@@TotoDG The symbolism is there more than you think. Venus, as the last object to disappear before the sun rises and the first to appear after the sun suns goes with this engine symbolizing the end of steam and the British Empire.
^ It didn't "end" though. The UK still has enough Overseas Territories for the sun to never set on them all :P . (that; and the whole largest post-colonial union thing)
@@davidantoniocamposbarros7528 this was much before tornado evening star was in the last batch They had to name one loco in that Batch they named 92220 not the true last one
@@shanewalters4171 9Fs are banned from the National network due to the flangeless centre driving wheels. also 92220 hasn't been steamable since the 1980s
@@daverail01 Duchess of Hamilton also hasn't been steamed since the 80s yet there's plans to return her to working order. Also Evening Star can go to heritage railways so there's that
Interestingly enough, India's last mainline steam locomotive, WG 10560 had a similar name: Antim Sitara (The Final Star). It was also a high-performance goods locomotive and was also often used on passenger services
Watching this video makes me love the Thomas and Friends fan story "A Proper Day's Work - A tardisrescue Story!" all the more because it manages to touch on almost every point of Evening Star's overachieving. Definitely going to rewatch it right now!
She may have been earmarked for preservation from the moment she left Swindon (There are rumours that Swindon engineered delays in their final batch of black 9s to ensure theirs were the last ones) but she DID earn her place on the basis of historical significance, she was after all, the last steam loco built for BritishRailways.
Is rare to find a channel that produces quality videos without any unnecessary waffle. Too many channels churn out 15 minute videos because that is apparently what the algorithm wants, but only have a few minutes of actual useful content. This is a perfect example of producing videos that are short and get straight to the point, without endless rambling intros and contain just the right amount of detail.
@@the4tierbridge there aren't many cool videos that come my way about trains. At least informative videos. All of his videos are short and to the point.
When I see Evening Star in this video, all I think about is Murdoch. If the original Thomas and friends continued for a bit longer, I would’ve loved to see an episode where he returns much to the delight of the Sodor engines especially Harvey and Salty but brings along his friend Evening Star to whom he introduces everyone to.
@@timesnewlogan2032 yes I’ve heard about the story Thomas and the Great Railway Show. The 2016 special the Great Race could’ve had a moment where the camera pans to the National Railway Museum where the engines residing there heard about the Sodor Engines’s success at the Great Railway Show!
I saw her between Waterloo and Clapham Junction in the Summer of 1966 or 67, running light westbound. Quite a memorable sight for a kid to see from a Southern Region EMU Wokingham to Waterloo morning service!
@@TankEngine75 thank you. I figured it was a game I just didn't know what it stood for. Unfortunately I've never played the game. But yes, he always does use fitting music
it was very strange the 1st time i played tf2 about a year and a half ago. hearing all those sounds and seeing all the characters made me think the game stole a bunch of stuff, turns out they all originated there lmao.
This old school design was the last hurrah for Riddles and his team (incl. the draughtsmen Cox and Bond) and was an excellent, faultless performer. A brilliant design, comparable with the 2 cylinder DB Baureihe 50 and 52 designs, it does indeed deserve its place at York. I just wish she could be fired up again. Great vid, nice channel, appreciatively, Germany
Evening Star was built at Swindon Works and as well as the express passenger livery- which was essentially the old Great Western style, the locomotive was turned out with a copper capped chimney which was done on most Great Western designed engines- not least the express locos and this added to its allure. I can remember seeing the engine in steam at Paddington in 1981 along with Great Western engine Hinderton Hall but it is now a museum piece and not maintained in working order.
I rode behind a 9F only last week. I believe that there are currently three operational in the UK. They are surprisingly powerful for their size. One once managed to start a 2100 ton train.
I have a few good ideas for your videos 1: Snow ploughs 2: Crow catchers 3: The Taylyan railway 4: Motor vehicles that also run on railways 5: The Corpse train which could be a good one for Halloween 6: Trains used during the first and second world wars 7: Steam tram engines which Toby was based on and 8: Train robbery incidents
It’s an absolute beauty if you get to see it. I was lucky enough to take my kids onto the footplate when it was in Swindon, and to be hauled to Old Oak common by it probably around 1980.
This class of engine excelled at pulling long heavy passenger trains over slower routes. Birmingham to Bournemouth was such a route where specials on Saturdays during the peak holiday season would see them used. They could accelerate quickly and pull up the stiffer gradients easily. A true workhorse in the final years of steam.
I had the privilege of riding behind, and cabbing, Evening Star on the Zoom Express from Cardiff to Swindon after a successful entry in a Lyons Maid ice lolly competition (it was a very, very long time ago). The trip included packed lunches and a visit to Swindon Works. I saw it a few years later at Pontypool Road in a sorry state after being damaged in collision. It is a beautiful loco and a credit to the designers and builders.
The 9Fs are one of my favorite British Steam Locomotives and Evening Star shows many examples why. I can't be for sure, but three railway men who worked in the Western Region of BR entered the same name in a contest which was Evening Star. I think this idea came from GWR 4000 Class No. 4002 Evening Star which was withdrawn in 1933 and some of the BR Standard Class 7s also carried some of the names of the 4000 Class. She was also the 999th BR Standard Engine built and seeing how she has been classed as a 9F. Evening Star is a great girl!
BR could have chosen any locomotive from their roster to be the last one built and to be preserved. They chose a 9F. And given what it did in service, is it any wonder why?
Very interesting video. Who knew that a freight engine could be so well in passenger service. Pretty lucky for an engine to be guaranteed for preservation the day it was built, even if it only served for 5 years.
