Thanks for sharing this with us - the Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 - what a fantastic design ! Passenger or freight - makes mincemeat of it all - brilliant !

I remember posting a comment along the lines of fancying the BR Lined Passenger green on another video of Evening Star, but I find seeing this marvel of engineering at work even more fascinating than having seen the locomotive static in York last year. Even the Locomotion OO Scale model brings the majesty of this to my collection and layout, yet nothing will ever compare to hearing the stack talk, the pounding of 92220's wheels on the rails, and the Swindon copper-capped chimney shine. Thank you for sharing this majestic freight locomotive in action; it just adds to the illustrious history and lasting legacy this marvellous locomotive has left British Steam.

Imagine, she was only 28 years old at this point! Great video, very enjoyable.

Nice piece of filming, better than 99% of the steam material I've looked at this year. Nice to see someone letting the loco move, rather than the camera. Well done!

Many thanks Bob, the great man actually died ten years earlier in 1978, at Appleby, whilst waiting to photograph Evening Star on one of the return to steam specials over the S & C. I treasure my copies of two of his books, Lure of Steam and Portrait of Steam

That sounds fantastic, they could give some great performances in the right hands

I've never seen one of these at speed before - what a sight - brilliant. Many thanks for sharing it and showing what I've missed again. Usual great filming of course as well. Chris

Thanks, they sure are powerful beasts.

Makes me feel old when I recall seeing this beautiful, majestic and powerful beast as a brand new engine while I was changing trains at Crew on way back to A.A.J.L.R at Tonfanau in the early 60's. What a memory. Thanks for a great video.

Thanks for sharing those memories, my first sight of her was when I was going on holiday to Devon in the sixties and she came past while our train was standing at a station, possibly Bristol

That's one speedy decapod! Neat footage.

Love Evening Star. Awesome locomotive.

The 9F was a very powerful engine, i believe the record load for the uk was set by a 9F of something around 2 100 tons. I was able to look around the cab at York museum in 2014, & she looked very handsome indeed.

Nice one! We were on that one, amazing trip!

Just found this one Austin. Simply wonderful stuff. It must have been a real privilege to have seen this magnificent legendary loco on the mainline. It will never happen again! Here's hoping it will show itself in steam on a Heritage line some day in the future! Thanks, Lee.

Thanks very much Lee, I had a few good runs with 92220 on the Welsh Marches and also one memorable southbound run on the S & C when we all piled off the train at Ribblehead and they reversed the train over the viaduct for a couple of runpasts!

It would be so nice to see her in steam again, but for nostalgia sake at least she is back in her birthplace....for the time being at least!

That's great information, thanks very much for that, you can just imagine those little wheels spinning like crazy!

I’d so love to see this happen again!

Congratulations!! and thanks, I never expected this old footage to be so popular.

Cheers, I remember travelling on one of the southbound runs and piling out at Ribblehead, walking up the road to film a runpast over the viaduct. Happy days!

Proof that this is the real Evening Star and not one disguised as it for it was repaired at Crewe Works after being involved in a shunting mishap.

Absolutely beautiful stuff Austin. I asked the Curator at the NRM some years ago, if it would ever see steam again and he said, 'Unlikely, but not impossible!'. Heres hoping. I believe Anthony Coulls is now the curator. I met him up at Shildon when we were there with the 'Duke'. I'll have to ask him to see what can be done. He was of coarse, formerly the curator at Shildon.

Mick, that is a wonderful memory to have, I can well understand how proud you must have felt even though it was a sad journey in many ways. Thanks for sharing that memory.

Thanks, I did a lot of those SLOA trips myself, used to film one week and travel the next, great days.

It goes to show that people dont give a s**t for diesels but come out of the woodwork in their droves for a steam loco. it is good that some enthusiasts wont let them die. Keep up the good work videoing as i will keep watching STEAM engines

First saw a 9F one morning coming down Parkstone Bank on the Pines Express. Even though we were used to merchant navy's and West Country's we were gobsmacked at its' size and perceived power. Cabbed Evening Star at Bournemouth West on the last Pines Express and then again at Bold Colliery sidings where it was stabled overnight for the Rainhill 150 trials.

Great video. 5*. A terrific locomotive from a sorely under used batch of well engineered stock. A crying shame that the end of steam was being heralded as these powerhouses were coming on line and being taken out well before their 'sell by date'. Would be great to see one on mainline duty again. Regards Dave.

Many thanks, glad you enjoyed it

My Gramp and took me and my brother to see Evening Star naming ceremony at Swindon my gramp wi 40 years service at the works in Swindon. My brother and I have just bought two Ace O gauge Evening Stars as a reminder of that time so many years ago.

