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Hornby R3276

LMS, Class 4P Compound, 4-4-0, 1072 - Era 3

Manufacturer catalogue image - please note that pre-release images may be CAD renders or CGI images rather than photographs

Prototype Era
Era 3 (1923 to 1947) The Big Four (LNER, LMS, GWR and SR)

Manufacturer description

When Henry Fowler became the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London Midland Scottish Railway in 1925, he immediately set out to work on several new standard designs in an effort to reduce the number of odd classes of locomotive that had been absorbed into the LMS in 1923.

The Class 4 Tank was designed for the unique requirements of suburban duties and used as many standard LMS parts as was possible at the time. The main requirement for a locomotive working suburban services was to have quick acceleration, efficient braking and good tractive ability, the latter being especially useful when pulling heavy carriages full of commuters and subsequent updates to the 2-6-4T design by Stanier, Fairburn, Riddles and British Rail proved the soundness of Fowler's design.

The locomotives were spread around the LMS network, operating suburban services from St.Pancras, Euston, Clydeside and the Midland conurbations as well as the difficult central Wales line from Swansea and Shrewsbury. This arduous route working was matched by the Manchester-Buxton line working via Stockport, as well as the banking duties up to Shap from Tebay where crews received a modified cab to protect them from the elements.

In all, 125 locomotives were built- all at the LMS's Derby works between 1927 and 1934 and were numbered from 2300-2424, locomotive numbers 2395-2424 receiving modified cabs with side windows and doors. Classified 4P by the LMS, British Rail changed their designation to 4MT and the Class stayed in traffic until 1966.

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Catalogue listing

Model details

Prototype information

^* Class names often change over the lifespan of a locomotive, so this is not necessarily the class name used by the operator in the period modelled.

Hornby OO gauge model of the London, Midland & Scottish Railway Class 4P Compound locomotive, numbered 1072. The model is painted in a black livery, measures 220 mm in length and requires a minimum curve radius of 438 mm (2nd radius). It is DCC‑ready with an 8‑pin socket and the motor is a 3‑pole unit with flywheel; power is collected from the driving wheels only.

The prototype was designed by Sir Henry Fowler and built from 1901, with 240 units produced for mixed‑traffic duties. It features a 4‑4‑0 wheel arrangement, three‑pole steam drive and a black colour scheme. The locomotive class was introduced by the LMS in 1924 and remained in service until the mid‑1960s.

The model carries the Hornby part number R3276 and represents the “Big Four” era of British railways (LNER, LMS, GWR and SR). It was originally built at the LMS Derby Works, LMS Horwich Works, North British Locomotive Co and Vulcan Foundry.