NER B , Bl & N, LNER/BR N8 & N9

The B & B1 classes were general purpose tank locomotives used for shunting and station pilot duties, also being employed on short haul mineral, freight and passenger workings. They were constructed during the late 1880's and were scrapped in the late 1950's.

Class B were two cylinder compounds working on the Worsdell Von Borries principle. Class Bl was the simple expansion version of the same class. Class N was a straightforward development of Class B1, having the same boiler, set at the same height above the rails, the same wheel diameters and spacing and trailing overhang, being 9" longer at front end. Twenty were constructed at Darlington between 1893 and 1894 later becoming L.N.E.R. N9.

Wilson Worsdell, appointed locomotive superintendent in 1890, gradually converted his brother's compound engines to simple expansion, Class B being rebuilt to B1, after which all the sixty two engines were Class B, becoming LNER Class N8 in 1923. All Class N locomotives had been withdrawn by 1955, and the Class B/B1 locomotives a year later, a loss to all areas of the former NER. None were preserved after scrapping.

The kit has a body etched in brass with a nickel-silver chassis which has been designed to be easy to spring or compensate. It includes jointed coupling rods and half etch cut outs for hornblocks, the fittings are a mixture of brass lost wax and whitemetal castings. The kit comes with our own specially turned NER pattern sprung buffers, these can be exchanged for LNER Group Standard buffers if required.. This is one of our most popular kits, and the 4mm version (marketed by London Road Models) has been described by Steve Barnfield (budding author, and Professional builder and painter) as a superb kit. A completed 4mm model features on page 35 of Steve's book "Painting and Lining in the smaller scales", photographed by Barry Norman on the superb exhibition layout Bramblewick.

You can download a pdf version (which requires Adobe Acrobat to be read) of the instructions for this kit by clicking here

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