Thank you, the Dales does provide the perfect backdrop for steam trains. The large crowd wouldn't like to be called trainspotters I don't think! I prefer to think of us as people who film landscapes which just happen to have a train in them!

In the early 1960's when the Britannia's were allocated to Cardiff Canton one day the allocated Brit for the up Red Dragon failed. The shed foreman, for a bit of devilment, put Evening Star on the train. Apparently it kept perfect time and did the turn for three days before 'high authority' stopped it. In one of the rail mags I saw a photograph of the Star backing out of Paddington - with Red Dragon Headboard up- to Ranelagh Bridge for servicing.

I saw the Evening Star at Tyseley when i was about 8 years old we were at track level and it came out from a engine shed and it was a massive monster. one of the kids in our group peed himself. Beautiful things. great vid

The great thing about smaller-wheeled engines on the main line like this, just a small detail, is that because the wheels are smaller and they do more rotations, they sound like they're going faster or accelerating faster than they actually are, you can see how quickly Evening Star went from pretty much a standing start to full chat.

Thanks for your kind comments, glad you enjoyed the video.

Thanks a lot, glad you enjoyed it.

Good video - Many moons ago, I remember watching a northbound special with a 9F absolutely cruise up Llanfihangel bank in South Wales. Magnificent engines.

For me that is the number one film on you-tube of steam locos and super quality sound ...pure steam magic ...thanks so much

Brilliant ! Well filmed

Thanks very much, hard work for you but I bet you enjoyed it and took a pride in the job. I was lucky enough to drive 92212 on the Great Central for my 50th.Birthday.

Phew - such photography!! And audio. Saw it being built at Swindon when i was 12. Bookmarked.

Thanks Matt, quite agree it would be great to see one out again...Austin

Thanks very much, it would be nice to see her on the main line again.

Superb footage Austin and thanks for reminding us of what a 9F in full flow is like! 92220 was very sure footed and quickly off the mark on the restarts on your clips. No probs for a 9F! I understand there may be documented evidence of a 9F on either the Ex GSW or CR WCML travelling at 90 mph when being tested for use north of the border. It may have been around 1955. I believe it was decided that the Ex WD 2-10-0s were sufficient for our traffic. Cheers. Ken

Passenger turns started in 1955 as deputies for failures and it went from there. In August 1958, 92184 was timed at 90 mph with a 14-coach express from Peterborough to Kings Cross. The practice was discouraged when excessive piston and valve wear became apparent from this type of use. (paraphrased from "Locomotives in detail no. 7", Riddles Class 9F 2-10-0, David Clarke)

Thanks Dave, I fully agree with your comments, they had years of service left in them when withdrawn. I'm sure one would go down well on the mainline although I think I read that because of the small wheels they would be restricted in speed. The modern railway needs steam to move as quickly as possible I think.

This one popped out of the in-box, austin, so I had to give it a run. Brilliant film, wonderful locations, great steam effects and loads more photographers than we get these days!

Fantastic video - My Father (Born in England in 1960) was an absolute Train fanatic. Having built his collection from the age of 2 years old, he has an extraordinary collection (some hand made and others bought). I have live recordings of many steam locomotives all across Southern Africa which my Dad recorded, All on cassette as well as amazing photographs that he captured and can be viewed on his old school slide machine. (Its like watching the Football, but better) The last Train my father completed which took around 2 years, was the Evening Star. The last steam locomotive built for British Railways and the Last steam locomotive my dad built.

Like this thank you for posting. Just been to the railway museum and seen her, which is what made me want to see her in steam

wow!!! brilliant vid ..thank you

Really appreciate your additional and knowledgable comments and hope other viewers do as well. Thanks very much

One of the staff at the National Railway Museum in York told me that Evening Star would be running any more and was a permanent fixture in the N.R.M

Many thanks Ken, I have heard those tales of a reputed 90mph which no doubt were met with horror by BR management! Sadly I don't think we will ever enjoy a 9F on the mainline again so I'm pleased to have been able to capture what little I did. I had a great run behind her southbound on the S & C which included a runpast over Ribblehead Viaduct!

Nice to see in action rather than stuck in the museum in York

superb clips! I think i like the second from last one the best! 5* and fav'd

If Steam Railway launch another appeal to restore an engine from the NRM, then Evening Star should be that locomotive. Loved the sequence departing Garsdale and going over Dandry Mire viaduct, and over Ais Gill.

