Hornby – BR, Class B17/5, 4-6-0, 61670 ‘City of London’ (R30137) OO Gauge

The 4-6-0 B17 was one of the underrated workhorses of the LNER. In a company with such heavy hitters as the A3 and A4 locomotives it is easy to see why some less visually impressive locomotives may be overlooked, but the importance of some of these other models should not be understated. The B17 was born out of necessity, the Great Eastern Main Line between London and Norfolk had weight restrictions littered across the route that the larger pacifics exceeded, while the B12 class of locomotives that worked the route were struggling to keep up with the demand for longer and more intense services. In total 73 examples of the class were built and 73 examples were scrapped. As of 2023, there is a project being undertaken to complete a new built B17, 61673 Spirit of Sandringham.
In September 1937 the LNER introduced their East Anglian service, with the first train departing on the 27th. To celebrate this service, and to bring the locomotives more in line with several other recent LNER services which were all hauled by A4 locomotives two examples of the class were fitted with A4 style streamlining. These were designated the B17/5s.
2870 was introduced in to LNER service in 1937 as Manchester City, before being hastily renamed to Tottenham Hotspur. In September of the same year the locomotive would be renamed again to City of London and would be given its streamlined panels. The locomotive would be rebuilt as the B17/6 in April 1951 before being withdrawn 9 years later in April 1960 as 61670.
This model of the B17 includes a newly tooled body with full ‘clothing’ and cab detail. The locomotive features a 5 pole motor with flywheel and couples to rolling stock via NEM couplings front and rear.