Hornby Standard 4MT 4-6-0 R3016
This was a Riddles mixed traffic locomotive design introduced in 1951. British Railways built 80 locomotives between May 1951 and June 1957. The first was withdrawn in December 1964 and the last in August 1968, with the end of steam traction on the national standard gauge network. Six found their way into preservation at railway heritage centres and with such a short life on the national rail network, they had plenty of life left in them.
In planning their future development programme, Hornby were conscious of the fact that their steam locomotive range was almost devoid of BR standard class locomotives. Bachmann had been busy mopping up all the remaining subjects but their model of a standard 4MT 4-6-0 dated back to 1976 when Palitoy had designed it for their Mainline Railways range. Over the years it had received some tweaks but it was seen as being a good subject for a super-detail model. Bachmann anxious not to lose this model also retooled their own and the Hornby and Bachmann models were released at almost the same time. Neither has sold in large numbers, judging by the delay in introducing new versions. No.75072 is the fourth version by Hornby and was to have had late decals on the tender but, when released, these had been changed to the early ones. The detail on the model is superb and this is no better seen than in the cab interior.