O GAUGE MODEL -- BR CLASS C13 67417

4-4-2T Class C13 Atlantic Tank (O Gauge)
Another of my late fathers O Gauge kits built to LNER / BR design for the Class C13 (ex Great Central Railway Class 9K) Believe it was built and customised from a 7mm scale kit produced by Gladiator. Dad built a number of LNER/BR steam locomotives and several of these would have been kits purchased from Gladiator, having quickly looked at their website they appear to still sell this kit although doesn't have further details at this point in time, sadly. This particular model has been given the number 67417 which represented the last surviving locomotive of it's class during it's BR days. The original locomotive having been scrapped in 1960 some five years after the majority of it's class had already been broken up. You can find further technical details about this model and class by clicking this LINK.
Class C13 Background / History
The Great Central Railway 9K and 9L classes were two related classes of 4-4-2T Atlantic steam locomotives. They were both intended for suburban passenger services and after the 1923 Grouping they served the LNER as classes C13 and C14. The 9K / C13 class was built for the London suburban services, running from the GCR's Marylebone terminus. Their designer was John G. Robinson. The design was based on the earlier Pollitt Class 9G 2-4-2T locomotives, but with a lengthened boiler and a leading bogie to carry it

Within a few years, the timing of these suburban trains was facing competition from electric services. Competing with these required faster acceleration and the more powerful 4-6-2T Class 9N was introduced. From 1922 they were dispersed away from London through the GCR network, to South Yorkshire between Manchester, Sheffield and Mexborough. Most notably, many of them went to Wrexham were they were based successfully until the 1950s. The South Yorkshire engines gradually moved to Gorton locomotive shed, from where they were used on Manchester suburban services, and destinations as far as Hayfield and Macclesfield, later joined by the 9Ls, until they were both replaced by DMUs after post-1955 dieselisation.

All members of the class passed into British Railways service and survived until at least 1952. Eventually being withdrawn between 1955 and 1959. The last No 67417 was scrapped in 1960 and is the subject of the model here as sadly none were preserved.