2-8-0 WD Austerity Profile and Models

2-8-0 WD Austerity

90733 at Oxenhope in August 2015. ©Alan Wilson

The War Department (WD) "Austerity" 2-8-0 is a type of heavy freight steam locomotive that was introduced in 1943 for war service. A total of 935 were built, making this one of the most-produced classes of British steam locomotive. They were nicknamed Ozzies by the railwaymen. The Austerity 2-8-0 was based on the LMS Class 8F, which until that point had been the government's standard design. Various modifications were made to the 8F design by R.A. Riddles in order to prioritise low cost over design life. After the end of the conflict, the War Department disposed of 930 locomotives, 200 were sold to the LNER, which classified them as "Class O7", many of which passed into BR service. 12 were exported to Hong Kong to work on the British colony's Kowloon-Canton Railway. Others remained in Europe, mostly in the Netherlands and one was exported to the United States. One has been preserved at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway.

(Information provided via Wikipedia)

Type of Locomotive

Steam

Builder

North British Locomotive Co
Vulcan Foundry

Build Date

1943 to 1945

Total Built

935

Tractive Effort

34,215 lbf

Wheel Configuration

2-8-0

Operated By

War Department
London & North Eastern Railway
British Railways
Kowloon-Canton Railway
Nederlandse Spoorwegen
USATC

Main Duties

Heavy Freight
Wartime Use

In Service Until

1966

Surviving Examples

1

 

Products awaiting categorisation

Scale Brand Image Construction Type DCC Capability Product Code Product Title Livery
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) Bristol Models WD280BM WD. Austerity 2-8-0 kit Requires assembly Not set WD280BM
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WD. Austerity 2-8-0 kit Awaiting Categorisation
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) DJH Model Railway Kits K38 BR/WD Austerity 2-8-0/LNER 07 Requires assembly Not set K38
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BR/WD Austerity 2-8-0/LNER 07 Awaiting Categorisation
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) Falcon Brassworks No image available Requires assembly Not set LK207
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WD Austerity 2-8-0 with Standard Tender - body kit Awaiting Categorisation
N Gauge Foxhunter Models FHM8 WD/BR Austerity 2-8-0 Loco Body Kit Requires assembly Not set FHM8
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WD/BR Austerity 2-8-0 Loco Body Kit War Department