LMS Hughes Crab

The London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Hughes Crab or Horwich Mogul is a class of mixed traffic 2-6-0 steam locomotive built between 1926 and 1932.[1] They are noted for their appearance with large steeply-angled cylinders to accommodate a restricted loading gauge.

LMS Hughes Crab
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerGeorge Hughes
Builder
Build date1926–1932
Total produced245
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-6-0
 • UIC1′C h2
Gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia.3 ft 6 1⁄2 in (1.080 m)
Driver dia.5 ft 6 in (1.676 m)
Length59 ft 3 7⁄8 in (18.082 m)
Loco weight66 long tons (67 t; 74 short tons)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity5 long tons (5.1 t; 5.6 short tons)
Water cap3,500 imp gal (16,000 L; 4,200 US gal)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		27.5 sq ft (2.55 m2)
BoilerLMS type G9HS
Boiler pressure180 lbf/in2 (1.24 MPa)
Heating surface:
 • Tubes		1,361 sq ft (126.4 m2), later 1,345 sq ft (125.0 m2)
 • Firebox160 sq ft (15 m2)
Superheater:
​
 • Heating area307 sq ft (28.5 m2)
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size21 in × 26 in (533 mm × 660 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort26,580 lbf (118.23 kN)
Career
Operators
Power classLMS: 4 later 5P4F, later 5P5F, later 6P5F, later 5MT
NumbersLMS 13000–13244, renumbered 2700–2944 in 1934, BR 42700–42944
NicknamesCrab
Withdrawn1961–1967
DispositionTwo preserved, one extant, remainder scrapped
42884 at Carlisle in 1960. Note the Fowler tender which is narrower than the locomotive.

Overview

Designed by George Hughes, Chief Mechanical Engineer of the LMS, and built at the ex-L&YR works at Horwich and the ex-LNWR works at Crewe. The inspiration came from a Caledonian Railway 2-6-0 design at the grouping, however the cylinders were too large for the LMS's English section's loading gauge, resulting in Hughes having to adapt the concept.[2] They were put into service by his successor, Henry Fowler. The design incorporated a number of advanced features for the time such as long travel valves, compensated brake gear, a new design of tender and a new boiler, the latter based on the one fitted to Hughes's four-cylinder Baltic tank locomotives built at Horwich.

Fowler tried to have the design altered to use standard Derby components. However the design process and pre-production were sufficiently advanced to prevent the fitting of a smaller Derby pattern boiler, and the cylinders and motion also remained as designed by Hughes. The tender was replaced by a Derby standard type, which was narrower than the cab. Standard Midland Railway boiler fittings and brake equipment were also substituted, and the class became something of a hybrid design. Nevertheless they performed rather well in most circumstances and gained a strong reputation in some areas, especially in Scotland, where they became the preferred locomotive for heavy unfitted mineral work on difficult routes, even after the introduction of the Stanier mixed traffic 4-6-0s.

Experiments

In 1931 five engines, 13118, 13122, 13124, 13125 and 13129 were fitted with Lentz valve gear. They were renumbered as 42818, 42822, 42824, 42825 and 42829 after nationalisation. In 1953 the Lentz valve gear on these engines was replaced with Reidinger valve gear.

Tests at Rugby Locomotive Testing Station in 1954 indicated the design had a maximum steaming rate of 16,000 pounds per hour (7,300 kg/h). Modifications of the chimney and blast pipe improved the maximum rate to 20,000 pounds per hour (9,100 kg/h) but no other engine was modified to take advantage of this. [3]

Successor

When an order was placed by the traffic department for delivery of 40 more examples of this type, the new Chief Mechanical Engineer, William Stanier, decided to introduce a taper boiler version, in line with his policy of using taper boilers on all new locomotive designs. There were so many changes to the layout of the locomotive, such as higher boiler pressure and smaller cylinders, that it became a new design, the LMS Stanier Mogul.

