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Steam Locomotive BR 48624 LMS 8624 Stanier Class 8F 2-8-0 heavy freight engine Heritage & Preserved Steam Locomotive Engines My Archive Steam Photos from the 1960s [Author © Dr WP Brown PhD (plus 'DocsPics' help from AI these days), page updated May 13th 2026] A standard workhorse freight locomotive of the Midland Region of British Railways Trainspot locations  *  TOPS class links A history of steam locomotive 48624 My Main Railways Index Nostalgic Steam Train Photos from the 1960s  *  Email: chem55555@hotmail.com  Stanier Class 8F 2-8-0 No. 48624 on the Great Central Railway (GCR, 2017)  (photo courtesy of Kentish Bob YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@kentishbob6423 ) LMS Stanier Class 8F 2-8-0 No. 48624 1. Construction and BR Service (1943–1965) of Stanier Class 8F 2-8-0 No. 48624 Built in 1943 at Ashford Works under a Railway Executive Committee order. Designer: Sir William Stanier. Entered service as LMS No. 8624, classified 8F for heavy-freight duties. Hauled main-line freight throughout its career, allocated to Willesden Shed. Withdrawn in August 1965 due to a suspected fractured internal main steam pipe; sent to Woodham Brothers scrapyard, Barry, in December 1965. 2. Shed Allocations of Stanier Class 8F 2-8-0 No. 48624 Willesden (London NW) – March 1943 to August 1965 (withdrawal). 3. Technical Specifications of Stanier Class 8F 2-8-0 No. 48624 Feature Specification Builder Ashford Works (REC order) Build date 1943 Designer Sir William Stanier Configuration 2-8-0 Gauge 4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm) Driving wheel diameter 4 ft 8½ in Cylinders Two outside; 18½ in × 28 in Boiler pressure 225 psi Tractive effort 32,440 lbf Locomotive weight 72.10 long tons Tender type Stanier 4,000 gal tender Water capacity 4,000 imp gal Coal capacity 9 long tons Length over buffers 65 ft ½ in 4. Preservation and Operational History of Stanier Class 8F 2-8-0 No. 48624 Spent December 1965–1981 at Barry scrapyard, gradually deteriorating. Rescued in 1981; a 28-year volunteer-led restoration saw her first steaming in May 2009 at Peak Rail. Loaned to Churnet Valley Railway (2010–2011) before moving to the Great Central Railway in March 2011. Original boiler certificate extended in 2018; regularly hauled GCR passenger and gala services until July 2019. Withdrawn in 2019 and currently undergoing overhaul. 5. Liveries, Numbers, and Names of Stanier Class 8F 2-8-0 No. 48624 Numbers: LMS 8624 (1943–1948); BR 48624 (1948–1965; retained in preservation). No name has ever been carried. Liveries: LMS crimson lake (original LMS service). BR crimson lake with late crest (initial preservation appearance). BR unlined black with early crest (authentic working livery carried in preservation). * * Stanier 8F 2-8-0 freight locomotive 48624 in black livery and looking very good! (Loughborough shed, Sept. 2017)   Driving wheels and link motion of 48624   Stanier 8F 2-8-0 steam locomotive 48624 in British Railways black livery (Loughborough Central, July 2015)     Great Central Railway GR8 Escape GCR Steam Gala 2011: In its splendid maroon LMS livery, Ex LMS 8624 BR 48624 Stanier 2-8-0 freight locomotive at Loughborough, built at Ashford Works in 1943. Technical detail specifications of locomotive 48624/8624: Boiler pressure of 48624/8624: 225 lbf/sq.in., Weight of 48624/8624: loco 72.1 tons, tender 53.7  tons, Wheel diameter of 48624/8624: 3' 3½'', 4' 8½", Valve gear of 48624/8624: Walschaerts piston valves, Cylinders (diameter x stroke) of 48624/8624: 18½" x 28" (O), Tractive effort of 48624/8624: 32440 lbf., BR Power classification of 48624/8624: Class 8F     Great Central Railway GR8 Escape GCR Steam Gala 2011: 8624 at Loughborough shed yard and Central Station   Great Central