Steam Locomotives in Great Britain 2026

Introduction

The interest in Steam Locomotives and Trains in Great Britain (GB) is at an all time high with so many Heritage Railways and Main Line Contractors. I also, even as a boy 70 years ago, have been fascinated by the shear size, mechanical engineering and projected power of a Steam Locomotive. Great Britain created the first Industrial Steam Engine followed by the forerunner to today’s Steam Locomotive, ‘The Rocket’ Steam Locomotive. Robert Stephenson designed and built The Rocket in 1829 almost 200 years ago.

Today I want to look at some of the Steam Locomotives that were manufactured many years ago which have gone through phases of restoration, that are still operating in the Heritage and Main Lines. Many of these Locomotives originated from the Locomotive Barry Scrapyard in South Wales shown below. Out of the 297 Locomotives originally in the Barry Scrapyard 213 have been rescued for Preservation. This was caused in 1963 when Lord Beeching’s report closed a lot of Rail Lines and recommended that all Steam Locomotives should be replaced by Diesel Locomotives. If you look at them now the transformation is incredible both Internally, Mechanically, and Externally by companies like Tyseley’s Engineering Centre, meeting the Certification Standards of today and a huge amount of money expended.

Almost all GB Steam Locomotives are identified by Numbers, Classes and Wheel Numbers and Orientation. For example we will refer to the total Wheel Numbers and Orientation as follows; Leading Wheels (small), Driving Wheels (large) Rear Supporting Wheels (small). Starting from the Front Wheels, example 4-6-2 as shown below. Classes of Locomotives normally have the same starting Number so we will look at the Numbers and Starting Numbers.

The Four Number Series.

The most famous GB Locomotive Four Number 4468 Mallard, broke the world record of 125.88 mph for a Steam Train in 1938. It is in the GB National Railway Museum. It is a Pacific Class A4, 4-6-2. These were designed by Sir Nigel Gresley one of which is still operating called ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’. There are occasions when the four numbers are prefixed by a 4 or 6 when designated to British Railways rather than the Regional Railways such as LMS (London Midland South) or LNER (London North Eastern Railway). Many others have new five figure numbers allocate to the four number Locomotives such Mallard was 4468 changed to 60022. As a boy Train Spotter, I was invited onto the Mallard Footplate (Cab) at Newcastle Central Station.

5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumber is a Great Western Railway (GWR) 4073 Class, 4-6-0 which was built in 1936, 90 years ago in Swindon. It was withdrawn from service in 1963 and recovered from the Barry Scrapyard in 1973. It had a 10 year overhaul until 2023 carried out by Tyseley’s Engineering Centre, Birmingham GB. It is operating today 2026 hauling Tour Trains on the Main Line.

7802 Bradley Manor is a GWR Manor Class 4-6-0 built in 1938 in Swindon. It was withdrawn from service in 1965 and was recovered from the Barry Scrapyard in 1979. It is operating on the Heritage Lines today in 2026 as the image below.

7828 Odney Manor is a GWR Manor Class 4-6-0 one of the last built in 1950 in Swindon. It was withdrawn from service in 1965 and was recovered from the Barry Scrapyard in 1981. It is operating on the Heritage Lines today with 7802 in May 2026 as the image below.

6233 The Duchess of Sutherland is a LMS Princess Coronation Class 4-6-2 Pacific that was built in 1938 at Crewe. Work is continuing to bring 6223 back to the mainline this year. In June 2002 The Duchess of Sutherland was the first Steam Locomotive to haul the Royal Train for 35 years.

The Starting Number 3 Series

34028 Eddystone is a West Country Bullied Light Pacific Class, 4-6-2 built in 1946. It was withdrawn from service in 1964. After a 10 year restoration program it returned to Heritage/ Main Line service in 2021. It is still operational with Swanage Railways and is certified until 2031. Image April 2026.

34070 Manston is a Battle Of Britain Class, 4-6-2 built in 1947. It was withdrawn from service in 1964. It returned to service with Swanage Railways in 2022 after restoration and is operational in 2026 as shown in the image below.

35006 Peninsular & Oriental is a SR Merchant Navy Class, 4-6-2 built in 1941 in Eastleigh. It was withdrawn in 1964 and sent to the Barry Scrapyard. In 1983 it was rescued for overhaul and preservation which took a long time, completed in 2015. It is still operational in May 2026.

The Starting Number 4 Series

45596 Bahamas, is a LMS Jubilee Class, 4-6-0 was built in 1936 in Crewe. It was withdrawn from service in 1964 and stored in 1966 for preservation. In 1973 it was the stored for overhaul which was completed in 1988. It is still in operation in 2026.

