No. 48305 

LMS CLASS 8F 2-8-0 8305

Designed by Sir William Stanier for the London Midland Railway, there was a need for a more modern locomotive capable of pulling 1,000-ton trains — roughly equivalent to keeping 40 large lorries off the roads with each train.

8305 was one of 852 8Fs built: 208 for the War Department and 644 for UK use. It is one of just six UK 8Fs preserved, while eight War Department 8Fs survive, including two that returned to the UK.

In 1950, 8305 was working from Wellingborough shed, hauling coal trains to Brent Sidings, Cricklewood, and Toton. In April 1957, it transferred to Northampton, where it remained for five and a half years before moving to Crewe South in December 1962. After two years there, it was transferred briefly to Northwich for three months before its final allocation to Speke Junction in Liverpool.

Stanier 8Fs were well known on the Great Central Railway, having hauled many heavy freight trains on the London Extension from Nottingham to London during the line’s later years.

8305 was withdrawn in January 1968, the last year of steam operation on British Railways. It arrived at Woodham’s scrapyard in Barry in September 1968. Purchased for preservation from Barry, 8305 is famous for the words “Please don’t let me die” painted on its smokebox door — a plea that was answered when it arrived at the GCR, at Quorn & Woodhouse, on 20th November 1985.

8305 remains in traffic and is scheduled to run until 2028. It has been popular at railways across the UK, visiting for galas or on hire, and is a much-loved engine at its home on the GCR, always looking the part while pulling freight trains.