Just because an engine wasn't designed for a certain job doesn't mean that it can't do a certain job. Take a look at the N&W J's, for example. They were relegated to freight service in their final years of operation, and they handled those trains with no problem.
It wouldn't be the first time a freight engine was capable on passenger trains. The Caledonian 812 class engines were built for fast goods, but did it so well they used them on boat trains as well. The Great Central J11 class were another 0-6-0 goods engine, and they apparently could keep to time on *express* *trains.* And don't forget the LSWR/SR S15 class.
It's a little disappointing that a similar instance didn't occur in US. The last steam locomotive built for a class 1 railroad in the United States was a Norfolk & Western S-1a class 0-8-0 switcher number 244. It was completed and delivered in December of 1953. I wish the US saw the value of preserving this specific engine for its historical significance like the UK did for theirs. Granted it wasn't very significant being a simple switcher but regardless, it would have been nice to still have it. Great and informative video as always.
I hear you there. The PRR T1 is a perfect example of something that should've been preserved. ...although that said, the T1 Trust _is_ looking to put things right.
There were only 251 of these locomotives built Evening Star is made to sound like the only one built. Although built for heavy freight it was soon found they could handle a fast express but the railway inspectorate became alarmed at the speed of them. At 90mph with their small wheels they worked out it was equal to a large wheel loco running at 125 mph and the forces on the rods to be close to the limit of the cranks breaking. To think Mallard ran at 126 mph once and melted the centre crank bearing and these equalled that performance many times before they were restricted just goes to show what a great loco they were. Evening Star was always marked for our national collection being officially the last locomotive built but still earned her keep just like the rest of them hauling dirty freight wagons and left uncleaned, when the time came to end steam Evening Star was taken into store and was not the last ever steam locomotive to run Part of that honour went to the class of locomotive she outshone the Britannia.
Imagine taking a 9f and putting big wheels on it and getting it classified for mainline steam these days , it would run comfortably with current rolling stock
@@colinhoward74 They are banned from running on the main line now because of the middle axle having no flange on the wheels. If they could run they would still be able haul a fast express easily
Our little group of young trainspotters first saw a 9F coming down through Parkstone on the Pines Express one summer morning in the early 60's. We were used to Merchant Navy and West Country class express locos but were gobsmacked at the size and powerful looks of the 9F. Cabbed Evening Star at Bournemouth West on the last Pines Express and again at Bold Colliery sidings at the Rainhill 150 'trials' in 1979. In one of Peter Smith's books on the Somerset & Dorset he recorded how a French steam locomotive expert went on some runs on a 9F and was truly amazed at it's capability. On one run he calculated the output at 2,000HP at the drawbar, I seem to recall. A magnificent locomotive and class of loco, well worthy of a place at the NRM.
'We were used to Merchant Navy and West Country class express locos but were gobsmacked at the size and powerful looks of the 9F' weird given that a Merchant Navy is larger than a 9f; -9f=66 feet long including tender/88 tons-loco only. -MN= 70 feet long including tender/94 tons-loco only.
It's cool seeing this video cause I have a Hornby model of Evening Star and I didn't know that it did that well while it was in service. Thank you for this and I can't wait to see what you cover next
I was given a Hornby Evening Star model for Christmas many years ago. Does yours have the motor and drive in the tender? It picked up electricity from the wheels under the boiler and had rubber inserts on the tender drive wheels so it wouldn't slip. It sure could pull!
She was stationed at Cardiff Canton whilst I was there. It's a pity 9Fs are banned from the mainline because of the unflanged drive wheel damaging the Check Rail on points.
@@22pcirish I never heard of that happening. 251 of them ran quite safely over a period of many years. The unflanged centre driver was made to prevent the long wheelbase from derailing. They were not the only class to have flangeless centre drivers.
The8224sm. Unless they have changed the dimensions (and I suspect they did because of expected higher speeds that never really materialised) I always thought the blind centre driver myth was exactly that - aka bo11ocks. And even if it were true, I suspect a little ingenuity could entirely eliminate the problem. If the downward vertical movement was limited to a millimetre or so below the nominal rail crown, but all the upward vertical was allowed to make the engine ride properly, then what would the issue be? I always liked the 9F, even though they didn't really show up on the Southern where I live - I can't be certain I ever saw one until I saw 92240 at the Bluebell. Nevertheless, they were fabulous locos and I never understood why the whole class were not mechanically stoked? Surely an engine that powerful must be at the very limit of what a human fireman can sustain? Talking of power, I was in a TH-cam discussion about raw power around the time #4014 UP Big Boy was completed and back in steam. Of course, not unreasonably, #4014 is not only the largest steam loco ever built, but probably the most powerful.......depending on how you measure it. During the discussion, I did some back of the envelope calculations and discovered that not only has 71000 Duke of Gloucester actually proven it has a better power to weight ratio than #4014, but your 'average 9F has too! Given that the 4-8-8-4 is nearly two feet wider than either 71000 or 92240 (or any 9F) it is over a yard higher and weighs (I think) almost 560 long tons (with tender,) Three and a half times heavier than 'The Duke' and almost four times heavier than a 9F! Yes, a 9F is lighter than the Duke at about 142 tons vs 152 tons! I can't remember all the power numbers but using published drawbar figures and 71000's insane charge up Shap the last time she was out, I think it works out that Big Boy develops about 242bhp/ long ton ( yes, I know, we don't reckon steam locos like that, but the Americans do!) and 71000 and a 9F about 244bhp/long ton. They both have a tractive effort about the same - 39,000ft/lbs - with Big Boy about 139,000. Remember though; Big Boy is a four cylinder engine, 71000 is a three cylinder engine, while yer bog standard, common as muck 9F has only two.
