The Metropolitan Jones H2 4-4-4T

[Rew]

With the interest in London Underground and London Transport models on the increase, I would love to see a RTR model of the Metropolitan Railway Jones H2 4-4-4T.  The class worked locally around London with expresses on the Metropolitan Railway and with the LNER around Nottingham.

It could be produced in both Metropolitan Railway maroon and LNER lined black.  The LNER version would already suit RTR LNER rolling stock readily available.

Heljan took a gamble with the release of the MR Bo-Bo, which has proven highly sort after.  You could argue, that a locomotive of such unique design and yet 'restricted' use would yeald such an interest.

An H2 would I think gain such an interest as it is a missing class for the RTR market for local / express passenger tank locomotives.  RTR Dreadnought coaching stock to compliment it would make a perfect train pack for a London theme.

 

 

[LCDR]

 I agree, It would be especially good if it were accompanied with a couple of matching  'Dreadnought' carriages. These would also sell to match up with the Heljan Bo-Bo, and with the Hornby L1 and Stanier 2-6-4Ts.

 

For those not familiar with the Metropolitan Railway services the trains of Dreadnought carriages were used between London Baker Street (Moorgate in rush hours) and Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire. From London to Rickmansworth the electric Bo-Bo hauled the train, but at Rickmansworth the electric loco came off and a steam locomotive attached to the train for the rest of the journey. The route from West Hampstead to Aylesbury (and at one time Verney Junction) was shared jointly between the Metropolitan and Great Central railways.

 

Until 1933 the Metropolitan Railway used its own steam locomotives. Then the London Passenger Transport Board was formed amalgamating the Metropolitan, Metropolitan District, Underground Group and other urban railways in London.  The bigger Metropolitan Railway locos were transferred to the LNER, including the H class, and continued to haul the trains beyond Rickmansworth.  The Metropolitan Railway became the Metropolitan line of London Transport.

 

The Dreadnought carriages remained in service until 1960. After the War the LNER replaced the former Metropolitan locos with its own L1 2-6-4Ts. Then BR transferred some Stanier 2-6-4Ts to Neasden shed and these continued in used until the line to Amersham was electrified.

 

From 1960 BR provided DMUs for the service beyound Amersham running from Marylebone. The LT service used new 'A' stock, introduced 1960 but in the last few years these too have been withdrawn and replaced with 'S' stock.

[walkingthedog]

Thanks LC. The S stock runs from Aldgate and terminates at Amersham. Chiltern Railways run the Marylebone to Aylesbury Parkway service. Very handy it is to. I always go to the next station from Amersham, Chalfont and Latimer, as this has an extra underground train from Chesham. Oyster card available on all trains. 

[LCDR]

 Chalfont & Latimer is the junction for Chesham.

 

Before1960 the service was provided by an Ivatt class 2 2-6-2T push pull working with a set of very old Metropolitan carriages, predating the Dreadnoughts. These carriages still survive on the Bluebell railway, and were some of the first to operate between Sheffield Park & Horstead Keynes in preservation.

 

It was a good place to observe the 'Steam on the Met' events.

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Maunsell U class double heading with a GW 94xx passes Chalfont & Latimer in May 1999.

[walkingthedog]

I know the driver of the 94XX, he is/was a consultant at John Radcliffe Hosp named Lance. Nice chap.

[LCDR]

 I also know one of the drivers on SOTM, he and I worked in the same office at York, and as far as I know he is still associated with main line steam ops. We also worked together on the NYMR for a few years.

[walkingthedog]

Maybe they know each other. Not sure if he always drives SOTM, he's often off somewhere at the weekend. I know he is/was involved somewhere in East Europe where a group would sort of take over a line and run steam locos for a week or two. 

[LCDR]

 Just checked. LTPB took over the service in 1933 but it was 1937 when the LNER took over the locos.  So for 4 years London Transport had a fleet of large main line steam locos.

 

0-6-4T Class G - 94 to 97 - became LNER class M2 6154 to 6157

4-4-4T Class H - 103 to 110 - became LNER H2 6415 to 6422

2-6-4T Class K - 111 to 116 - became LNER L2 6158 to 6163

all of these were transferred to the LNER 1937.

They had all been repainted into London Transport livery prior to sale.

 

London Transport  retained the following former Metropolitan steam classes

4-4-0T Class A - 23 - became LT no. L44

0-4-4T Class E - 1, 77, 80 , 81 - became L45 to L48

0-6-2T Class F - 90 to 93 - became L49 to L52

0-6-0ST Class S - 101 , 102 - became L53 , L54

 

No 1 and No 23 are preserved.

[Rew]

Has anyone from Hornby considered my wish?  I would still love to have a model.

[LCDR]

Hornby does not respond to the forum directly, and product development is a closed topic so far as the company is concerned, choosing to announce new models only in January.

 

The Jones 4-4-4T is unfortunately a fairly obscure type it didn't even make it into the 2018 BRM Wishlist Poll.

 

I would therefore suggest despite my own liking for Metropolitan Railway and London Transport Railways locomotives and rolling stock we are most unlikely to see a model of any of these, from Hornby, or any other ready to run manufacturer.