The Book of the Stanier 8F 2-8-0s Part 1: Pre-War Engines 48000-48125

This first of five parts covering 8Fs describes the first 126 pre-War examples built by the LMS, 8000-8125 which became 48100-48125. Many were sent abroad and not all by any means returned. Some, dramatically, were jettisoned in storms to save the ship; some were blown up by terrorists, some were fitted with armour protection and all were worked into the ground - or rather the sand, as their work was in the Middle East, from Egypt through an arc sweeping through Persia to Iraq and Palestine. Some hauled Polish servicemen from captivity in the Soviet Union to join Allied Forces in the Invasion of Europe. All these facets of their lives are recorded and illustrated, including those that 'came home'. All the usual works histories and allocations are here for every loco, together with detail down to the merest rivet; liveries and tender varieties, experimental episodes and every other facet of these mightily impressive 2-8-0s, which survived to the very last days of BR steam.