BR Standard Class 8

what is it?

The BR Standard Class 8 is a one-off 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotive designed by Robert Riddles for use by British Railways. Only a single locomotive, the prototype, was constructed, which was named 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 46202 Princess Anne, which was involved in the Harrow and Wealdstone rail crash of 1952.

who runs it

British RailLMLondon Midland Region of British Railways

base stats

• built 1made in total

Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.

fun facts

• 🎂First built 72 years ago, in 1954.
• 📏20.4 m long: about 5 cars parked nose to tail.
• ⌛Served for 8 years (1954–1962).

steam locomotive: Burns coal, wood or oil to boil water; the steam drives pistons that turn the wheels.

spec sheet

built

1954

in service from

1954

retired

1962

status

in service

number built

1

kind

Steam

traction

steam

origin

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

builders

Crewe Works

designer

Robert Riddles

operators

British Rail, London Midland Region of British Railways

top speed

—

power

—

wheel arrangement

4-6-2

length

20.4 m

From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.