@@rogerwhittle2078, while I doubt that you get better HP/ton out of a 9F than a 4000, I will agree that the 9F's represent the absolute best of British heavy freight development
Evening Star and the 9Fs are some of my favourite steam locos. It should now be obvious why my profile picture is of Evening Star on the Great Central Railway.
@@davidantoniocamposbarros7528 What has that got to do with seeing Evening Star speeding along past Express trains? I didn't realise such trains exist on Heritage Railways. As far as i am aware, everything does 25mph.
Shame Network Rail wont clear 9F for running on some limited routes , its high check rails thats main problem I think 9F's did have poor RA when they ran on BR . My dad fired and later drove 9F's said they were very smooth running at speed Here is good 9F video working hard hauling 1000 ton th-cam.com/video/rDapZQpJk7Q/w-d-xo.html
In the 1950’s &60’s I lived on the Midland mainline at Luton. We saw many 9F’s (including the somewhat pointless Crosti’s) mostly on mineral trains ,sometimes fitted, but in the summer months they were frequently seen on express passenger trains. However, come the dieselisation programme & the infamous Metrovick’s on the Manchester trains ,if an up train was late due to loco. failure (quite frequent) the favourite replacement was a 9F barrel ing along at high speed to make up time. I heard that one on the East Coast mainline was recorded at 96 mpnodoubt deputising for a failed Deltic.
Thats right, we won't bother to mention going over 90mph with little five foot diameter wheels.. Plus the 9f holds the record for the heaviest steam hauled train in Britain
Many 9F locos worked passenger services, especially during summer peak periods, when passenger locos were in short supply. The Somerset & Dorset line probably saw most 9F passenger workings.
I remember being at the York Museum with friends, and I mentioned that the evening star was the last built steam loco, until my friends scolded me and pointed out the Peppercorn Class Tornado.
The 9F certainly deserved and earned a place at York. Robin Riddles master piece was designed for heavy freight duty but was so successful in operation that the 9F could be seen on almost any duty. Capable of speeds over 90MPH many 9F's achieved this speed but when the engineers closely examined the data it was discovered that at 90MPH the piston and rotational speeds were equal to those displayed by Mallard on her record breaking run of 126MPH. For safety reasons these high speeds by the 9F were immediately halted. It is interesting to note that any one of the 250 9F's could achieve 90 MPH on any given day yet Mallard only achieved her record speed once. When steam ended in the UK Riddles was preparing plans for a large driver 4-8-2 passenger version of the 9F. One can only speculate as to how this locomotive would have performed.
@@davidantoniocamposbarros7528 I have a book detailing all the British pacific locomotives. This book contains a single page forward written by Robin Riddles in which he mentions the 4-8-2. This is the only reference I have seen regarding this locomotive.
For the Thomas fans out there (myself included) Murdoch was a BR 9F as well of course some may have already picked that up but I thought it would be fun to mention for people who may have not known.
Kind of reminds me of Canadian Pacific’s 2-6-2 G5 Class locomotives which were the last series of steam locomotives produced by the Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW) for CP. Mind you, 1201, the only one saved, only happen because the men that had built her didn’t want to scrap it and in 1966 she was officially saved and brought in to the Canadian Museum of Science and Technology where in 1980 would pull a train hauling Queen Elizabeth.
Story of this locomotive reminds me of Czechoslovak class 475.1. It was designed to pull heavy pasenger trains, but when the diesel engines were taking over the rails, this class showed that they were pretty much capable of serving on any type of train.
I think the BR 9F class is one of the most interesting steam locomotives ever made, because 10-driver locos tended to be hard on the track at speed: 2-10-0, 2-10-2, and even 2-10-4, e.g., on the Chesapeake & Ohio T-1 and Pennsylvania J-1 were all limited to about 30-50 MPH. "Evening Star" showed that, by the 1950s, the problem of counter-balancing piston rod force had been solved.
The German "Molli" also never retired, afaik :) Just names of the railroad changed due to history happening, but some locomotives are still in service today, with a regular schedule that is even listed in the app of the German railroad (Deutsche Bahn), going between Bad Doberan and Heiligendamm.
Oh and a couple (15-20?) of years ago, they even built(!) a new steam locomotive for that line from scratch, almost entirely accurate to the original blueprints, just making some adjustments for modern materials, production methods and safety.
This was great! Could you please do a video on the steam train that helped a passenger train out so that the passengers wouldn’t be late? (I don’t remember the article that well, but I think it was from 2009)
There is one story in the US... UP844 returning from an excursion following a freight train. Said freight train ran out of power(one of the locomotive went bad) on an incline stopping everyone on the line. The 2nd freight train following 844 also showed up close to them. It was a true traffic jam. As the management tries to find a solution, a call from 844 crew came up. They could push the stuck train and providing brief power unto a siding. As the crew discuss it on the line, the team preps the 844 for pushing. They got the green and coupled the old steamer to the back of the freight. It was giving ample amount of power as it keeps wheel slipping while pushing the freight train up and on to the siding.
@@0_peach_0 if you’re a fan of ttte and this you should type “evening star character gallery” it’s going into her history and she could have felt throughout that time period .It’s a Thomas podcast for obscure characters.Have fun !
I think the average young Britain would be shocked when looking at this Steam Engine , the fact that once they were a people that were capable of manufacturing anything on that level of engineering.
Hey! Nice vid! May I suggest a topic for a vid gor halloween? Why don't you try doing a vid about Fowler's Ghost? Or maybe Sir Ralph Wedgewood, which was formerly called Gadwall. Another good topic could be LADAS. Anyways, keep up the good content. Thanks for the vids.
Sorry, but it deserves to be there just for being a 9F. It could also be argued that the class represented the pinnacle of British mainline steam locomotive development.
I worked on the railway all my working life . I can remember when The Evening Star was being built at Swindon ? It's stack was different then, later being altered . When they were testing it on rollers . I do not know what they were doing . Maybe to do with the steam ports timing ? It was notorious for bad braking when it first entering service . I can remember on one occasion, it was pulling a very long rake of loaded wagons . Which would normally require a banker . Up a very steep incline and not being able to stop at a signal at the top of the bank . Of course in those days due to no harm being done nothing was said about it . But of course if this had happened say in the 80's , we would have been filling in reports and forms for weeks afterwards .
I always wondered why some locomotives have the cylinders mounted at an angle in stead of horizontal like you see on most engines. Does this improve performance in any way?
Interesting to hear that it was often ahead of time, today we hear of so many delays with modern trains, doesn't say much for modern technology dose it.
is their a Thomas & Friends youtuber who got Evening Star to visit sodor. i wonder how long Murdoch from Thomas & Friends worked before withdrawn and how long until he was bought by the fat controller in the early 2000s
I heard that she was not the last one built, but she was presented as the last one, and cosmetically improved for preservation, hence the green livery. I think one more followed her.
I was about 14 yrs old at Swindon station when I saw a filthy uncared for locomotive pulling a massive goods train towards the station, I was horrified as it became closer and I could read its number 92220, Evening Star. I was heartbroken. And that is when I realised the days of steam were really over and the last time I ever went train spotting :-(
Doing other engines' jobs better than the engines explicitly designed for them -- I'd say this locomotive earned its place in the museum.
Makes me wonder what would’ve happened if other railroads invested more money into the Decapod type.
It’s actually quite apt that it was early so often, considering it was named after the first star that appears in the night sky,
…Which isn’t a star at all; it’s Venus.
@@Daniel_Huffman.
I forgot about that. My apologies.
@@TotoDG The symbolism is there more than you think. Venus, as the last object to disappear before the sun rises and the first to appear after the sun suns goes with this engine symbolizing the end of steam and the British Empire.
@@Daniel_Huffman the British Empire ended in 1997 tho ._.
^ It didn't "end" though. The UK still has enough Overseas Territories for the sun to never set on them all :P .
(that; and the whole largest post-colonial union thing)
I guess being the very last British Steam Locomotive is grounds for being historically significant...
*last British Main Line steam locomotive
It wasn’t the last built it was one of the last batch
@@privatejoker5403 it was till Tornado was completed
@@davidantoniocamposbarros7528 no
@@davidantoniocamposbarros7528 this was much before tornado evening star was in the last batch They had to name one loco in that Batch they named 92220 not the true last one
Even though her working life was a short one, I think Evening Star did earn her place at the NRM.
Hey, on the bright side, at least she's still in serviceable condition as mentioned in the video, they could run her again at anytime
@@shanewalters4171 9Fs are banned from the National network due to the flangeless centre driving wheels. also 92220 hasn't been steamable since the 1980s
@@daverail01 Duchess of Hamilton also hasn't been steamed since the 80s yet there's plans to return her to working order. Also Evening Star can go to heritage railways so there's that
@@shanewalters4171 why she and not he?
@@TanVasinTrains all vehicles/ aircraft/vessels/locomotives are female unless specifically said otherwise. Like if it has a boy's name.
Interestingly enough, India's last mainline steam locomotive, WG 10560 had a similar name: Antim Sitara (The Final Star). It was also a high-performance goods locomotive and was also often used on passenger services
Nobody asked, nor care about your low quality Indian trains
@@raphaelsmithwick4363 wow
Interesting. Thank you for sharing!
Nice information :)
What happened to it?
That moment when a freight locomotive does a better job of handling express trains than the express locomotive dedicated for that job
Britannia-class 7P: I am embarassment
" imma pull my express train now"
"Dam,9F is better then me"
When Henry pulls the express better than Gordon.
@@davidantoniocamposbarros7528”ohhh the indignity…” said Gordon.
Watching this video makes me love the Thomas and Friends fan story "A Proper Day's Work - A tardisrescue Story!" all the more because it manages to touch on almost every point of Evening Star's overachieving. Definitely going to rewatch it right now!
She may have been earmarked for preservation from the moment she left Swindon (There are rumours that Swindon engineered delays in their final batch of black 9s to ensure theirs were the last ones) but she DID earn her place on the basis of historical significance, she was after all, the last steam loco built for BritishRailways.
The 9f's didn't live long but they sure made a name for themselves.
...and not one of them was built in order to be preserved.
Sir, the fact that you have not one bad video in your collection on this channel shows that you are a legend in the making! Keep up the great work!
The "Igor" one was meh.
Is rare to find a channel that produces quality videos without any unnecessary waffle. Too many channels churn out 15 minute videos because that is apparently what the algorithm wants, but only have a few minutes of actual useful content. This is a perfect example of producing videos that are short and get straight to the point, without endless rambling intros and contain just the right amount of detail.
@@the4tierbridge there aren't many cool videos that come my way about trains. At least informative videos. All of his videos are short and to the point.
@@411RangerFan The Igor one not only got several things wrong, it’s ignorant.
@@the4tierbridge so what did it get wrong and how did it come off as ignorant?
The 9fs are the most beautiful, powerful and graceful locomotives that BR ever made. Every single one is stunning.
When I see Evening Star in this video, all I think about is Murdoch.
If the original Thomas and friends continued for a bit longer, I would’ve loved to see an episode where he returns much to the delight of the Sodor engines especially Harvey and Salty but brings along his friend Evening Star to whom he introduces everyone to.
Thomas actually visits the museum in one of Christopher Awdry's books, so Evening Star might have made an appearance. I know Mallard did, at least.
