Steve Johnson Modelmaker
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BR Class
11 0-6-0DE The first batch of 20 shunters were built by the LMSR during World War II, based closely on an earlier LMS design of 1935. Fourteen of these were for the War Department. LMS numbers 7120-7126 went into LMS service and a further batch was built, with 7129 being the last diesel shunter built for the LMS. British Railways continued to build the class between 1948 and 1952, numbered M7130 to M7131 and 12045 to 12138. The LMS numbered shunters were renumbered into the BR sequence becoming 12033 to 12138, later being designated Class 11 under TOPS. With the reducing need for diesel shunters, the class was gradually withdrawn between 1967 and 1972. Fortunately, eight have survived in preservation. My take on this was to convert a spare Bachmann Class 08, which is similar, to a Class 11. This was one of those long term projects that I hadn't actually started. Just as well as in July 2019, Model Rail announced that they were going to produce a Class 11 in association with Heljan. As such, I have decided to hold off and see what this looks like. It should be better than a converted 08!
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