Designed by Thomas Parker for the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway (MS&LR), the prototype 9F was built in 1891.

The 9F, later N5, locos were utilised for a variety of purposes including goods shunting, short goods train trips and local passenger train duties.

During July 1952, there were N5s based at Neasden (London), Immingham, Lincoln, Darnall (Sheffield), Gorton (Manchester), and Northwich, Chester and Wrexham, plus several other loco depots.

British Railways, formed on 1 January 1948, added 60000 to all LNER loco numbers.

117 survived at 24 April 1954, reducing to 46 at 8 March 1958 as diesel-electric shunters were delivered.