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.