BR 3MT 2-6-2 

Decorated Samples Under Review

Lionheart Trains were delighted to receive two decorated samples of the BR 3MT just in time for Warley 2022. The samples were put on display for all to see at the show where they received much praise. We did get some very useful feedback from members of the public on a number of minor points and the design team are now taking these comments under consideration during their in-depth evaluation of the models.

Prototype

The BR Standard Class 3 2-6-2T was a class of steam locomotive designed by Robert Riddles for British Railways. It was essentially a hybrid design, the chassis being closely based on and sharing a number of parts with the LMS Ivatt Class 4, and having a boiler derived from a GWR No.2 boiler as fitted to the GWR Large Prairie 2-6-2T and 5600 Class 0-6-2T tank engines.  

The design and construction took place at the ex-GWR Swindon Works, along with the 2-6-0 tender engine version of the class and a number of other BR Standard Classes, the chassis design used a number of LMS-designed components including Brake Hanger Brackets, Flexible Stretcher Brackets and Reversing Shaft Brackets.  

 Into service, they were based on the Western, Southern, North Eastern and London Midland Region. The class had a short life as most of the work that they had been built for soon disappeared alongside the branch lines and the introduction of DMU services on shorter routes. The shortest lived was 82043, only 8 years 8 months old at withdrawal; the longest lived was 82019, two months short of its fifteenth birthday. The class’s design lifespan, however, was intended for 40 years.  

None of the locomotives survived into preservation. The 82045 Steam Locomotive Trust are in the process of constructing a new locomotive from the ground up which is progressing well, and have been most helpful supplying photographs of these versatile engines. 

Model Features

• Die cast metal body and chassis
• Die cast wheels which are tapered from the rim inwards on both sides as per the prototype, with steel tyres 
• Brake shoes in ABS plastic 
• 5 pole skew wound precision motor 
•  Sprung centre driving wheel and pony trucks 
• Die cast pivoted coupling and connecting rods, plated then blackened 
• Fully working prototypical Walschaerts valve gear 
• Easily removeable cab roof (for adding a crew) by means of small magnets 
•  Working cab doors  
•  Wire handrails with stanchions in metal 
• Sprung metal buffers and screw link couplings 
• Full back head detail with reversing wheel in ABS · Flickering firebox glow 
•   All wheel pick up (including wheels on both pony trucks)   

Proposed Models

• LHT-S-8201 British Railways 3MT Lined Black Late Crest 82010
•  LHT-S-8201U British Railways 3MT Lined Black Late Crest Unnumbered
•  LHT-S-8202 British Railways 3MT Lined Black Early Crest 82029
•  LHT-S-8202U British Railways 3MT Lined Black Early Crest Unnumbered 
•  LHT-S-8203 British Railways 3MT Lined Black Late Crest 82027 
•  LHT-S-8204 British Railways 3MT Lined Black Early Crest 82019 
•  LHT-S-8205 British Railways 3MT Green Early Crest 82007 
•  LHT-S-8206 British Railways 3MT Lined Green Early Crest 82003 
•  LHT-S-8207 British Railways 3MT Green Late Crest 82020 
•  LHT-S-8208 British Railways 3MT Lined Green Late Crest 82030 
•  LHT-S-8208U British Railways 3MT Lined Green Late Crest Unnumbered 

Progress

The design team are currently going over the two decorated samples that arrived in time for the Warely show with a fine-tooth comb formulating their feedback for the factory. they will incorporate the feedback already provided by members of the public at the show.

Production is expected to take place early to mid 2023, we expect the models to be in shops sometime during the third quarter of 2023.

Pricing