The earlier members of this class were fitted with Westinghouse Brakes - all of this equipment was removed during the 1930s.

After World War I, the NER experienced an increase in both freight and passenger traffic.

To provide a good balance between speed and adhesion, 5-foot 8-inch driving wheels were chosen.

In both cases, this provided a powerful locomotive that was also easy to maintain and repair.

By the Groupings of 1923, thirty-eight locomotives passed to the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER), which built thirty-two more starting with No.

Their duties included fast freights, express passenger trains, excursions to Scarborough, and even football specials.

During World War II, some of the B16s moved to the Great Central Main Line, working around Banbury and Woodford Halse After World War II, the B16s were used on their pre-war duties but were also used as far south as Peterborough, where they substituted for a failed V2 2-6-2 or a Thompson B1.

925, was badly damaged (along with A4 4469 Sir Ralph Wedgwood) during a German air-raid on York on 29 April 1942, and was subsequently scrapped.

Given the class's age and with the Modernisation Plan already in full swing, withdrawals were rapid.