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R30281LMS, Class 8F, 2-8-0, No. 8310
The Stanier designed LMS Class 8F was many things, it was one of the most widespread 2-8-0 locomotive ever used in Britain, it was a war hero, an expat, but maybe more importantly it was a dependable servant of the freight industry. 852 examples of the class were built over an eleven years of construction with an example being built in almost every locomotive works around the UK.
This is quite unusual as a competing rail company would not wish to allocate valuable shed time to a competitors locomotive however the locomotive was chosen by the war department to be the standard freight engine of the war effort. This led to their construction on every part of the UK network, as at a time of war even the fiercest national competitors would need to put their differences aside to work towards the common goal of peace.
Examples of the 8F locomotive could, at their geographical peak, could be found in the UK as well as Italy, Turkey, Iran, Palestine, Israel and Egypt. 225 examples would find themselves in service overseas initially in Egypt and Iran before those locomotives were disseminated around the Middle East and parts of Europe as and where demand dictated. Most of these locomotives would not return to the UK and would continue to be used in revenue earning service well after the withdrawal of steam on the UK network.
Overseas examples would go on to be withdrawn in the 1970s and 80s, with most examples being scrapped. Back home in the UK, the last examples would be withdrawn at the end of steam on BR in 1968, a large number have been preserved. Two Class 8Fs represent a rare sight in the world of diving, going down with the SS Thistlegrom.
These locomotives are clearly visible on the seafloor with the ship, becoming a major tourist attraction in recent years. Locomotive 8310 was outshopped into LMS service in December of 1943, too late to enter war service as the stock shipped overseas ceased in January of 1942. The locomotive would be in service for 24 years before being withdrawn on the 30th December 1967.
The locomotive would then be stored for a short while before being scrapped before the end of the following year after a fairly unremarkable yet devoted service life.
R7326HM7040: Bluetooth® Legacy Dongle
This Bluetooth® Legacy Dongle allows the HM | DCC app to work with older DCC Controllers from Hornby.
Add Bluetooth and Smartphone/tablet control to your existing Hornby DCC Controllers! The dongle works with all Hornby DCC decoders - including the Elite, Select and Railmaster. This will allow the HM | DCC app to control of all your previous non-Bluetooth decoders.
The Legacy Dongle works via the XpressNet socket - this is a common socket included in many other brands of DCC Controller, however, Hornby are unable to confirm if the Dongle will work seamlessly with other brands of controller.
R3895Rowntree & Co., Ruston & Hornsby 88DS, 0-4-0, No. 3
Ruston & Hornsby Ltd, of Lincoln, was formed as the result of the merger between Ruston, Proctor & Co. Ltd and Richard Hornsby & Sons Ltd on September 11, 1918 and their first narrow gauge diesel locomotive left the works on September 1, 1931.
In the summer of 1932, production was moved to the larger Boultham Works, where the firm were eventually to become Britain's largest builder of diesel locomotives, with over 6,500 being built by the time production ceased in 1969. Almost as soon as the firm's 44/48HP 0-4-0 locomotives were making an appearance, an upgraded, more powerful 0-4-0 was on the drawing board. Although many of the features of the 44/48HP were retained for the new 80/88HP, such as the chain drive and running gear, a new type of transmission was fitted, along with Westinghouse airbrakes. The new power unit, Ruston's own 4VPB, delivered 80BHP at 1000rpm and was later supplanted by Ruston's improved 4VPH that delivered 88BHP, but it required compressed air to be injected into the cylinders to be able to start.
While running, an air reservoir was kept charged via the braking system, but after standing idle for a period the reservoir depleted and a secondary source was required to recharge the reservoir. This was achieved by fitting a small, secondary 1½HP 'donkey' engine, giving rise to a distinctive raised cover on the right hand side of the engine compartment that differed in size and placement depending on the make of engine used. Two basic weight options were offered for the 80/88HP, of 17 tons and 20 tons, the difference being achieved by attaching weights to the outside frames, as well as to the front and rear buffer beams.
