| BR Standard Class 9F 92220 Evening Star | |
| Powertype: | Steam |
| Designer: | R.A. Riddles |
| Builder: | Swindon Works |
| Builddate: | March 1960 |
| Whytetype: | 2-10-0 |
| Uicclass: | 1′E h2 |
| Wheeldiameter: | 5feet |
| Length: | 66feet overall |
| Tendertype: | BR1G |
| Watercap: | 4725impgal |
| Boilerpressure: | 2502NaN2 |
| Cylindercount: | Two, outside |
| Cylindersize: | 20x |
| Tractiveeffort: | 396672NaN2 |
| Operator: | British Railways |
| Powerclass: | 9F |
| Fleetnumbers: | 92220 |
| Locale: | Western Region of British Railways |
| Withdrawndate: | March 1965 |
| Currentowner: | National Railway Museum |
BR Standard Class 9F number 92220 Evening Star is a preserved British steam locomotive completed in 1960. It was the last steam locomotive to be built by British Railways. It was the only British main line steam locomotive earmarked for preservation from the date of construction. It was the 999th locomotive of the whole British Railways Standard range.[1]
Evening Star was built at Swindon Works in 1960. Though the last to be built, it was not the last 9F numerically as Crewe Works had already completed engines with higher numbers. It was equipped with a BR1G-type tender and given BR Locomotive Green livery, normally reserved for passenger locomotives, and was completed with a copper-capped double chimney. All other members of the class of heavy freight locomotives were painted unlined black.
92220 was the only Class 9F to be named when running with BR, although other 9Fs have subsequently been named in preservation.
The name Evening Star was chosen following a competition run in 1959-60 by the BR Western Region Staff Magazine. There were three competition winners, Driver T.M. Phillips (Aberystwyth), Boilermaker J.S. Sathi (Old Oak Common) and F.L. Pugh (Paddington), who had all suggested Evening Star. A special commemorative plate was affixed below the nameplate on the smoke deflectors. The commemorative plate reads:
The wooden patterns for this commemorative plate and the engine's name plate were both carved by pattern maker Fred Marsh.
The naming ceremony took place on 18 March 1960 at the Swindon Works, where the locomotive was built. A speech was given by R.F. Hanks, Chairman of the Western Area Board of British Transport Commission:
The loco was then named by Keith Grand of the British Transport Commission, by the unveiling of the nameplate, naming it Evening Star.
92220 was used over the Western Region and over the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway line. Its main duties were as a heavy freight locomotive. However, 92220 was never just any locomotive, its working was closely controlled "to ensure she returned home regularly for cleaning and maintenance in view of the special workings and exhibitions for which the engine was required".[2] On 27–28 June and 1 July 1960, No. 92220, then allocated to Cardiff Canton shed, hauled the BR Western Region's flagship Paddington to Cardiff, Swansea, Neyland and Fishguard Harbour passenger express trains, the London bound Red Dragon and the return Capitals United Express between Cardiff and Paddington, reportedly having to delay its arrival at Paddington to allow for completion of restaurant services because it was running so early; easily outperforming the regular Britannia passenger express locomotives, which it was observed overtaking (while hauling a full rake of 10+ passenger express coaches) on several occasions. However, its career on these flagship services was cut short, by order of BR senior management, allegedly from fear of damage to its running gear which wasn't designed for extended high speed express work. BR management's embargo, issued after they received word of the runs on 27–28 June, wasn't enforced until after driver Eddie Broom, head of Canton Shed's Local Departmental Committee (the local branch shop steward of ASLEF, the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen's extremely powerful trades union[3]), had his turn on 92220's down Capitals United Express run, on 1 July 1960.[4] [5] [6]
On 16 July 1962 and 18 July 1962, the locomotive was photographed at Gloucester Barnwood shed yard,[7] and on 8 September 1962 it hauled the last Pines Express on the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway.[8] Evening Star was recorded hauling passenger express trains at over 90mph on its Red Dragon and Capitals United Express runs.[9] 92220 was withdrawn in 1965 and stored at Severn Tunnel Junction Marshalling Yard, after incurring minor damage in a shunting accident at Cardiff Docks. It had a working life of just five years and one day which was the shortest operational life of all 251 class members. It was subsequently preserved as part of the National Collection. In late 1966, the locomotive, by then in decrepit condition, was towed to Crewe Works via Shrewsbury for overhaul and restoration.[10]
Evening Star remained in operation into the 1980s and is one of nine surviving 9Fs. From July 1973 it operated on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, moving to the National Railway Museum, York in May 1975. In 1986 it was loaned to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and in 1989 to the West Somerset Railway.[11] Since withdrawal, it has been a static exhibit at the National Railway Museum.
After a brief period displayed at the National Railway Museum Shildon, the engine returned to its birthplace, Swindon Works, on 3 September 2008. Evening Star remained on display for two years at the Swindon Steam Railway Museum to celebrate its 50th anniversary. It returned to York in 2010, whilst the GWR locomotive No. 4003 Lode Star took its place at Swindon.