NER 901 Class

Introduced in 1875, the NER 901 Class, of which NER 910 is the sole survivor, was designed by Edward Fletcher for the North Eastern Railway (NER). Built at the Gateshead works, 55 of the class were constructed between 1872 and 1882, with 910 delivered in April 1875.

As 2-4-0 tender engine with inside cylinders and Stephenson valve gear, the 901 Class was conceived for express passenger work, notably on main-line services between Newcastle, York and Edinburgh. Their 7-foot driving wheels, 160 psi boilers, 18″ × 24″ cylinders (in rebuilt form), and a tractive effort of about 12,590 lbf equipped them well for hauling heavy express trains of 160–170 tons.

Visually and stylistically, the 901s were classic Victorian express locomotives. During the 1880s and beyond many were reassigned from premier express duties to secondary lines and slower passenger services, including over the rugged Stainmore route to Kirkby Stephen, Penrith and Tebay.

Though 54 of the original 55 were eventually scrapped, NER 910 was set aside for preservation. Withdrawn from service in 1925, it was restored to NER livery and exhibited in the centenary commemorations of the Stockton and Darlington Railway centenary in 1925. It later entered the first national railway museum collection and today remains part of the national collection, it has been cosmetically restored in 2025.

For the first time ever, we aim to bring this rarely-seen Fletcher masterpiece back to life in 00 gauge.

To move forward, we need 1,500 enthusiasts to join our waitlist. Once we reach that milestone, the project will progress to the next phase with a target price of £185, at which point we will invite advance payments to fund production. This price will secure you a finely detailed 00 gauge model — a faithful tribute to NER 910 and the vanished 901 Class.