ERO Presents: Raising Steam

The Holden F5 Steam Locomotive Trust, formed in 2003, is constructing a replica of the Great Eastern Railway’s M15R (latterly LNER/British Railways F5) Class of locomotives, designed by James Holden and an improvement upon members of the earlier M15 (LNER F4) Class introduced by Thomas William Worsdell.

With examples to be seen throughout East London and East Anglia, the last member of this type was withdrawn by May 1958. In their last years of service, they became synonymous with the Epping to Ongar branch (on what was part of London Underground’s Central Line) where they operated push-pull services until November 1957.

The ‘Trust’ is recreating one of these locomotives, namely GER number 789, latterly British Railways number 67218.

Whilst not having the glamour and following of an express locomotive, upon completion the engine will be well-suited to the needs of many heritage lines; with modern engineering practices and design work being coupled with original drawings, GER 789 will be more than capable of all but the heaviest loads.

The first step in the project was to obtain the necessary drawings, which were sourced from the Great Eastern Railway Society (the drawings being in the care of the Essex Records Office) and the National Railway Museum. Original drawings have since been converted into a digital CAD system.