BR Standard Class 8

BR Standard Class 8[1]
The sole Standard Class 8 locomotive crossing the Somerset Levels, 2010
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Robert Riddles Builder BR Crewe Works Build date April 1954 Total produced 1
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-2  • UIC 2′C1′h3 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Leading dia. 3 ft 0 in (0.914 m) Driver dia. 6 ft 2 in (1.880 m) Trailing dia. 3 ft 3+1⁄2 in (1.003 m) Length 67 ft 8 in (20.62 m) Width 9 ft 0 in (2.74 m) Height 13 ft 0+1⁄2 in (3.98 m) Axle load 22 long tons (25 short tons; 22 t) Adhesive weight 66 long tons (74 short tons; 67 t) Loco weight 101.25 long tons (113.40 short tons; 102.87 t) Tender weight BR1E: 55.5 long tons (62.2 short tons; 56.4 t) BR1J: 53.7 long tons (60.1 short tons; 54.6 t) Tender type 1954–1958: BR1E 1958–1962: BR1J Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 10 long tons (11 short tons; 10 t) Water cap. BR1E: 4,725 imp gal (21,480 L; 5,674 US gal) BR1J: 4,325 imp gal (19,660 L; 5,194 US gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 48.6 sq ft (4.52 m2) Boiler BR13 Boiler pressure 250 psi (1.72 MPa) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 226 sq ft (21.0 m2)  • Tubes and flues 2,264 sq ft (210.3 m2) Superheater: ​  • Heating area 677 sq ft (62.9 m2) Cylinders Three Cylinder size 18 in × 28 in (457 mm × 711 mm) Valve gear Caprotti valve gear Valve type Poppet valves
Performance figures Tractive effort 39,080 lbf (173.84 kN) Factor of adh. 3.78
Career Operators British Railways Power class 8P Numbers 71000 Locale London Midland Region Withdrawn December 1962 Disposition Preserved, undergoing overhaul to mainline standards

Hear 71000 at work

71000 passing St Andrew's Junction

(A steam locomotive makes a lot of noise when working hard: play loud for realism)

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The BR Standard Class 8 was a class of a single 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive designed by Robert Riddles for use by British Railways. Only the prototype was constructed, which was christened Duke of Gloucester. Constructed at Crewe Works in 1954, the Duke, as it is popularly known, was a replacement for the destroyed LMS Princess Royal Class locomotive number 46202 Princess Anne, which was involved in the Harrow and Wealdstone rail crash of 1952.^[2]

The Duke was based on the BR Standard Class 7 Britannia design. It incorporated three sets of modified Caprotti valve gear, relatively new to British locomotive engineering and more efficient than Walschaerts or Stephenson valve gear. The Duke was regarded as a failure by locomotive crews due to its poor steaming characteristics and its heavy fuel consumption. Trials undertaken by British Railways also proved disappointing, revealing problems with the draughting of the locomotive, which caused difficulties in adhering to the timetables.

Consequently, the unique locomotive had an operational life of only eight years. It was taken to Woodham Brothers scrap yard in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales, but was saved from being cut up when it was purchased by a group of railway enthusiasts, who restored it to as-built condition over 13 years. Since then, modifications have been made to the original design, creating one of the most efficient and powerful steam locomotives ever to run in Britain.^[3] As a result, the Duke of Gloucester has been frequently seen on the mainline around Britain. As of 2024^[update], the locomotive was being overhauled to return it to operational condition.