BR Standard Class 4 4-6-0

75076 with a double chimney and BR1B type tender.

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 standard 4 2-6-4T, with similar characteristics to the GWR Manor Class, though unlike the Manors 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 9 inches (229 mm).[1]

Design work was done at Brighton by R. A. Riddles, with help from Swindon, Derby and Doncaster. Construction was at the BR Swindon Works.

The engine weighed 67.90 long tons (68.99 t; 76.05 short tons), was 60 ft 0 in (18.29 m) long, with 5 ft 8 in (1.727 m) diameter driving wheels. It had two cylinders of 18 inches (457 mm) diameter and 28 inches (711 mm) stroke operated at maximum boiler pressure of 225 lbf/in² (1.55 MPa), to produce 25,515 lbf (113.5 kN) tractive effort. Its British Railways power classification was 4MT.

It normally used the standard BR2 or BR2A tender, which weighed 42.15 long tons (42.83 t; 47.21 short tons) and carried 3,500 imp gal (16,000 l; 4,200 US gal) of water and 6.00 long tons (6.10 t; 6.72 short tons) 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 49.15 long tons (49.94 t; 55.05 short tons), and carried 4,725 imp gal (21,480 l; 5,674 US gal) of water and 7.00 long tons (7.11 t; 7.84 short tons) of coal. This reduced their route availability to 7, the same as the Standard Class 5.

Six members of the class have survived into preservation. Two members of the class were purchased directly from BR for preservation (75027 & 75029); the remaining four engines were rescued from Woodham Brothers' scrapyard at Barry Island.

No member of the class is presently main line approved but three of them (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. 75027 has been cosmetically restored for display as part of the Bluebell Railway's 'Steamworks!' exhibition.

Number & Name	Tender Attached	Built	Withdrawn	Service life	Location	Livery	Status	Image
75014 "Braveheart"	BR2A	Nov 1951	Dec 1966	15 years, 30 days	Dartmouth Steam Railway	BR Lined Black, Early Emblem	Operational
75027	BR2A	May 1954	Aug 1968	14 years, 3 months	Bluebell Railway	BR Lined Green, Late Crest	Static Display awaiting overhaul
75029 "The Green Knight"	BR2A	May 1954	Aug 1967	13 years, 3 months	North Yorkshire Moors Railway	BR Lined Green, Late Crest	Under Overhaul
75069	BR1B	Sept 1955	Sept 1966	11 years	Severn Valley Railway	BR Lined Black, Late Crest	Operational
75078	BR1B	Jan 1956	Jul 1966	10 years, 5 months	Keighley and Worth Valley Railway	BR Lined Black, Late Crest	Operational
75079	BR1B	Jan 1956	Nov 1966	10 years, 10 months	Mid-Hants Railway	N/A	Undergoing restoration.

Bachmann and Hornby have both recently released models of these engines in 00 gauge. Mainline also released a model of the Standard Class 4MT 4-6-0 in the 1970s, although this is no longer in production.

• 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 4-6-0.

• Southern E-group photo gallery
• 75027 webpage at the Bluebell Railway
• 75079 webpage at the Mid Hants Railway