Catalogue description BR STANDARD LOCOMOTIVES - DRAWINGS

The collection contains drawings relating to the design and production of British Railways Standard locomotives at Brighton, Derby, Doncaster and Swindon railway works. There are additional drawings relating to other classes of steam locomotive - that is, those in service before nationalisation - and some diesel locomotives.

British Railways, 1948-1994

Refer to the following publications for further information:

BRADLEY, R P: 'The Standard Steam Locomotives of British Railways'; Guild Publications, 1987.

COX, E S: 'British Railways Standard Steam Locomotives'; Ian Allan, 1966.

• Railway transport

British Railways was established after the nationalisation of Britain's railways in January 1948. The new organisation inherited a bewildering array of diverse steam locomotive types, many doubtless suffering the ravages of working during the war years and were due for replacement. A complete series of 'Standard' steam types, with the exception of purely shunting engines, was introduced from 1951 onwards. The different types, ranging from tank engines for branch-line working to powerful express passenger and heavy freight engines, were designed with ease of maintenance in mind and used as many common components as possible to reduce manufacturing costs. The designs had a short life, since steam-hauled trains ceased to run on Britain's nationalised railway in 1967. Numerous examples of 'Standard' locomotives have survived, however, and are in use on preserved 'heritage' railways.