In 1941, Ruston's locomotive classifications were changed, with the 80/88HP becoming 88DS (with the narrow gauge versions being assigned the DSM and DSN suffix, and the broader gauges assigned DSW). Outward appearance changes to the 'standard' locomotives were mainly confined to the cab area, with examples from mid-1947 replacing the open cab with a fully enclosed cab that featured several ad-hoc styles of front window. The final 88DS, 518494, left Boultham Works on 29 November 1967, bringing to an end a production run of 271 locomotives.
Ruston 441934 was built new for Rowntree & Co. Ltd of York, being delivered in April 1960 to join R&H 421419/1958 and 432479/1959 in the confectionery company's fleet of locomotives as No. 3. In 1979, the York factory bought a new 0-6-0 locomotive and No.3 was transferred to Rowntree's Fawdon factory in Newcastle. Rail services at Fawdon came to a halt on 30 January 1987, with No. 3 being handed over to the North York Moors Railway for preservation. After some years being moved about it was purchased in 2013 by two members of the Derwent Valley Light Railway, Glynnis and Tony Frith. 441934 has now been named Ken Cooke, in honour of the former Rowntree's York employee, D-Day veteran and holder of France's highest military honour, the Legion dHonneur.
R3896BR, Ruston & Hornsby 88DS, 0-4-0, No. 84
Ruston & Hornsby Ltd, of Lincoln, was formed as the result of the merger between Ruston, Proctor & Co. Ltd and Richard Hornsby & Sons Ltd on September 11, 1918 and their first narrow gauge diesel locomotive left the works on September 1, 1931. In the summer of 1932, production was moved to the larger Boultham Works, where the firm were eventually to become Britain's largest builder of diesel locomotives, with over 6,500 being built by the time production ceased in 1969. Almost as soon as the firm's 44/48HP 0-4-0 locomotives were making an appearance, an upgraded, more powerful 0-4-0 was on the drawing board.
Although many of the features of the 44/48HP were retained for the new 80/88HP, such as the chain drive and running gear, a new type of transmission was fitted, along with Westinghouse airbrakes. The new power unit, Ruston's own 4VPB, delivered 80BHP at 1000rpm and was later supplanted by Ruston's improved 4VPH that delivered 88BHP, but it required compressed air to be injected into the cylinders to be able to start. While running, an air reservoir was kept charged via the braking system, but after standing idle for a period the reservoir depleted and a secondary source was required to recharge the reservoir. This was achieved by fitting a small, secondary 1½HP 'donkey' engine, giving rise to a distinctive raised cover on the right hand side of the engine compartment that differed in size and placement depending on the make of engine used. Two basic weight options were offered for the 80/88HP, of 17 tons and 20 tons, the difference being achieved by attaching weights to the outside frames, as well as to the front and rear buffer beams.
In 1941, Ruston's locomotive classifications were changed, with the 80/88HP becoming 88DS (with the narrow gauge versions being assigned the DSM and DSN suffix, and the broader gauges assigned DSW). Outward appearance changes to the 'standard' locomotives were mainly confined to the cab area, with examples from mid-1947 replacing the open cab with a fully enclosed cab that featured several ad-hoc styles of front window. The final 88DS, 518494, left Boultham Works on 29 November 1967, bringing to an end a production run of 271 locomotives.
Ruston 432478 was built new for British Railways, being delivered in January 1959 to the North Eastern Region Civil Engineers Department at the Leeman Road Permanent Way Stockyard in York, one of six Ruston & Hornsby 88DS locomotives built for British Railways which were distributed between York, Dinsdale Depot, Etherley Tip, Crofton, Hartlepool and Darlington. As well as working shunting duties at Leeman Road, 432478 also worked at the York Central Concrete Depot, which is now the site of the Railway Museum's main visitor car park.
374-821BR Mk1 FO First Open 'DIANA' WCRC Maroon

