Thanks David, I wasn't sure whether to post this or not. It's standard VHS and needed a bit of digitizing and is a good advert for a fluid head tripod!! It would be superb to see one on the mainline again.

very nice..i wanna go and see her now

Imagine being new built but your railway considers you old fashioned

Just beautiful!

it's amazing a 9f 2-10-0 can go this fast

I agree, the 9F's were beautiful and impressive looking machines

What a threat all round design no wonder engine drivers like these so much, a full line of coaches accelerated and then starting uphill with no effort and making look easy

Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed the video

Thanks very much. Ais Gill is indeed north of Garsdale on the B6259, keep on going towards Kirkby Stephen and where the road crosses the railway line that is just north of the summit.

Hello Austin, esp. thanks to your note of 'A1 Tornado' drawing my attention to that steam loco and technical development of steam locos since 'Evening Star' (1960). - Heinz

they were doing freight runs at nearly 100mph on the central Line in the late 50's early 60's

nice its on display at swindon mueseum

It's because of their centre driving wheels, which are flangeless and Network Rail feel that could cause too many problems over pointwork, for example if running at speed.

Thanks Hugh, I think the problem with a 9F on the mainline centres around the flangeless driving wheels. It would still be great to see 92220 on a preserved line though

Many thanks Chris, I only wish I could have filmed it in with better quality equipment. I travelled on one of her southbound runs and we had a runpast at Ribblehead. Everyone trooped off the train and up the side of the B6255, Health and Safety...what Health and Safety!!

Can well belive it, cracking engines

As the last BR loco built she ought to be kept in running order- no questions asked- 155 odd years of loco history behind her- she should be a standard bearer for live steam..

They look so big and powerful, lovely design

Fantastic video. They have got to get 92220 back in steam again soon.

@mickhazeleyes Thanks for sharing that. Must have been amazing. Great memory :-)

Thanks Stuart, they were a great design, scandalous to think how much life they had left in them when they were scrapped.

I think preserved steam loco's are restricted to a 75MPH (IIRC) but it's unlikely that a 9F would go much faster anyway. They were wonderfully capable and versatile but, as you note, not built for speed. I believe the A1 Steam Trust is trying to get Tornado cleared for 90MPH running on the basis that it's a new locomotive.

Yes it was, not sure if it's back now, she had been on display at the Steam museum in Swindon

Thanks, it's surprising that only 92220 made it to the mainline. They were certainly more than capable on passenger trains.

It is indeed, I'd love the chance to film one on the mainline again

Tis running like a well oiled sewing machine. Marvelous

Abother brilliant video Austin, nice to see the crowds at Ais Gill. Two things spring to mind, wasn't it around the time of these runs that the late great photographer Canon Eric Tracey died at Appleby, and after it was withdrawn from BR service the loco sustained severe front end damage, and this resulted in new Name plates being fitted, the origionals being on display at Steam in Swindon..5*...Bob

Thanks very much, its great to have the views of an ex driver

Correct that most are allowed 75mph but some including the 8F are restricted to 50. The centre driving wheels on the 9F's are flangeless which causes concern where speed is concerned. They were known to run passenger trains at very high speeds in service until someone 'high up' put an end to the crews exploits!

Cheers, glad you liked it.

Well probably not the exact spot Tim but no doubt fairly close. Its always been my favourite spot on the line down the years. Thanks for your kind comments and all the best for 2012

Fine engines, I believe 92220 is currently on display at 'Steam' in Swindon

Utterly insane for BR to still be building steam in 1960 or lets face it several years priort to that, but, isnt she lovely

Yes, I had heard 90 too which I understand alarmed BR at the time!

superb vid again for some reason you make steam look very good compared to other clips that i get bored with and stop within the first 10 secs i thought i knew where ais gill was but after travelling up there again i still havnt found it thought it was north of garsdale up the b6259 but i was wrong i cant find ais gill and its a near 200 mile round trip for me but i will try again

Thanks, she's sorely missed.

A nice listing of a much missed main line runner. She might have been a freight engine but you'd never have guessed it when you saw her fly

It would be nice to see her back in steam especially with next year being her 50th. birthday

How could 8 people not like this?

Indeed, I doubt if we'll ever see one on the mainline again

@acw71000 There was talk a few years ago of getting a 9F back on the mainline however network railway have refused for the time being because the 9Fs have a very large "Hammerblow" effect which will damage the modern pointwork on the track apparantly, Its something to do with the central driving wheel that will ride over the top of the points rather than following the flanged wheelway

Thanks very much, I just wish it was better quality.

Cracking stuff. A 9F is a beast, what a shame they are banned from the main line nowadays.

Thank you, it's a great shame that she was the only one of our preserved 9F's to run on the mainline.