BR Standard Classes

__DISAMBIG__
The BR Standard steam locomotives were an effort to standardize locomotives from the motley collection of older pre-grouping locos. Construction started in 1951. Due to the controversial British Railways' modernization plan of 1955, where steam traction was abandoned in favour of diesel and electric traction, many of the locomotives' working lives were very short: between 7 and 17 years. Many have been preserved, mainly due to their having been sent to Barry Scrapyard.
==ex-WD Austerity engines==
The first BR standards were the BR ex-WD Austerity 2-8-0 and BR ex-WD Austerity 2-10-0s. They were given the numbers 90000-732 and 90750-774. They were assigned the boiler types BR10 and BR11, and both had the tender type BR5.
==Background==
Robert Riddles put his case for continuing to build steam locomotives in his presidential address to the Institution of Locomotive Engineers in November 1950. He compared capital costs to show that steam was cheaper than the alternatives, though he did not mention productivity differences, except to say fuel costs did not rank very high relative to total costs. For example, a Class 5 cost £16,000, compared to £78,100 for a 1,600 h. p. diesel, £138,700 for a gas turbine, or £37,400 for electric. He calculated the costs per drawbar horse power as £13 6s (steam), £65 (diesel), £69 7s (turbine) and £17 13s (electric). Riddles retired in 1953.
===Design===
From 1951, BR started to build steam locomotives to its own standard designs, which were largely based on LMS practice but incorporating ideas and modifications from the other constituent companies and America. Their design was overseen by Riddles.
Characteristic features were taper boilers, high running plates, two cylinders and streamlined cabs.
==Construction==
Although more were ordered, 999 BR "Standards" were constructed: the last, 92220 Evening Star, was built in 1960. Most never achieved their potential service life and were withdrawn in working order.
Construction was split between the ex-LMS works at Crewe, Derby and Horwich, the ex-LNER works at Darlington and Doncaster, the ex-GWR works at Swindon, and the ex-SR works at Brighton.
Classification 	Numbers 	Power class	Wheel arr. 	Quantity built	Years built	RA	Tenders types 	Image
Class 7 (Britannia) 	70000–054	7MT 	06424-6-2 	55 	1951–54 	8 	BR1, BR1A, BR1D 	100x100px
Class 8 (Duke of Gloucester)	71000 	8P 	06424-6-2 	1 	1954 	8 	BR1E until 1957, BR1J thereafter 	
Class 6 (Clan) 	72000–009	6P5F 	06424-6-2 	10 	1952 	8 	BR1 	
Class 5 	73000–171	5MT 	06404-6-0 	172 	1951–57 	7 	BR1, BR1B, BR1C, BR1F, BR1G, BR1H	
Class 4 4-6-0 	75000–079	4MT 	06404-6-0 	80 	1951–57 	4 	BR2, BR2A 	
Class 4 2-6-0 	76000–114	4MT 	06202-6-0 	115 	1952–57 	4 	BR2, BR2A, BR1B 	
Class 3 	77000–019	3MT 	06202-6-0 	20 	1953 	4 	BR2A 	
Class 2 	78000–064	2MT 	06202-6-0 	65 	1952–56 	3 	BR3 	
Class 4 Tank 	80000–154	4MT 	0624T2-6-4T	155 	1951–57 	5 	— 	
Class 3 Tank 	82000–044	3MT 	0622T2-6-2T	45 	1951–53 	4 	— 	
Class 2 Tank 	84000–029	2MT 	0622T2-6-2T	30 	1953–57 	3 	— 	
Class 9F 	92000–250	9F 	10202-10-0 	251 	1954–60 	9 	BR1B, BR1C, BD1F, BR1G 	
Total 	 	 	 	999 	1951–60 	 	 	
==Tenders==
The tenders used with the Standard locomotives were also new designs. There were different types due to the use of different coal-to-water ratios, weight restrictions and later improved designs. It was standard practice for there to be fewer tenders than locomotives, as tenders took little time to overhaul compared to locomotives, locomotives entering works for overhaul would tend to lose their tenders to locomotives leaving works after overhaul.
Tender Type	Quantity built	Years built	Coal (long tons)	Water (imp.gal.)	Weight full (long tons)	RA	Used with Classes 	Notes
BR1 	100 	1951–53 	7 	4,250 	49.15 	 	8, 7, 6 	
BR1A 	5 	1952 	7 	5,000 	52.50 	 	7 	5,000-gallon version of BR1
BR1B 	114 	1955–57 	7 	4,725 	51.25 	 	5, 4 (4-6-0), 4 (2-6-0), 9F	
BR1C 	123 	1954–58 	9 	4,725 	53.25 	 	5, 7 	9-ton version of BR1B
BR1D 	10 	1954 	9 	4,725 	54.50 	 	7 	BR1C with coal pusher
BR1E 	1 	1954 	10 	4,725 	55.50 	 	8 	10-ton version of BR1D. Rebuilt to BR1C in 1958
BR1F 	95 	1954–58 	7 	5,625 	55.25 	 	5, 9F 	
BR1G 	61 	1954–60 	7 	5,000 	52.50 	 	5, 9F 	BR1A updated with fall plate
BR1H 	12 	1954 	7 	4,250 	49.15 	 	5 	BR1 updated with fall plate
BR1J 	1 	1958 	10 	4,325 	53.70 	 	8 	
BR1K 	3 	1958 	9 	4,325 	52.35 	 	9F 	Fitted with mechanical stokers. Rebuilt to BR1C in 1961
BR2 	95 	1951–54 	6 	3,500 	42.15 	 	4 (4-6-0), 4 (2-6-0) 	
BR2A 	88 	1954–57 	6 	3,500 	42.15 	 	4 (4-6-0), 4 (2-6-0), 3 	BR2 updated with fall plate
BR3 	65 	1952–56 	4 	3,000 	36.85 	 	2 	Updated version of LMS equivalent
Total 	773 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==Preservation==
A total of 46 standards have survived - of these, 38 were rescued from Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Wales. The BR Standard Locomotive Owner's Group provides co-ordination.
Class 	No. preserved	Percentage preserved	Numbers 	Notes
7 (Britannia) 	2 	3.6% 	70000/13 	
8 (Duke of Gloucester)	1 	100% 	71000 	71000 has Caprotti valve gear
6 (Clan) 	0 	0% 	– 	Replica 72010 "Hengist" under construction
5MT 	5 	2.9% 	73050/82/96, 73129/56 	73129 has Caprotti valve gear
4MT 4-6-0 	6 	7.5% 	75014/27/29/69/78/79 	
4MT 2-6-0 	4 	3.5% 	76017/77/79/84 	
3MT 2-6-0 	0 	0% 	– 	
2MT 2-6-0 	4 	6.2% 	78018/19/22/59 	78059 being rebuilt to a tank version as '84030'
4MT 2-6-4T 	15 	11.6% 	80002/64/72/78/79/80/97/98, 80100/04/05/35/36/50/51	
3MT 2-6-2T 	0 	0% 	– 	Replica 82045 under construction
2MT 2-6-2T 	0 	0% 	– 	One being rebuilt from a standard 2-6-0.
9F 	9 	3.6% 	92134, 92203/07/12/14/19/20/40/45 	
Total 	46 	4.6% 	 	
===New Builds===
The new build of the 'Clan' class 72010 "Hengist" is progressing steadily. The new build of the Class 3 Tank 82045 is well underway, work continues as of 2021.
== Gallery ==
* Gallery
Category:British steam locomotives
Category:British Rail locomotives
Category:Locomotives
Category:British Rail Standard Class locomotives
Category:Steam locomotives