@@timesnewlogan2032 yes I’ve heard about the story Thomas and the Great Railway Show.
The 2016 special the Great Race could’ve had a moment where the camera pans to the National Railway Museum where the engines residing there heard about the Sodor Engines’s success at the Great Railway Show!
This channel is fantastic. Well done and keep it up from the USA!
I saw her between Waterloo and Clapham Junction in the Summer of 1966 or 67, running light westbound. Quite a memorable sight for a kid to see from a Southern Region EMU Wokingham to Waterloo morning service!
I started laughing when I heard the Upgrade Station music from TF2, you sir, have great taste in music!
TF2?
@@411RangerFan Team Fortress 2,it's a video game
@@TankEngine75 thank you. I figured it was a game I just didn't know what it stood for. Unfortunately I've never played the game. But yes, he always does use fitting music
@@411RangerFan Your welcome
it was very strange the 1st time i played tf2 about a year and a half ago. hearing all those sounds and seeing all the characters made me think the game stole a bunch of stuff, turns out they all originated there lmao.
This old school design was the last hurrah for Riddles and his team (incl. the draughtsmen Cox and Bond) and was an excellent, faultless performer. A brilliant design, comparable with the 2 cylinder DB Baureihe 50 and 52 designs, it does indeed deserve its place at York. I just wish she could be fired up again. Great vid, nice channel, appreciatively, Germany
You almost get the feeling that Evening Star knew she was destined for the museum, and did her very best to earn her spot there.
Evening Star was built at Swindon Works and as well as the express passenger livery- which was essentially the old Great Western style, the locomotive was turned out with a copper capped chimney which was done on most Great Western designed engines- not least the express locos and this added to its allure. I can remember seeing the engine in steam at Paddington in 1981 along with Great Western engine Hinderton Hall but it is now a museum piece and not maintained in working order.
I rode behind a 9F only last week. I believe that there are currently three operational in the UK. They are surprisingly powerful for their size. One once managed to start a 2100 ton train.
Glad Murdoch finally had his peace and quiet after many years of service
This my Dad's absolute favourite steamy!!! Thanks for making a video on it!
The 9f has to be one of the most beautiful designs
I have a few good ideas for your videos
1: Snow ploughs
2: Crow catchers
3: The Taylyan railway
4: Motor vehicles that also run on railways
5: The Corpse train which could be a good one for Halloween
6: Trains used during the first and second world wars
7: Steam tram engines which Toby was based on
and 8: Train robbery incidents
Those are great suggestions 👏🏼👍🏼
@@k-bot2.047 Thanks
How about Abraham Lincoln's Funeral Train? Halloween is approaching and American legend says Abe Lincoln's Funeral Train won't stay dead...
@@lukechristmas3951 Ghost stories I find interesting too.
A very interesting list!!! I would watch all of these eagerly!
It’s an absolute beauty if you get to see it. I was lucky enough to take my kids onto the footplate when it was in Swindon, and to be hauled to Old Oak common by it probably around 1980.
This class of engine excelled at pulling long heavy passenger trains over slower routes. Birmingham to Bournemouth was such a route where specials on Saturdays during the peak holiday season would see them used. They could accelerate quickly and pull up the stiffer gradients easily. A true workhorse in the final years of steam.
I had the privilege of riding behind, and cabbing, Evening Star on the Zoom Express from Cardiff to Swindon after a successful entry in a Lyons Maid ice lolly competition (it was a very, very long time ago). The trip included packed lunches and a visit to Swindon Works.
I saw it a few years later at Pontypool Road in a sorry state after being damaged in collision.
It is a beautiful loco and a credit to the designers and builders.
Now Murdoch will finally have his peace and quiet
@@medenicaribovski9089 lol
@@medenicaribovski9089 then there was trouble 😂
The 9Fs are one of my favorite British Steam Locomotives and Evening Star shows many examples why. I can't be for sure, but three railway men who worked in the Western Region of BR entered the same name in a contest which was Evening Star. I think this idea came from GWR 4000 Class No. 4002 Evening Star which was withdrawn in 1933 and some of the BR Standard Class 7s also carried some of the names of the 4000 Class. She was also the 999th BR Standard Engine built and seeing how she has been classed as a 9F. Evening Star is a great girl!
Superb engine, highly efficient and beautiful.
BR could have chosen any locomotive from their roster to be the last one built and to be preserved. They chose a 9F. And given what it did in service, is it any wonder why?
Very interesting video. Who knew that a freight engine could be so well in passenger service. Pretty lucky for an engine to be guaranteed for preservation the day it was built, even if it only served for 5 years.
Just because an engine wasn't designed for a certain job doesn't mean that it can't do a certain job. Take a look at the N&W J's, for example. They were relegated to freight service in their final years of operation, and they handled those trains with no problem.
It wouldn't be the first time a freight engine was capable on passenger trains. The Caledonian 812 class engines were built for fast goods, but did it so well they used them on boat trains as well. The Great Central J11 class were another 0-6-0 goods engine, and they apparently could keep to time on *express* *trains.*
And don't forget the LSWR/SR S15 class.
It's a little disappointing that a similar instance didn't occur in US. The last steam locomotive built for a class 1 railroad in the United States was a Norfolk & Western S-1a class 0-8-0 switcher number 244. It was completed and delivered in December of 1953. I wish the US saw the value of preserving this specific engine for its historical significance like the UK did for theirs. Granted it wasn't very significant being a simple switcher but regardless, it would have been nice to still have it. Great and informative video as always.
I hear you there. The PRR T1 is a perfect example of something that should've been preserved.
...although that said, the T1 Trust _is_ looking to put things right.
