BR Period Locomotives: lnwrbns_br2900

British Railways Standard Class 7MT 4-6-2 No 70000 'Britannia' departs New Street station on an up express on 22nd June 1963. Designed by Robert Riddles for use by British Railways for mixed traffic duties some fifty-five members of the class were constructed between 1951 and 1954. The design was a result of the 1948 locomotive exchanges undertaken in advance of further locomotive classes being constructed. The fifty-five members of the class were built in three batches by Crewe works prior to the publication of the 1955 Modernisation Plan. The Britannia Class was based on several previous locomotive designs, incorporating the best practices in locomotive technology as regards labour-saving and lowering maintenance costs; various weight-saving measures also increased the route availability of a Pacific-type locomotive on the British Railways network. The Britannias received a positive reception from their crews, with those regularly operating the locomotives giving them favourable reports as regards performance. However, trials in some areas of the British Railway network returned negative feedback, primarily due to indifferent operation of the locomotive, with its effects on adhering to timetables. The Britannias took their names from great Britons, former Star Class locomotives, and Scottish firths. The class remained in service until the last was withdrawn in 1968. Two survived into preservation, the first-of-class No 70000 Britannia, seen above, and No 70013 Oliver Cromwell.

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