Numbering
Numbers Lot No. Date Built at
Original LMS 1933 BR
13000–06 2700–06 42700–06 20 1926 Horwich
13007–29 2707–29 42707–29 20 1927 Horwich
13030–35 2730–35 42730–35 21 1926 Crewe
13036–99 2736–99 42736–99 21 1927 Crewe
13100–07 2800–07 42800–07 54 1928 Crewe
13108–09 2808–09 42808–09 54 1929 Crewe
13110–29 2810–29 42810–29 63 1929 Horwich
13130–49 2830–49 42830–49 68 1930 Horwich
13150–224 2850–924 42850–924 69 1930 Crewe
13225–34 2925–34 42925–34 80 1931 Crewe
13235–44 2935–44 42935–44 86 1932 Crewe

Initially numbered 13000–244, as standard locomotives they were given the lower numbers 2700–2944 in the LMS 1933 renumbering scheme. After being taken into British Railways stock an additional 40000 was added to their numbers, becoming 42700–42944.

Withdrawal

The class survived intact until 1961 when three were withdrawn. The remainder of the class were withdrawn over the next six years.

Table of withdrawals
YearQuantity in
service at
start of year		Quantity
withdrawn		Locomotive numbers
1961245342864/93, 42930.
19622426142713–14/20/24/26/42–45/49/52/64/66/73/75/79/81/84/86/97,
42804/07–09/11/18/22/24–25/29–30/33–37/47/50/57/62/66/68/74–77/81–84/87/89/91/99,
42903/06/15/18/27/29/39.
19631815242704/06/11/18/21/23/28–29/35/46–47/50/58–59/62/67–68/70–71/74/85/90/92/94/96/98,
42805–06/10/13/21/38/43/52–54/65/70–73/85/90/95,
42910–11/14/21/28/33/35/44.
19641295442701/03/05/07–09/17/19/25/31/38/48/54–57/60–61/63/69/76/88/93,
42802/15–16/20/23/26/39–40/42/45–46/51/55–56/58/60/67/80/88/94/97,
42902/07/20/22–23/25–26/31/34/43.
1965754842710/16/22/30/32–33/41/51/53/72/77–78/80/83/87/91/99,
42800/14/17/19/27–28/31–32/41/44/48–49/69/78–79/86/92/96/98,
42900–01/04–05/12/16/32/36–38/40–41.
1966272542700/02/12/15/34/36–37/39–40/65/82/89/95,
42801/03/12/59/61/63,
42908–09/13/17/19/24.
19672242727, 42942.

Accidents and incidents
  • On 23 February 1937, an express freight train hauled by locomotive No. 2765 was derailed at West Hampstead, Middlesex.[4]
  • On 19 May 1957, locomotive No. 42806 was derailed at Parkhouse, Ayr.[5]
  • On 21 January 1960, in the Settle rail crash, a freight train derailed following damage to the track from a failed connecting rod assembly on a passenger locomotive on the adjacent track. The derailed locomotive, No 42881, struck the stopped passenger train, killing five passengers.

Nicknames

These locomotives were referred to by loco spotters as "Crabs", although the term "Horwich mogul" was preferred by the LMS. Several authors have claimed that this refers to the resemblance to a crab's pincers of the outside cylinders and valve motion.[6][7][8] Another suggestion is that the nickname refers to the "scuttling" motion felt on the footplate when the engine is being worked hard,[7] due largely to the inclined cylinders, producing a sensation that it is walking along the track. In some areas they also received the nickname "frothblowers" from their tendency to prime easily when the boiler was overfilled, or the feedwater contaminated.[9]

Preservation

Survivors

Three have survived to preservation

Note: Loco numbers in bold mean their current number.

Numbers Built Builder Withdrawn Service Life Location Condition Photo Notes
Original LMS 1933 BR
13000 2700 42700 Jun 1926 Horwich Works Nov 1964 39 Years 9 Months National Railway Museum, York Static Display The first-built locomotive, 2700 is part of the National Railway Collection and currently on static display.
13065 2765 42765 Aug 1927 Crewe Works Dec 1966 39 Years 3 Months East Lancashire Railway Undergoing Overhaul Following an overhaul returned to service in 2014 wearing crimson lake livery and her pre-LMS number 13065. She is currently the only Crab to have also run in preservation.

In January 2016, 13065 operated with Flying Scotsman: due to the extensive repairs to Flying Scotsman, it needed to be weaned into full operation and relied on several steam and diesel engines including 13065 to accompany it for health and safety reasons (including Passenger safety).