@@Dat-Mudkip also the NYC Hudsons
There were only 251 of these locomotives built Evening Star is made to sound like the only one built. Although built for heavy freight it was soon found they could handle a fast express but the railway inspectorate became alarmed at the speed of them. At 90mph with their small wheels they worked out it was equal to a large wheel loco running at 125 mph and the forces on the rods to be close to the limit of the cranks breaking. To think Mallard ran at 126 mph once and melted the centre crank bearing and these equalled that performance many times before they were restricted just goes to show what a great loco they were. Evening Star was always marked for our national collection being officially the last locomotive built but still earned her keep just like the rest of them hauling dirty freight wagons and left uncleaned, when the time came to end steam Evening Star was taken into store and was not the last ever steam locomotive to run Part of that honour went to the class of locomotive she outshone the Britannia.
I like your physics explanation and comparison. Gives me even more respect for the 9F's design.
@@althejazzman Thank you. They really deserved a longer time in service the early diesels could not match them.
Imagine taking a 9f and putting big wheels on it and getting it classified for mainline steam these days , it would run comfortably with current rolling stock
@@colinhoward74 They are banned from running on the main line now because of the middle axle having no flange on the wheels. If they could run they would still be able haul a fast express easily
9Fs are such lookers!
As much as I love to talk about trains, I must say good job using the tf2 unused nvm music. I did not expect that to be paired with trains!
Our little group of young trainspotters first saw a 9F coming down through Parkstone on the Pines Express one summer morning in the early 60's. We were used to Merchant Navy and West Country class express locos but were gobsmacked at the size and powerful looks of the 9F.
Cabbed Evening Star at Bournemouth West on the last Pines Express and again at Bold Colliery sidings at the Rainhill 150 'trials' in 1979.
In one of Peter Smith's books on the Somerset & Dorset he recorded how a French steam locomotive expert went on some runs on a 9F and was truly amazed at it's capability. On one run he calculated the output at 2,000HP at the drawbar, I seem to recall.
A magnificent locomotive and class of loco, well worthy of a place at the NRM.
'We were used to Merchant Navy and West Country class express locos but were gobsmacked at the size and powerful looks of the 9F'
weird given that a Merchant Navy is larger than a 9f;
-9f=66 feet long including tender/88 tons-loco only.
-MN= 70 feet long including tender/94 tons-loco only.
It pulled the last pines express on the Somerset and Dorset. Other 9f locomotives were used there.
It's cool seeing this video cause I have a Hornby model of Evening Star and I didn't know that it did that well while it was in service. Thank you for this and I can't wait to see what you cover next
I was given a Hornby Evening Star model for Christmas many years ago. Does yours have the motor and drive in the tender? It picked up electricity from the wheels under the boiler and had rubber inserts on the tender drive wheels so it wouldn't slip. It sure could pull!
@@countOfHenneberg yeah, that’s what version I have
She was stationed at Cardiff Canton whilst I was there. It's a pity 9Fs are banned from the mainline because of the unflanged drive wheel damaging the Check Rail on points.
They won’t just damage check rails, they’ll lift it clean off the track!
@@22pcirish I never heard of that happening. 251 of them ran quite safely over a period of many years. The unflanged centre driver was made to prevent the long wheelbase from derailing. They were not the only class to have flangeless centre drivers.
The8224sm. Unless they have changed the dimensions (and I suspect they did because of expected higher speeds that never really materialised) I always thought the blind centre driver myth was exactly that - aka bo11ocks. And even if it were true, I suspect a little ingenuity could entirely eliminate the problem. If the downward vertical movement was limited to a millimetre or so below the nominal rail crown, but all the upward vertical was allowed to make the engine ride properly, then what would the issue be?
I always liked the 9F, even though they didn't really show up on the Southern where I live - I can't be certain I ever saw one until I saw 92240 at the Bluebell. Nevertheless, they were fabulous locos and I never understood why the whole class were not mechanically stoked? Surely an engine that powerful must be at the very limit of what a human fireman can sustain?
Talking of power, I was in a TH-cam discussion about raw power around the time #4014 UP Big Boy was completed and back in steam. Of course, not unreasonably, #4014 is not only the largest steam loco ever built, but probably the most powerful.......depending on how you measure it. During the discussion, I did some back of the envelope calculations and discovered that not only has 71000 Duke of Gloucester actually proven it has a better power to weight ratio than #4014, but your 'average 9F has too! Given that the 4-8-8-4 is nearly two feet wider than either 71000 or 92240 (or any 9F) it is over a yard higher and weighs (I think) almost 560 long tons (with tender,) Three and a half times heavier than 'The Duke' and almost four times heavier than a 9F!
Yes, a 9F is lighter than the Duke at about 142 tons vs 152 tons! I can't remember all the power numbers but using published drawbar figures and 71000's insane charge up Shap the last time she was out, I think it works out that Big Boy develops about 242bhp/ long ton ( yes, I know, we don't reckon steam locos like that, but the Americans do!) and 71000 and a 9F about 244bhp/long ton. They both have a tractive effort about the same - 39,000ft/lbs - with Big Boy about 139,000. Remember though; Big Boy is a four cylinder engine, 71000 is a three cylinder engine, while yer bog standard, common as muck 9F has only two.