45690 Leander, LMS Jubilee Class, 4-6-0 was built in 1936 in Crewe. It was withdrawn from service in 1964 and was in the Barry Scrapyard in 1972. It was rescued from the Barry Scrapyard and after a 10 year overhaul it was completed in 2023 and is still operating in May 2026.

The Starting Number 6 Series

This Number 6 Series is a very comprehensive one due to the specialty of these Locomotives, that have very different backgrounds and history, which makes them Iconic in there own right. All of these are still operational Locomotives in 2026.

60007 Sir Nigel Gresley is a A4 pacific Class 4-6-2 was built in Doncaster in 1937. It was originally numbered 4498. It was withdrawn from service in 1966 and was immediately acquired for Preservation. It has operated on and off over the years but has also had many overhauls and upgrades the latest being from 2015 to 2022. It holds the record for the Post War speed record of 112 mph on the 23rd May 1959. Today in 2026 it is operating on the Heritage and Main Line Tours and is a major attraction as shown below.

60103 Flying Scotsman is a LNER A3 Class 4-6-2 designed by Sir Nigel Gresley and built in Doncaster in 1923, 103 years ago. It has been in operation almost all of its life initially as Number 4472 on the LNER route between London Kings Cross and Edinburgh Waverly, where it was the first Steam Locomotive to pass 100mph. British Rail withdrew it from service in 1963. However it was immediately bought by Alan Peglar who continued its operation. Other owners followed and it is now owned by the National Railway Museum but it is still operational in Heritage and Main Line Tours. There have been may overhauls and upgrades over the years. It is the worlds best know Steam Locomotive and an Icon in the world and has traveled all over the world such as Australia and the USA. Considering it was built in 1923 the technology is incredible and it set a standard for many Steam Locomotives to follow.

60103 Tornado is a A1 Class Peppercorn 4-6-2 designed by Arthur Peppercorn and 49 of them were built in 1948 to 1949 at Doncaster and Darlington. They were in service until 1960, however all 49 A1 Peppercorn Locomotives were scrapped by 1966. In 1990 the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust launched a project using funding from many sources to Build a brand new A1 Peppercorn Locomotive based mainly on the original Peppercorn Designs. Construction began in Darlington Works in 1994. In 1995 the name Tornado was chosen in honour of the Royal Air Force Panavia Tornado crews operating and flying the Tornado Aircraft during the Gulf War. However there were some significant changes to the original designs to meet EU regulations such as a new Boiler designed and manufactured in Germany. After 14 years the A1 Peppercorn was completed and tested in 2008 with certification for Main Line operation in 2009. It reached 100 mph the first Steam Locomotive to do so after 50 years. Today the Tornado is one of the most popular Steam Locomotives in service with the Great Britain Heritage and Main Line Tours. The right hand Tornado badge represents RAF Cottesmore where I, as an RAF Chief Technician, in charge of the Acceptance Checks of 40 plus Tornado Aircraft from British Aerospace, starting with the first two Tornado Aircraft deliveries to the RAF at RAF Cottesmore in June 1980.

60523 Blue Peter is an A2 Peppercorn 4-6-2 designed by Arthur Peppercorn and built in Doncaster in 1948. It was withdrawn from service in 1966 along with another 14 which have been scrapped. 60523 was rescued in 1968 by a BBC Programme Blue Peter for children that led a campaign to restore it, hence the name Blue Peter. It operated between 1996 to 2001 with the original colour Green. It went into storage until the Royal Scot Locomotive & General Trust acquired it in 2014. It the had an extensive overhaul and upgrade complete with a change of colour to Blue until 2024. It now operates on the Heritage and Main Line Tours.

61036 Mayflower is a Thompson B1 Class 4-6-0 built in 1948 by the North British Locomotive Company Ltd in Glasgow operating with British Railways. In 1967 Scottish region acquired it for restoration and operation. I had several owners on of which was North Norfolk Railway for Heritage and Main Line Tours. In 2022 it was acquired by another owner and is operating as part of the ‘Steam Dreams’ programme.

The Starting Number 7 Series

70000 Britannia is a Standard Class 7 ‘ Britannia Class’ 4-6-2 built in 1951 in Crewe. It was the first of the 55 Class 7’s built. It Operated as the east Anglia Express from London to Norwich and Great Yarmouth. In 1952 aged 11, I lived near the railway at Thorpe, Norwich and as Train Spotter I would have seen Britannia many times. Britannia hauled the Funeral Train for King George VI from Kings Lynn Norfolk to London, who died in February 1952 at Sandringham Norfolk, In 2000 there was a new owner and a major restoration and upgrade. In 2011 is was acquired by Royal Scot Locomotive & General Trust. In 2023 it had a major failure however it was repaired and is now operating on the Heritage and Main Line Tours.

