Hornby’s all-new model of the BR ‘2MT’ 2-6-0 has been a long time coming for ‘OO’ gauge, but it has now arrived with retailers. MIKE WILD takes a closer look at BR lined black 78047.
The BR ‘2MT’ 2-6-0 is one of the missing links in ready-to-run BR Standard steam locomotive designs. The real locomotives were introduced in 1952 and based on the successful Ivatt ‘2MT’ 2-6-0s which entered traffic with the London, Midland & Scottish Railway in 1946.
BR built 65 ‘2MT’ 2-6-0s at Darlington Works, and they were operated by the Scottish, Eastern and Midland regions (as well as being well-known for service on former Cambrian Railway routes) with the last withdrawn in 1967. Three have been preserved in original condition with a fourth in the process of being rebuilt as a BR ‘2MT’ 2-6-2T.
Above: Finished in BR lined black livery, 78047 is a striking model of the ‘2MT’ 2-6-0.
In model form the BR ‘2MT’ 2-6-0 has never been available before for ‘OO’ gauge so Hornby’s 2020 announcement of this mixed-traffic locomotive was well received. However, its gestation has taken longer than expected, with the first batch touching down with retailers during early November 2023.
Five locomotives are arriving in the first wave of releases. They model…