@@rogerwhittle2078, while I doubt that you get better HP/ton out of a 9F than a 4000, I will agree that the 9F's represent the absolute best of British heavy freight development
@@rogerwhittle2078 good write - up / Its a GREAT Pity that 9 F 's are banned off the U.K Main line
One of my personal favorite engines
> Last steam loco built by BR
>Worked for short time
>Refuses to elaborate
>Stays
Evening Star and the 9Fs are some of my favourite steam locos. It should now be obvious why my profile picture is of Evening Star on the Great Central Railway.
it's ok to pause between sentences...let the story breathe (and they ARE good little stories you have going on)
Lol check out the channel good back flicks, you aren’t gonna like it 😂🤣🤪
what i wouldnt do to see this beauty speeding along past the express trains to show her superiority
Same
Never to be seen running on mainline British railways again
@@p.istaker8862 heritage railways exist so
@@davidantoniocamposbarros7528 What has that got to do with seeing Evening Star speeding along past Express trains? I didn't realise such trains exist on Heritage Railways. As far as i am aware, everything does 25mph.
Shame Network Rail wont clear 9F for running on some limited routes , its high check rails thats main problem I think 9F's did have poor RA when they ran on BR . My dad fired and later drove 9F's said they were very smooth running at speed
Here is good 9F video working hard hauling 1000 ton th-cam.com/video/rDapZQpJk7Q/w-d-xo.html
In the 1950’s &60’s I lived on the Midland mainline at Luton. We saw many 9F’s (including the somewhat pointless Crosti’s) mostly on mineral trains ,sometimes fitted, but in the summer months they were frequently seen on express passenger trains. However, come the dieselisation programme & the infamous Metrovick’s on the Manchester trains ,if an up train was late due to loco. failure (quite frequent) the favourite replacement was a 9F barrel ing along at high speed to make up time. I heard that one on the East Coast mainline was recorded at 96 mpnodoubt deputising for a failed Deltic.
Flying Scotsman: I went over 100 mph.
Stephenson's rocket: I have historical significance.
Evening Star: I got a participation trophy.
Thats right, we won't bother to mention going over 90mph with little five foot diameter wheels.. Plus the 9f holds the record for the heaviest steam hauled train in Britain
@@p.istaker8862 I was just joking.
@@brenlc1412 So was I ( i am not an Anorak - `honestly)
@@p.istaker8862 Sorry I didn't understand.
Many 9F locos worked passenger services, especially during summer peak periods, when passenger locos were in short supply.
The Somerset & Dorset line probably saw most 9F passenger workings.
I remember being at the York Museum with friends, and I mentioned that the evening star was the last built steam loco, until my friends scolded me and pointed out the Peppercorn Class Tornado.
ive been to this museum and all i can say its amazing
The 9F certainly deserved and earned a place at York. Robin Riddles master piece was designed for heavy freight duty but was so successful in operation that the 9F could be seen on almost any duty. Capable of speeds over 90MPH many 9F's achieved this speed but when the engineers closely examined the data it was discovered that at 90MPH the piston and rotational speeds were equal to those displayed by Mallard on her record breaking run of 126MPH. For safety reasons these high speeds by the 9F were immediately halted. It is interesting to note that any one of the 250 9F's could achieve 90 MPH on any given day yet Mallard only achieved her record speed once. When steam ended in the UK Riddles was preparing plans for a large driver 4-8-2 passenger version of the 9F. One can only speculate as to how this locomotive would have performed.
"Larger driver 4-8-2 passenger version of the 9F"
How do you know this
@@davidantoniocamposbarros7528 I have a book detailing all the British pacific locomotives. This book contains a single page forward written by Robin Riddles in which he mentions the 4-8-2. This is the only reference I have seen regarding this locomotive.
@@denisxx61 ah,i see
Love the weathering on the opening shot and outside shots
For the Thomas fans out there (myself included) Murdoch was a BR 9F as well of course some may have already picked that up but I thought it would be fun to mention for people who may have not known.
Evening Star is the last steam locomotive built by British Railway it was built in March 1960
Saw many 9Fs , including Evening Star which turned up light engine at Nottingham Victoria one afternoon.
Kind of reminds me of Canadian Pacific’s 2-6-2 G5 Class locomotives which were the last series of steam locomotives produced by the Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW) for CP. Mind you, 1201, the only one saved, only happen because the men that had built her didn’t want to scrap it and in 1966 she was officially saved and brought in to the Canadian Museum of Science and Technology where in 1980 would pull a train hauling Queen Elizabeth.
I feel like “the last engine to be built by British Rail” is a notable reason to preserve it too.
The BR9F is an amazing loco, the BR9F is the pinnacle of British steam design
Story of this locomotive reminds me of Czechoslovak class 475.1. It was designed to pull heavy pasenger trains, but when the diesel engines were taking over the rails, this class showed that they were pretty much capable of serving on any type of train.
I think the BR 9F class is one of the most interesting steam locomotives ever made, because 10-driver locos tended to be hard on the track at speed: 2-10-0, 2-10-2, and even 2-10-4, e.g., on the Chesapeake & Ohio T-1 and Pennsylvania J-1 were all limited to about 30-50 MPH. "Evening Star" showed that, by the 1950s, the problem of counter-balancing piston rod force had been solved.
Could you do a video on Union Pacific 844, the only steam locomotive to never have been retired from the railroad that purchased it?
The German "Molli" also never retired, afaik :) Just names of the railroad changed due to history happening, but some locomotives are still in service today, with a regular schedule that is even listed in the app of the German railroad (Deutsche Bahn), going between Bad Doberan and Heiligendamm.
Oh and a couple (15-20?) of years ago, they even built(!) a new steam locomotive for that line from scratch, almost entirely accurate to the original blueprints, just making some adjustments for modern materials, production methods and safety.
You mean the only American steam locomotive.
It pulled my school train from Westbury to Bradford on Avon regularly around ‘64’/65. (Salisbury to Temple Meads line).
An excellent video. 💙 T.E.N.
Fun fact: Evening star had a bit of an accident and her running board got damaged, that's the reason why she gets overhauled in the first place.
