk Valley Line. 76084 meanwhile, was certified to operate over the national network hauling railtours alongside passenger runs along the Bittern Line and the Esk Valley Line.

BR No.	TOPS No. (if applicable)	Built	Withdrawn	Service life	Home base	Owner	Livery	Tender Attached	Status	Mainline Certified	Image	Notes
76017	98417	May 1953	Jul 1965	12 Years, 1 month	Carnforth MPD	John Bunch	BR Lined Black, Early Emblem	BR2A	Operational. Boiler Ticket Expires: 2026.	No, to be certified		Recently changed ownership following death of previous owner.[5]
76077	-	Dec 1956	Dec 1967	11 Years	Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway	Toddington Standard Locomotive Limited	N/A		Under Restoration from scrapyard condition	No		Fundraising for the boiler overhaul is underway and the tender pattern is confirmed as being a BR2A pattern. Restoration anticipated for completion in 2026.[6]
76079	98476	Feb 1957	Dec 1967	10 Years, 10 months	North Yorkshire Moors Railway	North Yorkshire Moors Railway	BR Lined Black, Early Emblem		Stored	No		Withdrawn for overhaul due to issues with boiler.[7] Currently stored in Pickering carriage shed.[8]
76084	98484	Apr 1957	Dec 1967	10 Years, 8 months	North Norfolk Railway	76084 Locomotive Company Limited	BR Lined Black, Early Emblem		Operational. Boiler Ticket Expires: Dec 2023.	No (2016 - 2023)		Shortly due to be withdrawn for 10 year overhaul. [9]

The erstwhile Kitmaster company produced an unpowered polystyrene injection moulded model kit for 00 gauge. In late 1962, the Kitmaster brand was sold by its parent company (Rosebud Dolls) to Airfix, who transferred the moulding tools to their own factory; they re-introduced some of the former Kitmaster range, including this locomotive. In time, the moulding tools passed on to Dapol who have also produced the model kit.[10]

Bachmann produces a ready-to-run model in both 00 and N gauge.[11]

• 76079 Between Egton and Grosmont
• 76079 departing from Grosmont

• 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, Rodger P. (1984). The Standard Steam Locomotives of British Railways. David & Charles. ISBN 0715383841.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to BR Standard Class 4 2-6-0.

• "BR Standard 4 2-6-0s in service". Flickr.
• Southern E-group photo gallery
• Website for the restoration and preservation of the "Forgotten Standard" 76077
• Website of preserved loco 76084