Hornby R3404, BR 2-6-4T '42334' Fowler 4P

Description

R3404, BR 2-6-4T '42334' Fowler 4P
Description
When Henry Fowler became the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London Midland Scottish Railway in 1925, he immediately set out to work on several new standard designs in an effort to reduce the number of odd classes of locomotive that had been absorbed into the LMS in 1923.
The Class 4 Tank was designed for the unique requirements of suburban duties and used as many standard LMS parts as was possible at the time. The main requirement for a locomotive working suburban services was to have quick acceleration, efficient braking and good tractive ability, the latter being especially useful when pulling heavy carriages, full of commuters and subsequent updates to the 2-6-4T design by Stanier, Fairburn, Riddles and British Rail proved the soundness of Fowler’s design.
The locomotives were spread around the LMS network, operating suburban services from St.Pancras, Euston, Clydeside and the Midland conurbations, as well as the difficult central Wales line from Swansea and Shrewsbury. This arduous route working was matched by the Manchester–Buxton line working via Stockport, as well as the banking duties up to Shap from Tebay, for which crews received a modified cab to protect them from the elements.
In all, 125 locomotives were built, all at the LMS’s Derby works, between 1927 and 1934 and were numbered from 2300-2424, locomotive numbers 2395-2424 receiving modified cabs with side windows and doors. Classified 4P by the LMS, British Rail changed their designation to 4MT and the Class stayed in traffic until 1966.
Locomotive 42334 entered service on March 12, 1929 as LMS No.2334, being built at Derby works to Lot 53. At Nationalisation, the locomotive was renumbered under British Railways as No.42334 whilst allocated to Leicester Midland Shed, where it stayed until December 4, 1954. A transfer across to Bournville Shed was followed on May 17, 1958 with a transfer to Neasden Shed, then Kentish Town Shed on November 1st that year. Returning to Leicester on May 19, 1962, 42334 was then sent to Manchester the following year, being allocated first to Gorton Shed, then Trafford Park, from where the locomotive was withdrawn from service on Christmas Day, 1965.
Hornby
Hornby is a household name and is famous as the UK's brand leader in the model railway hobby with its high quality 00 gauge (1:76) models and accessories.
Technical Specification & Detail
DCC Type : DCC Ready
Livery/owner : BR
Class : 4P
Designer : Henry Fowler
Entered Service : 1920s
Age Suitability : 14+
Purpose : Passenger
Wheel Configuration : 2-6-4
Special Features
NEM Couplings