Hornby: RailRoad BR 4–6–0 ‘45025’ ‘Black 5’ Class 5MT

The London, Midland and Scottish Railway’s mixed traffic, medium powered Class 5, 4–6–0 locomotives were designed by Sir William Stanier. These highly versatile locomotives were universally known as ‘Black Fives’. Stanier, who had previously been the Works Manager at the GWR Works at Swindon realised that there was a need for larger locomotives and using his experience gained at Swindon took inspiration from the GWR Hall Class locomotives. Both the Black 5 and Hall locomotives shared similar cylinder arrangements, internal boiler design and had 72 inch diameter driving wheels. Consequently, the ‘Black Fives’ with their 6 feet driving wheels could attain speeds of around 90mph, making them ideal for passenger traffic.

Initially twenty were ordered from the Crewe Works and a further eighty from the Vulcan Foundry, with the numbering starting from 5000. The first locomotive to be completed was actually engine No. 5020 in 1934 and was built at the Vulcan Foundry, while locomotive No. 5000, the first Crewe built example did not emerge until 1935. The original examples were built domeless with straight throatplace boilers and a low degree superheat. Besides these original orders the LMSR was responsible for the largest single locomotive order ever given by a British railway company to an outside contractor when the company ordered a further 227 ‘Black Fives’ from Armstrong Whitworth & Co in 1936.

Specifics:

• Gauge: 00
• DCC Type: DCC Ready
• Designer: Sir William Stanier
• Livery: Late BR
• Entered Service: 1934
• Purpose: Mixed Traffic
• Wheel Configuration: 4–6–0

Hornby is a household name and is famous as the UK brand leader in the model railway hobby