Hornby R3588 Railroad, LNER, B17 Class, 4-6-0, 2864 'Liverpool'

Hornby R3588

RailRoad, LNER, B17 Class, 4-6-0, 2864 'Liverpool' - Era 3

00 Gauge

In 1926, with increased loading on the East Anglia passenger services and the introduction of modern, vacuum-braked coaching stock, there was a desperate need for a locomotive that could supplement the Holden B12 Class on the former Great Eastern routes of the London North Eastern Railway. Track limitations prevented the transfer of locomotives from other regions and so Nigel Gresley was tasked by the LNER to produce a three cylinder 4-6-0 design, using the cylinder and motion arrangement of the D49, but with a tractive effort of about 25,000lb and a relatively light axle loading of 17 tons.

The resulting Class B17 design arose from Doncaster Works’ inability to completely satisfy Gresley's specification and the resulting contract for the detailed design and building of the class was, in 1927, given to the North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow.