LMS Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2T

The London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2T is a class of light 'mixed-traffic' steam locomotive introduced in 1946.

LMS Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2T
Locomotive 41231 being coaled by grab, while the fireman attends to the smokebox. Wellington Locomotive Depot, 12 April 1960
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerH. G. Ivatt
Builder
Build date1946–1952
Total produced130
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-6-2T
 • UIC1′C1′ h2t
Gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia.3 ft 0 in (0.914 m)
Driver dia.5 ft 0 in (1.524 m)
Trailing dia.3 ft 0 in (0.914 m)
Wheelbase30 ft 3 in (9.22 m)
Length38 ft 9 1⁄2 in (11.82 m)
Loco weight63.25 long tons (64.3 t; 70.8 short tons)
41290–41329: 65.20 long tons (66.2 t; 73.0 short tons)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity3 long tons (3.05 t; 3.36 short tons)
Water cap1,350 imp gal (6,100 l; 1,620 US gal)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		17.5 sq ft (1.63 m2)
BoilerLMS type 7
Boiler pressure200 lbf/in2 (1.38 MPa)
Heating surface:
 • Tubes and flues		924 sq ft (85.8 m2)
 • Firebox101 sq ft (9.4 m2)
Superheater:
​
 • Heating area134 sq ft (12.4 m2) or
124 sq ft (11.5 m2)
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size16 in × 26 in (406 mm × 660 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort17,400 lbf (77.40 kN)
Career
Operators
Power class
  • LMS: 2P
  • BR: 2MT
  • BR (SR): 2P/2FA
NicknamesMickey Mouse Tanks
Axle load classBR: Route Availability 1
Withdrawn1962–1967
DispositionFour preserved, remainder scrapped
41241 from the rear, showing the shape of the bunker

Background

The LMS had various elderly tank engines and the operating department required a new small class 2 locomotive to replace them. Noting that the Great Western Railway 4500 and 4575 Classes of 2-6-2T ('Prairie') had been successful, George Ivatt designed the new engine type incorporating self-emptying ashpans and rocking grates which were labour-saving devices. A tender version, the Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0 was also produced. The LMS classified them as 2P, but BR preferred the classification 2MT.

Construction

The class was introduced between 1946 and 1952. They were based on the LMS Stanier 2-6-2T which was, in turn, based on the LMS Fowler 2-6-2T. Ten were built by the LMS before nationalisation in 1948, and were numbered 1200–1209. British Railways added the prefix '4' to their numbers so they became 41200–41209. A further 120 were built by BR, numbers 41210–41329. Most were built at Crewe, including 41272 — the 7000th locomotive to be built there, but the last ten were built at Derby. Fifty engines were fitted with push-pull equipment, these being Nos. 41210–41229, 41270–41289 and 41320–41329.

Table of orders
 Number   Date   Lot no.   Built at  Notes
LMS BR
1200–08 41200–08 1946 181 Crewe
1209 41209 1947 181 Crewe
— 41210–20 1948 195 Crewe Push-pull fitted
— 41221–29 1948 195 Crewe 41222 was push-pull fitted.
It was used on the Newport Pagnell branch until its closure in 1964.
— 41230–59 1949 204 Crewe
— 41260–69 1950 209 Crewe
— 41270–89 1950 209 Crewe Push-pull fitted
— 41290–99 1951 225 Crewe
— 41300–19 1952 225 Crewe
— 41320–29 1952 225 Derby Push-pull fitted

Service

The last thirty Crewe-built engines, 41290–41319, were allocated to the Southern Region from new. The rest were London Midland Region engines. Some were also allocated to the Western Region of BR in the 1950s and 1960s such as numbers 41202, 41203 and 41249 which were shedded at Bristol Bath Road in 1959. They spent their lives mostly on branch line work.

The design formed the basis for the BR standard class 2 2-6-2T (numbers 84000–29), which were built to a slightly smaller loading gauge and so have slanted cab sides. These engines also incorporate a fallplate and fittings common to many BR standard classes, such as the chimneys.

In 1957 No.41224 hauled the first train to pass along the old Stafford and Uttoxeter Railway since closure six years earlier, and the last before the track was dismantled. It was chartered by the Midland area of the Stephenson Locomotive Society and carried more than 220 railway enthusiasts.[1]

  • One of the S.R. examples, 41319 at Eastleigh shed in February 1967

Withdrawal

The class were withdrawn between 1962 and 1967.

Table of withdrawals
YearQuantity in
service at
start of year		Quantity
withdrawn		Locomotive numbers
19621302141235–36/46–47/52/54–59/63/65–67/69/71/77–78/80/88.
19631091841203/13/40/45/50/73–74/76/79/81–82/89/92/97, 41302/06/09/18.
1964912641205/10/25–28/31/37/39/43/53/60/62/68, 41300/03/10–11/15/17/22–23/26–29.
1965652641200–01/08–09/12/14–15/18–19/21/32/38/42–43/61/70/72/75/93, 41305/08/13–14/21/24–25.
1966393141202/04/06–07/11/16–17/20/22–23/29/33–34/41/44/49/51/64/83/85–87/90–91/94/96/99, 41301/04/07/16.
19678841224/30/84/95/98, 41312/19–20.

Preservation

Four have survived to preservation, these engines being: 41241, 41298, 41312 & 41313. All four members of the class have steamed in preservation with 41241 & 41312 working on the main line. 41241 appeared at the Rail 150 Cavalcade at Shildon in 1975 arriving at the event under its own power. It was also used on the Shildon shuttle trains during the event taking people from the main station at Shildon to the event and also between Darlington and Shildon. 41312 ran on the main line in the late 1990s/early 2000s. As of 2018 all four preserved engines are currently operational, the latest of them being 41241 which returned to service from an overhaul in June during the KWVR's 50th anniversary steam gala.

No.41241 is particularly associated with the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and when initially preserved was painted in a fictitious maroon livery with K&WVR on the tanks, though it was later restored to more conventional BR black.

During October 2006, the Ivatt Trust loaned the unrestored no. 41313 to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. In October 2014, it was announced that the engine will be moved to the East Somerset Railway for overhaul. No 41298 was also moved to the Isle of Wight, and ownership of both these locos was transferred to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. These locomotives required conversion/fitment of air braking alongside the vacuum brakes as the rolling stock on the island is air-braked. All of the engines apart from 41241 wear authentic British Railways lined black livery with the later BR crest. 41241 presently wears the livery that it wore when the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway was opened in 1968, at the time it wasn't able to wear BR colours.

Number Builder Built Withdrawn Location Condition Livery Photograph Notes
41241 Crewe Works Sept 1949 Dec 1966 Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Operational, Boiler ticket expires: 2027. K&WVR Maroon
Returned to service in June 2018 during the KWVR's 50th anniversary gala.[2]
41298 Crewe Works Oct 1951 Jul 1967 Isle of Wight Steam Railway Operational, Boiler ticket expires: 2025. BR Lined Black, Late Crest
Returned to steam in September 2015 for the first time in preservation. Fitted with air brakes for operation on the Isle of Wight.
41312 Crewe Works May 1952 Jul 1967 Mid-Hants Railway Operational, Boiler ticket expires: 2025. BR Lined Black, Late Crest
Returned to steam following an overhaul in January 2016
41313 Crewe Works May 1952 Oct 1965 Isle of Wight Steam Railway Operational, Boiler ticket expires: 2027. BR Lined Black, Late Crest
Restored by the East Somerset Railway for the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. Returned to service in June 2017. Fitted with air brakes for operation on the Isle of Wight.

Models

Bachmann produced a 00 gauge model in various liveries. Dapol have released a model in British N gauge.

Fiction

Arthur from Thomas & Friends is based on this class.[3]

References
  1. "Railway Enthusiasts Pack Last Train" Stafford Newsletter 30 March 1957
  2. http://kwvr.co.uk/50th/ Keighley and Worth Valley Rly's 50th anniversary gala
  3. "Arthur - Character Profile & Bio | Thomas & Friends". play.thomasandfriends.com. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  • Rowledge, J.W.P. (1975). Engines of the LMS built 1923–51. Oxford: Oxford Publishing Company. ISBN 0-902888-59-5.
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