Railway GR8 Escape GCR Steam Gala 2011: 8624 entering Quorn Station from Loughborough   Great Central Railway GR8 Escape GCR Steam Gala 2011: 8624 at Loughborough   Stanier 8F locomotive 48624 at Leicester North, going round the loop to take the return train to Loughborough (July 2015) See also BR 48151 LMS 8151 Locomotive LMS/BR Stanier 8F 2-8-0 heavy freight engine BR 48305 LMS 8305 Locomotive LMS/BR Stanier 8F 2-8-0 heavy freight engine BR 48431 LMS 8431 Locomotive LMS/BR Stanier 8F 2-8-0 heavy freight engine A history of Stanier 8F 2-8-0 steam locomotive 48624 Steam locomotive 48624 is one of the most historically interesting survivors of the LMS Stanier Class 8F 2‑8‑0 fleet — unique among preserved examples and with a remarkably well‑documented working and preservation life. Below is a full, structured history synthesising the most authoritative sources available. Identity and Significance of steam locomotive 48624 48624 (originally LMS 8624) is a Stanier 8F heavy‑freight 2‑8‑0, designed by Sir William Stanier for the LMS as Britain’s standard wartime freight locomotive. It is the only surviving Southern Railway–built 8F, constructed at Ashford Works under a Railway Executive Committee (REC) wartime order. Construction and Mainline Career of steam locomotive 48624 (1943–1965) Build and Entry into Service of steam locomotive 48624 Built: 1943 Works: Ashford Works (Southern Railway) under REC wartime contract Designer: Sir William Stanier Entered service as: LMS No. 8624 Role: Heavy freight, classified 8F Allocations and Duties of steam locomotive 48624 Allocated for its entire career to: Willesden (London NW) Worked heavy main‑line freight throughout the London Midland region. Its working life was described as relatively gentle, with unusually little frame wear compared with other preserved 8Fs. Withdrawal of steam locomotive 48624 Withdrawn: August 1965 Reason: Suspected fractured internal main steam pipe Sent to Barry Scrapyard: December 1965 Technical Specifications of steam locomotive 48624 (as built) Feature Specification Wheel arrangement 2‑8‑0 Cylinders Two, outside; 18½ in × 28 in Boiler pressure 225 psi Tractive effort 32,440 lbf Driving wheel diameter 4 ft 8½ in Weight 72.10 long tons Tender Stanier 4,000 gal (originally) Coal capacity 9 long tons Water capacity 4,000 gal Barry Scrapyard Years (1965–1981) 48624 spent 16 years deteriorating at Woodham Brothers, Barry, one of hundreds of locomotives saved only because Dai Woodham prioritised scrapping wagons over locomotives. Preservation and Restoration of steam locomotive 48624 (1981–2009) Rescue and Restoration Rescued: 1981 Underwent a 28‑year volunteer‑led restoration, much of it outdoors. First steamed: May 2009 at Peak Rail. Tender History 48624’s original tender was sold separately at Barry. The current tender comes from Black Five 44888, formerly used as a water carrier at Willesden and later acquired by the preservation group. Heritage Railway Career of steam locomotive 48624 (2009–present) Operational Timeline 2009: Entered traffic at Peak Rail 2010–2011: Loaned to Churnet Valley Railway 2011: Moved to the Great Central Railway (GCR), where it became a regular performer 2018: Boiler certificate extended July 2019: Withdrawn for overhaul Current Status Location: Great Central Railway Status: Under overhaul Livery: BR unlined black (authentic working‑life appearance) Liveries and Numbers of steam locomotive 48624 LMS 8624 (1943–1948) BR 48624 (1948–1965; retained in preservation) Liveries carried: LMS crimson lake (early service) BR crimson lake with late crest (early preservation) BR unlined black (authentic and current) What Makes 48624 Unique? 