This was great! Could you please do a video on the steam train that helped a passenger train out so that the passengers wouldn’t be late? (I don’t remember the article that well, but I think it was from 2009)
There is one story in the US... UP844 returning from an excursion following a freight train. Said freight train ran out of power(one of the locomotive went bad) on an incline stopping everyone on the line. The 2nd freight train following 844 also showed up close to them. It was a true traffic jam. As the management tries to find a solution, a call from 844 crew came up. They could push the stuck train and providing brief power unto a siding. As the crew discuss it on the line, the team preps the 844 for pushing. They got the green and coupled the old steamer to the back of the freight. It was giving ample amount of power as it keeps wheel slipping while pushing the freight train up and on to the siding.
Is that...
The Upgrade Station theme from TF2?
it's such a great tune, really noticeable when you hear it somewhere
No shit Sherlock
@@TankEngine75 it was an question with an obvious answer: yes.
can you please not say stuff like this
@@stationmasterkuma well yeah I was having a shitty day,sorry man
I’ve always loved evening star, she’s got a sort of gentle giant to her
I clearly remember watching her unveiling on BBC News. March, 1960.
I could be wrong but isn't that close to the basis of Murdoch from thomas and friends?
That IS Murdoch
No you're right the 9F was Murdochs exact basis.
@@xprojectsa3627 oh I'm glad...thank you
@@0_peach_0 if you’re a fan of ttte and this you should type “evening star character gallery” it’s going into her history and she could have felt throughout that time period .It’s a Thomas podcast for obscure characters.Have fun !
@@tanjoy0205 oh...that does sound interesting...I will check it out...thanks alot😁
Well the "Evening Star" does hold some value being the last ever Steam Locomotive built in the UK.
It's definitely not the last ever steam loco built in Britain. Just the last steam loco built by BR
I just love the 9f
Same here, why do you think Evening Star’s in my profile picture?
Five years is a very short life for a 20th century steam loco. The good news being she survived. Very good news.
9F’s are the best BR standard loco
*change my mind*
No,no. You just stated a fact
Many of the 9Fs did sterling work - not just Evening Star. I saw it once on the viaduct in Worcester, some time after the end of steam haulage on BR.
This Is Amazing The Trains Look Beautiful I Like Them
I think the average young Britain would be shocked when looking at this Steam Engine , the fact that once they were a people that were capable of manufacturing anything on that level of engineering.
First...last...whatever......THIS is a beautiful and impressive steam locomotive by all rights.
Evening Star is also the name of an early train simulator, I think. I've still got it on Datasette for the Commodore 64.
Yes
Telenguard ruled!
i remember this loco down in Didcot in the80s and my dog sat on the buffer beam, a great day out at the didcot centre
I seem to remember riding behind her when I was a kid on a preserved line in Yorkshire
I have travelled with 92212 on a railway, great haulage
Hey! Nice vid! May I suggest a topic for a vid gor halloween? Why don't you try doing a vid about Fowler's Ghost? Or maybe Sir Ralph Wedgewood, which was formerly called Gadwall. Another good topic could be LADAS. Anyways, keep up the good content. Thanks for the vids.
Sorry, but it deserves to be there just for being a 9F. It could also be argued that the class represented the pinnacle of British mainline steam locomotive development.
Considering they're perfomance,yeah it's a fair statement
This locomotive was actually built in my town, I'm kinda proud.. lol
I worked on the railway all my working life . I can remember when The Evening Star was being built at Swindon ? It's stack was different then, later being altered . When they were testing it on rollers . I do not know what they were doing . Maybe to do with the steam ports timing ? It was notorious for bad braking when it first entering service . I can remember on one occasion, it was pulling a very long rake of loaded wagons . Which would normally require a banker . Up a very steep incline and not being able to stop at a signal at the top of the bank . Of course in those days due to no harm being done nothing was said about it . But of course if this had happened say in the 80's , we would have been filling in reports and forms for weeks afterwards .
fantastic videos
I always wondered why some locomotives have the cylinders mounted at an angle in stead of horizontal like you see on most engines. Does this improve performance in any way?
All locomotives at NRM: "What have you done to earn your place in this museum?"
Evening Star: "I am in these sheds by birthright."
Interesting to hear that it was often ahead of time, today we hear of so many delays with modern trains, doesn't say much for modern technology dose it.
is their a Thomas & Friends youtuber who got Evening Star to visit sodor. i wonder how long Murdoch from Thomas & Friends worked before withdrawn and how long until he was bought by the fat controller in the early 2000s
Was tf2 soundtracks upgrade station playing in the background?
I heard that she was not the last one built, but she was presented as the last one, and cosmetically improved for preservation, hence the green livery. I think one more followed her.
I always try to get here early
Can someone make a edit of the 9f as a LMS engine istead of a BR standard
Stupid comment. Built by British Railways as part of the B.R standard locomotive programme. Dumbo.
Spoke to one of the engineers at York museum and told me that he would happily fire evening star and she would be fine and ready to run 👍
we have a 9f at the nymr , its a beast . it could pull the top off a mountain.
Would this mean that Murdoch would come to Sodor not being familiar with how serious dieselization is?
Good question
Funny you should upload this, was at the NRM today taking a look at it
Evening Star certainly is a unique engine.
I was about 14 yrs old at Swindon station when I saw a filthy uncared for locomotive pulling a massive goods train towards the station, I was horrified as it became closer and I could read its number 92220, Evening Star. I was heartbroken. And that is when I realised the days of steam were really over and the last time I ever went train spotting :-(
Can you do a video on the GNR A-Class Stirling Single?
It went into service for 5 years so it clearly was not built just to be preserved. It was built for service and then was saved.