Dapol 2S-022-002

Class & Prototype

The North Eastern Railway Class E was T.W. Worsdell's highly successful 0-6-0T shunting locomotive, introduced in 1886 to replace aging Fletcher saddle tanks. With 120 built at Darlington Works between 1886-1895, these compact side-tank engines became the backbone of NER freight operations from Durham coalfields to Tyne docks.

Featuring 4ft 7¼in driving wheels, 16in × 22in inside cylinders, and 140 psi boiler pressure, the Class E prioritized reliability over complexity with simple Stephenson valve gear. The design proved exceptionally durable - the last example served 74 years until 1961, making it one of Britain's longest-serving locomotive classes.

Under the LNER they became Class J71, with 81 surviving to British Railways as numbers 68230-68316. Their robust design directly inspired the famous J72 class, creating a locomotive lineage spanning 1886-1951.

Operator & Livery

The London & North Eastern Railway emerged in 1923 as Britain's second-largest railway company, combining seven major railways including the Great Northern, North Eastern, and Great Eastern into a 6,590-mile network stretching from London's four terminals to the Scottish Highlands. Despite serving economically challenged industrial regions, the LNER achieved worldwide recognition for engineering excellence and speed records that remain unbroken today.

Under Chief Mechanical Engineers Sir Nigel Gresley, Edward Thompson, and Arthur Peppercorn, the LNER developed revolutionary locomotive designs characterised by three-cylinder layouts and streamlined aesthetics. Gresley's masterpieces included the A1 Pacifics featuring Flying Scotsman and the legendary A4 class, culminating in Mallard's world steam speed record of 126 mph in 1938.

The company pioneered luxury express services including the Silver Jubilee and Coronation streamliners, whilst investing in forward-thinking electrification schemes and massive marshalling yards. Notable achievements included operating the complete East Coast Main Line, introducing Britain's first regular 400-mile non-stop service, and commissioning Eric Gill's iconic typography that influenced railway design for decades.

Nationalised in 1948, LNER locomotives continued serving British Railways until the 1960s, with some A4 Pacifics working Scottish expresses until 1966. Today, the LNER's engineering legacy thrives through extensive preservation, new-build projects like Tornado, and comprehensive model ranges covering every major class in all popular scales, making LNER subjects essential for discerning railway modellers seeking authentic British steam-age atmosphere.