In May 2018 it was discovered that a number of the engine's flue tubes had failed, rather than replacing just the cracked flue tubes a decision was reached to replace all the tubes in the engine's boiler alongside replacing the cracked ones. The engine's 10-year overhaul is therefore being undertaken which although will see 13065 out of service for 2018 will mean that the engine can operate beyond 2024 on a fresh boiler ticket, it will also save the ELR from being two engines down when 34092 City of Wells is withdrawn for overhaul.[10][11]

13159 2859 42859 Mar 1930 Crewe Works Dec 1966 36 Years 9 Months Private Site Awaiting Restoration 42859 had been stored at RAF Binbrook in a dismantled state since 1995 whilst the owner undertook its restoration.[12][13]

However, in November 2012, after the driving wheels and tender frame were removed without the owner's permission,[14] an injunction was obtained to prevent any further removal of parts.[13] The driving wheels were later discovered by the police during a raid of a nearby industrial unit in an unrelated operation; the owner of the premises was served with a notice preventing the wheels' removal.[15] In June 2013, it was announced that the matter had been classified as a civil dispute by Lincolnshire Police and will have to be pursued through the courts.[16] The boiler and frames were removed from storage in Binbrook under police supervision and moved to a secret location.[17] Legal proceedings for the return of the wheels and tender frame are underway.[17] The boiler was subsequently cut up in a Nottingham scrapyard having been sold by the owner to pay for the costs of moving it from Binbrook.[18] The owner stated that the boiler was beyond economic repair and that he has retained sufficient parts to allow a replacement to be built.[18] The wheels remain at RAF Binbrook under a court order.

Models

Models exist in 00 gauge. An old and rather inaccurate model was produced by Lima, and an updated model has since been produced by Bachmann. N gauge models are produced by Graham Farish.

Notes
  1. Rowledge 1975, p. 7.
  2. Haresnape 1981, p. 61.
  3. Marshall 1972, pp. 199–200.
  4. Trevena, Arthur (1980). Trains in Trouble. Vol. 1. Redruth: Atlantic Books. p. 40. ISBN 0-906899-01-X.
  5. Earnshaw, Alan (1993). Trains in Trouble: Vol. 8. Penryn: Atlantic Books. p. 29. ISBN 0-906899-52-4.
  6. Haresnape 1981, p. 65.
  7. Hunt, Essery & James 2000, p. 7.
  8. Young & Tyreman 2009, p. 6.
  9. Middlemass 1991, p. ?.
  10. https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2018/05/east-lancashire-railway-release-update-on-steam-locomotive-no-13065.html
  11. http://www.railreport.co.uk/2018/05/lms-crab-13065s-failure.html?spref=fb
  12. Collins, Rod. "RAF Binbrook". Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  13. Piggott, Nick, ed. (February 2013). "'Crab' owner in court bid to save engine after wheels disappear". The Railway Magazine. 159 (1, 342): 10.
  14. Press Complaints Commission (13 May 2013). "Complaint - Steam Railway". Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  15. Piggott, Nick, ed. (March 2013). "'Crab' driving wheels found". The Railway Magazine. 159 (1, 343): 10.
  16. Piggott, Nick, ed. (June 2013). "Missing 'Crab' wheels a civil matter, say police". The Railway Magazine. 159 (1, 346): 8.
  17. Piggott, Nick, ed. (September 2013). "'Crab' goes from Binbrook under police supervision". The Railway Magazine. 159 (1, 349): 12.
  18. Piggott, Nick, ed. (March 2014). "'Crab' boiler is cut up - but owner plans to build a new one". The Railway Magazine. 160 (1, 356): 6.

References
  • Haresnape, Brian (February 1981) [1972]. Fowler Locomotives: A Pictorial History. Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0374-2. CX/0281.
  • Hunt, David; Essery, Bob; James, Fred (2000). LMS Locomotive Profiles No. 2 - The Horwich Moguls. Didcot: Wild Swan. ISBN 1-874103-56-9.
  • Middlemass, Tom (1991). Steam Locomotives' Nicknames. Silver Link Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-947971-70-X.
  • Rowledge, J.W.P. (1975). Engines of the LMS, built 1923–51. Oxford: Oxford Publishing Company. ISBN 0-902888-59-5.
  • Young, John; Tyreman, David (2009). The Hughes and Stanier 2-6-0s. Locomotives of the LMS. Maidenhead: RCTS. ISBN 978-0-901115-96-6.
  • Marshall, John (1972). The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway, volume 3. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-5320-9.
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