48624 stands out among preserved 8Fs because: It is the only Southern Railway–built 8F to survive. It spent its entire working life at one shed (Willesden). It shows minimal frame repairs, unusual for a hard‑worked freight engine. It has a non‑original tender with its own interesting history. Summary of steam locomotive 48624 48624 is a rare survivor of Britain’s wartime freight locomotive fleet, with a distinctive Southern Railway origin, a long and gentle LMS/BR career, a classic Barry scrapyard rescue story, and a major volunteer restoration effort. Today it remains one of the Great Central Railway’s most recognisable heavy freight locomotives, awaiting overhaul for a future return to steam. 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The railway trip involves seeing or travelling behind a 'real' steam locomotive or heritage diesel in action on a special trip from steam locomotive 8624 48624 railway tours Booking Eurostar Continental Rail Travel Tour Tickets Stuttgart Brussels Eurostar Brussels from steam locomotive 8624 48624 railway tours by TGV to Ebbsfleet International, Ashford International Stratford International, St Pancras International Paris Gare du Nord Paris Gare de Lyon Paris Gare de L'est Paris Gare Montparnasse by Eurostar from steam locomotive 8624 48624 railway tours London to Paris, Eurostar London - Brussels Eurostar London to Lille deals bargain city breaks steam locomotive 8624 48624 railway tours Great Railway Journey holidays in Italy, Spain and France by TGV booking from steam locomotive 8624 48624 railway tours Booking Eurostar Continental Rail Travel Tour Tickets to the Continent  eg Paris Brussels Avignon or railway tours across France, Holland, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Russia, Asia or China for a travel spectacular steam locomotive 8624 48624 railway tours Good trainspotting 'TRAINSPOTS' Good trainspotting and photographic locations  Barnetby Station, North Lincolnshire  *  Carlisle Station  *  Clapham Junction Station, London  *  Colton Junction, south of York  *  Crewe Station  *  Doncaster Station, South Yorkshire  * Hellifield station - Carlisle to Settle line * Lancaster station  * Newcastle Station  *  Northallerton Station  *  Nuneaton Station  *  Sheffield Station  *  Stratford Station, East London * Warrington Bank Quay station * Wigan North Western - WCML *  York Station See other TOPS classes of diesels and electrics * Class 01 * Class 02 * Class 03 * Class 04 * Class 08 * Class 09 * Class 10 * Class 11 * Class 14 * Class 20 * Class 24 * Class 25 * Class 26 * Class 27 * Class 31 * Class 33 * Class 35 * Class 37 * Class 40 * Class 43 * Class 44 * Class 45 * Class 47 * Class 50 * Class 52 * Class 55 * Class 56 * Class 57 * Class 58 *  Class 60 * Class 66 * Class 67 * Class 68 * Class 70 * Class 71 * Class 73 * Class 76 * Class 77 *  Class 84 * Class 86 * Class 87 * Class 88 * Class 90 * Class 91 * Class 92 * Derby Lightweight * Class 101 * Class 108 * Class 114 * Class 117 * Class 120 * Class 121 * Class 122 * Class 127 * Class 141 * Class 142 * Class 144 * Class 150 * Class 153 * Class 155 * Class 156 * Class 158 * Class 159 * Class 165 * Class 166 * Class 170 * Class 172 * Class 175 * Class 180 * Class 185 * Class 195  * Class 196 * Class 197 * Class 220 * Class 221 * Class 222 * Class 252 * Class 313 * Class 315 * Class 317 * Class 319 * Class 320 * Class 321 * Class 322 * Class 323 * Class 325 * Class 331 * Class 332 * Class 333 * Class 334 * Class 350 * Class 357 * Class 360 * Class 365 * Class 373 * Class 375 * Class 376 * Class 377 * Class 378 * Class 379 * Class 380 * Class 387 * Class 390 * Class 395 * Class 414 * Class 423 * Class 442 * Class 444 * Class 450 * Class 455 * Class 458 * Class 460 * Class 465 * Class 466 * Class 489 * Class 507/508 * Class 700 * Class 730  * Class 755 * Class 800 * Class 801 * Class 802 * Class 803 *  Class 805 * Class 3000 * IMAGES OF PRESERVED STEAM LOCOMOTIVES