Bachmann Branchline 31-058 Class J72 0-6-0T 68727 in BR black with late crest - weathered

The J72 Class of tank engine posses the unique record of having been constructed at varying periods over a span of 54 years under three railway company ownerships: NER, LNER & BR.Designed by T.W. Worsdell, and originally designated Class E1 by him, the J&" was introduced in 1898 for ligh goods and shunting duties. They were a further development of the near-identical J71 Class, which has slightly larger diameter wheels, and were built at darlington, Doncaster and by the Armstrong-Whitworth Company.Eighty-five J72's were built, the last LNER ones in 1925, then, after nationalisation, between 1949-51, British Railways built a further batch of twenty-eight identical to the original 1898 design making a class totaol of 113.During the late '40's, a number of J72's were fitted with vacuum braking, enabling them to work as passenger pilots and on carriage shunting duties.