| LMS Fowler Class 4F | |
|---|---|
| 44444 at Stockport, 1950 | |
| Power type | Steam |
| Designer | Henry Fowler |
| Builder | LMS Derby Works LMS Crewe Works LMS St. Rollox Works LMS Horwich Works North British Locomotive Kerr, Stuart & Co. Andrew Barclay & Sons Co. |
| Build date | 1924–1941 |
| Total produced | 575 |
| Configuration | 0-6-0 |
| UIC classification | Ch |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Driver diameter | 63 in (1.600 m) |
| Length | 52 ft ⅛ in (15.853 m) |
| Locomotive weight | 48.75 long tons (49.53 t) |
| Fuel type | Coal |
| Fuel capacity | 4 long tons (4.1 t) |
| Water capacity | 3,500 imp gal (16,000 l; 4,200 US gal) |
| Boiler | LMS type G7S |
| Boiler pressure | 175 psi (1.21 MPa) |
| Firegrate area | 21 sq ft (2.0 m2) |
| Heating surface: Tubes |
1,034 sq ft (96.1 m2) |
| Heating surface: Firebox |
124 sq ft (11.5 m2) |
| Superheater area | 252 sq ft (23.4 m2) later 246 sq ft (22.9 m2) |
| Cylinders | Two, inside |
| Cylinder size | 20 × 26 in (510 × 660 mm) |
| Valve gear | Stephenson, piston valves |
| Tractive effort | 24,555 lbf (109.23 kN) |
| Class | 4F |
| Axle load class | Route Availability 5 |
| Retired | 1959–1966 |
The London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Fowler 4F is a class of 0-6-0 steam locomotive designed for medium freight work. They represent the ultimate development of Midland Railway's six coupled tender engines.
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The 4F was based on the 197-strong Midland Railway 3835 Class of 1911, with only a few modifications, primarily the adoption of left-hand drive in favour of right-hand drive. They originally had been designed by Henry Fowler, who from 1925 became CME of the LMS.
Midland Railway locomotives were notorious for their short axle-box bearings, which were prone to overheating. Why this poor design feature was perpetuated is a complete mystery but, unfortunately, the LMS 4F inherited it.
The LMS constructed 530 of the locomotives between 1923 and 1928, numbered sequentially from where the Midland engines left off from 4027. A further 45 examples were reluctantly authorised by William Stanier in 1937 at the behest of the operating department.
| Numbers | Lot No. | Date built | Built by | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LMS | BR | |||
| 4027–34 | 44027–34 | 7 | 1924 | Derby |
| 4035–56 | 44035–56 | 7 | 1925 | Derby |
| 4057–81 | 44057–81 | 8 | 1925 | North British |
| 4082–106 | 44082–106 | 9 | 1925 | Kerr Stuart |
| 4107 | 44107 | 10 | 1924 | Crewe |
| 4108–58 | 44108–58 | 10 | 1925 | Crewe |
| 4159–76 | 44159–76 | 10 | 1926 | Crewe |
| 4177/8 | 44177/8 | 11 | 1924 | St. Rollox |
| 4179–4206 | 44179–4206 | 11 | 1925 | St. Rollox |
| 4207–16 | 44207–16 | 29 | 1925 | Derby |
| 4217–87 | 44217–87 | 29 | 1926 | Derby |
| 4288–301 | 44288–301 | 29 | 1927 | Derby |
| 4302–11 | 44302–11 | 28 | 1926 | Crewe |
| 4312–22 | 44312–22 | 30 | 1927 | St Rollox |
| 4323–31 | 44323–31 | 30 | 1928 | St Rollox |
| 4332–42 | 44332–42 | 31 | 1926 | Kerr Stuart |
| 4343–56 | 44343–56 | 31 | 1927 | Kerr Stuart |
| 4357–61 | 44357–61 | 32 | 1926 | Andrew Barclay |
| 4362–81 | 44362–81 | 32 | 1927 | Andrew Barclay |
| 4382–99 | 44382–99 | 33 | 1926 | North British |
| 4400–6 | 44400–6 | 33 | 1927 | North British |
| 4407–36 | 44407–36 | 42 | 1927 | Derby |
| 4437–46 | 44437–46 | 43 | 1927 | Crewe |
| 4447–56 | 44447–56 | 43 | 1928 | Crewe |
| 4457–66 | 44457–66 | 44 | 1928 | Horwich |
| 4467–76 | 44467–76 | 45 | 1928 | St. Rollox |
| 4477–506 | 44477–506 | 46 | 1927 | North British |
| 4507–56 | 44507–56 | 56 | 1928 | Crewe |
| 4562–75 | 44562–75 | 137 | 1937 | Crewe |
| 4577–86 | 44577–86 | 146 | 1939 | Derby |
| 4587–96 | 44587–96 | 147 | 1939 | Derby |
| 4597–604 | 44597–604 | 147 | 1940 | Derby |
| 4605/6 | 44605/6 | 147 | 1941 | Derby |
The missing numbers 44557–44561 relate to five locomotives built for the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway to the Midland Railway 3835 Class design in 1922, and taken into LMS stock in 1930.
All entered British Railways stock in 1948. BR added 40000 to their numbers. They were all withdrawn between 1959 and 1966.
Withdrawals from stock occurred between 1959 and 1966.
| Year | No. withdrawn | Nos |
|---|---|---|
| 1959 | 44 | |
| 1960 | 41 | |
| 1961 | 23 | |
| 1962 | 74 | |
| 1963 | 134 | |
| 1964 | 151 | |
| 1965 | 97 | |
| 1966 | 11 |
One Midland-built 4F, (4)3924 survives, the first locomotive to leave Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, South Wales.[1] Three LMS-built 4Fs survive, with the first-built LMS 4F No. (4)4027 is part of the National Railway Collection.
| Numbers | Location | Condition | Link to preserved locomotive database | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LMS | BR | |||
| 3924 | 43924 | Keighley and Worth Valley Railway | Returned to steam June 2011, returned to revenue service july 2011 | 43924 |
| 4027 | 44027 | Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway | Recently transferred from the Midland Railway - Butterley, overhaul now started and making steady progress. | 44027 |
| 4123 | 44123 | Avon Valley Railway | Restoration in progress | 44123 |
| 4422 | 44422 | Nene Valley Railway | Operational, easily the most travelled of all the survivors | 44422 |
For terminology, see Steam locomotive components
The 4F has been modelled by Lima (O, OO and N Gauge), Graham Farish (N Gauge, still produced under the Bachmann label). Also Hornby and Airfix OO gauge.
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