If you don't know what the LMS workhorse was it was the black 5 and if you don't know what a Black 5 is just think of a LMS Jubilee with smaller wheels. The Black 5s did a lot for the LMS from pulling express to freight and to stopping passengers. If you went anywhere on the LMS you have a high chance to see a Black 5. Designed by Willliam Stanier but built by Armstrong Whitworth. The Black 5s also were subject to many experiments. A freight class based of the Black 5 called the 8Fs were built and used around Europe and Africa. Examples of both classes still exist. Black 5 Variants Spirit of Steam and Peak Forest The Black 5s were planned for Peak Forest but they thought it was too similar to the Jubilee so they chose the 4F I'm not complaining about that but it would also be nice to have a Black 5. The Black 5s on Peak Forest would a mix of everything except from shunting and in. 1963 they were in a bit of a state. On Spirit of Steam it is the opposite because that's relax through the Peak District but it's more of how fast can you go try keep on time and go as fast as you can. The Black 5 will do the same as Peak Forest. Preserved Railtours 18 Black 5s are preserved being one of if not the most preserved class of steam train those being: (BR Numbers) 44767 'Gorge Stephenson' 44806 44871 44901 44932 45000 45025 45110 45163 45163 45212 45231 'The Sherwood Forester 45293 45305 'Alderman A. E. Draper' 45337 45379 45407 'The Lancashire Fusilier' 45428 45491 Some (not all) Named Express trains pulled by Black 5s are Jacobite The Cathedral's Express The Great Britain VII IT57 Scarborough Spa Express (To name a few)
We do need a steam locomotive that would realistically be seen on both freight and passenger. At the moment, the timetables of Spirit of Steam and Peak Forest are too predictable; they need something like a Black 5 to randomly substitute in for more variety. I doubt a Black 5 could match the performance of an 8F on a heavy freight train, but it would be fun to try!
I mean it's iconic to British Railways (not the company)and most people have seen them so it would make sense if someone saw one and thought 'Oh I wonder how's that's like to drive' or 'Oh I like that one I am going to see if I could drive it'