71000 Duke Of Gloucester is a Standard Class 8, 4-6-2 built in 1954 in Crewe. It is unique as this was a prototype and the only Class 8 Locomotive built. It had many problems and in 1962 it was withdrawn from British Rail service after only 8 years and sent to the Barry Scrapyard in South Wales. However, in 1974 it was rescued by a group of enthusiasts and was restored over a period of 13 years to a operational state. It is a very powerful Locomotive and in 1995 it broke the speed record of the North bound ‘Shap Trials’. The village of Shap in North West England is on the summit of a large incline almost 1000ft above sea level where Locomotives and their Trains have to climb. It is a real test of the Locomotives Horsepower, which 71000 achieved the highest. After a major overhaul in 2007 the ‘Duke’ now operates on the Heritage and Main Line Tours.

The Starting Number 8 Series

So far the Steam Locomotives we have seen all had one thing in common in that they all had a separate connected ‘Tender’ that contained the Coal and Water to operate the Locomotive. The following Locomotives are designed to carry Coal at the Rear, part of the Locomotive and Water in Side Tanks, part of the Locomotive. These are referred to as ‘Tank’ (T) Locomotives. There are still 15 out of the 155 built in the 1950’s, of this type of Locomotive, still in operation in Heritage railways throughout Great Britain. One of them is 80080 which are ideal for hauling local Railway Trains.

80080 Standard Class 4 tank, 2-6-4T was built in 1954 at Brighton. In 1967 it was withdrawn from service and sent to Barry Scrapyard where is remained until 1980 when it was rescued for Preservation and Restoration. It returned to Main Line services in 1987 and operated until 1992. After a break and overhaul it returned to service in 2012. Today 80080 is part of the North Norfolk Railway.

The Starting Number 9 Series

Two different types of Locomotives had a four numbers then the were prefixed with a 7 then a unique 9***** number allocated to them. In the main one type was a War Time Locomotive and the other type was a Post War Locomotive. They both have the same wheel configuration 2-10-0 and were built for heavy load hauling using the 10 driving wheels.

War Department (WD) 90775 The Royal Norfolk Regiment, Austerity Class 2-10-0 built in 1943-1945 originally numbered (7)3656. It was designed by Robert Riddle for the hauling of Heavy Freight and Coal Trucks. There were 150 Locomotives built, 100 from 1943 to 1945 and another 50 later in 1945 by the North British Locomotive Company Ltd Glasgow. Many of them were shipped to the British Army in France after D-Day and other allied countries after the war. 90775 operates with the North Norfolk Railway today. Another Locomotive (7)3672 Dame Vera Lynn is being overhauled and restored at present. I saw these as a boy in Gateshead hauling Coal Trucks and you could tell it was a WD Locomotive as it has a unique ‘Clanking Sound’ when it is moving.

92134 is BR 9F Class, 2-10-0 Heavy Freight, designed by Robert Riddles and built in 1957 at Crewe. It was withdrawn in 1966 and was in the Barry Scrapyard for almost 14 years until it was rescued in 1980. It went for restoration to Steam & Sail Engineering Ltd but 1988 it went to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) for further restoration at Crewe Heritage Centre. In 2019 it was operational after 53 years. In 2021, 92134 was used to portray a German Steam Locomotive in the 2023 movie, ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’. 92134 is still in operation with NYMR and many other Locomotives of this type are in operation in other Heritage Railways the or in the restoration process. The most famous of these Locomotives is 92220 Evening Star which is in the National Railway Museum in York.

Conclusion

This article has only touched he surface of the Steam Locomotives that are in operation almost year round and in all weather conditions in many places in Great Britain. Some of these I have highlighted, but there are many more Small and Vintage Locomotives that have there own character and function. So many people like myself have always been fascinated by these marvels of engineering and the shear size, power and majesty that they portray. The other important aspect of these Locomotives is there longevity and history. Many were sent for scrap in the mid 1960’s after the Beeching report decimated the Railway Networks and Steam Locomotive Services. Probably the most important of all is the significant enthusiasm of many people and investors, providing the large amount of money to pay the Restoration Companies for their magnificent achievements. These Restorations are still continuing to meet the demand by the Great British public for the Heritage and Main Line Tours, Steam Locomotives and the Trains that they haul.