LMS Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0

LMS Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0

46443 Ivatt class at Bewdley railway station, 10 November 2007. Photo by Simon Emms.
Type and origin
Power type Steam
Designer H. G. Ivatt
Builder
Build date 1946–1953
Total produced 128
Specifications
Configuration 2-6-0
UIC classification 1′C h2
Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Leading wheel
diameter		 3 ft 0 in (0.914 m)
Driver diameter 5 ft 0 in (1.524 m)
Length 53 ft 1 3⁄4 in (16.20 m)
Locomotive weight 47.10 long tons (47.9 t) (6400–64)
48.45 long tons (49.2 t) (remainder)
Tender weight 37.15 long tons (37.7 t)
Fuel type Coal
Fuel capacity 4 long tons (4.1 t)
Water capacity 3,000 imp gal (14,000 l; 3,600 US gal)
Boiler LMS type 7
Boiler pressure 200 lbf/in2 (1.38 MPa)
Firegrate area 17 1⁄2 sq ft (1.63 m2)
Heating surface:
– Tubes		 924 sq ft (85.8 m2)
– Firebox 101 sq ft (9.4 m2)
Superheater area 134 sq ft (12.4 m2) or
124 sq ft (11.5 m2)
Cylinders Two, outside
Cylinder size 16 in × 24 in (406 mm × 610 mm)
Valve gear Walschaerts
Performance figures
Tractive effort 17,410 lbf (77.44 kN)
Career
Operator(s)
Power class
  • LMS: 2F
  • BR: 2MT
Number(s)
  • LMS:6400–6419
  • BR: 46400–46527
Nicknames Mickey Mouse
Axle load class BR: Route Availability 2
Withdrawn 1961–1967
Disposition 7 preserved, remainder scrapped

The London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0 is a class of steam locomotive designed for light mixed traffic.

Design

Elderly 0-6-0s formed the backbone of the low-powered locomotives within the LMS fleet. William Stanier had concentrated on introducing larger engines and it was left to George Ivatt to introduce a new class of low-powered locomotive. He designed a tender version of the Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2T, introduced at the same time, which was inspired by the Stanier Class 3 2-6-2T, which was inspired by the Fowler Class 3 2-6-2T. The 2-6-0s, with their greater range (3,000 gallons of water and 4 tons of coal compared to the tank design's 1,350 galllons and 3 tons), were well-suited to their task and, following attention to draughting problems by both Derby and Swindon, quickly became a success. Further engines of this type were built as the BR standard class 2 2-6-0, these locomotives having BR standard fittings and a modified cab and tender profile to allow completely unrestricted route availability; both LMS and BR 2MT moguls are often referred to by the affectionate nickname "Mickey Mouse".[1]

Construction

A total of 128 were built between 1946 and 1953, mostly at Crewe. 20 were built by LMS and given the numbers 6400–19. On nationalisation in 1948 40000 was added to their numbers to become 46400–19. The remaining 108 locomotives of the class, numbered 46420–46527 were built by British Railways, and from 46465 (Darlington, 1951) an increase in cylinder diameter of 1/2 inch yielded a tractive effort of 18,510 lb, 1,100 lb greater than the original design. The LMS classified them 2F, BR as 2MT.

The 38 members of the Darlington-built batch (46465 to 46502) were allocated to the Eastern and North Eastern Regions of British Railways. The final 25 (46503 to 46527) were built at Swindon Works and, being allocated to the Western Region, consequently carried the GWR-type vacuum ejector and firehole doors. The Swindon locomotives were turned out, initially, in lined black. Under the Hanks regime, some received lined green livery as they passed through works. The rest carried black livery. None of the class was named in service, however some have been named in preservation.

Number Lot no. Date Built at
LMS BR
6400–09 46400–09 182 1946 Crewe
6410–19 46410–19 189 1947 Crewe
— 46420–34 194 1948 Crewe
— 46435–49 201 1950 Crewe
— 46450–59 207 1950 Crewe
— 46460–64 208 1950 Crewe
— 46465–82 1309 1951 Darlington
— 46483–94 1310 1951 Darlington
— 46495–502 1310 1952 Darlington
— 46503–14 394 1952 Swindon
— 46515–27 394 1953 Swindon

The class was withdrawn between 1961 and 1967.

Preservation

Seven of the class have been preserved:

BR no Image Name* Builder Current Location Notes
46428 Crewe East Lancashire Railway Awaiting restoration from condition as recovered from Woodham Brothers scrapyard, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales. Currently painted as James the Red Engine for "Days Out with Thomas" events.
46441 Crewe Ribble Steam Railway In non-authentic BR Maroon livery. On static display.
46443 Crewe Severn Valley Railway Stored awaiting overhaul in The Engine House, Highley
46447 Crewe East Somerset Railway Returned to operation October 2014. (On long term loan from the Isle of Wight Steam Railway)
46464 The Carmyllie Pilot Crewe Bridge of Dun Currently being restored to working order. The name "Carmyllie Pilot" was used, during their working years, for both 46463 and 46464, both Dundee Tay Bridge (62B) allocated engines. Both locomotives took week about pilot duties at Arbroath station, and were often seen working the Carmyllie Railway branch line, either to the Metal Box factory or the Quarries at Carmyllie (see Carmyllie Railway). Local railway staff referred to either locomotive as The Carmyllie Pilot, dependant on which was on duty.
46512 E.V. Cooper, Engineer Swindon Strathspey Railway Returned to operation March 2011
46521 Blossom* Swindon Great Central Railway Returned to operation January 2012

* Named in preservation

Today only 46428 has yet to steam in preservation.

Models

Several 00 gauge ready-to-run models of the locomotive have been produced. From the 1970s, Hornby Railways produced a model of the class, which was available in either British Railways green (passenger) or lined black (mixed traffic) liveries. In 2007 Bachmann Branchline introduced a more detailed model, available in several liveries including LMS unlined black, BR lined black and BR lined Brunswick Green, the latter livery of which was used for a model of now preserved 46521. Graham Farish have just released an early production picture of an up-and-coming N scale model. Comet Models produce an all-metal kit.

In fiction

No. 46521 appeared in the sitcom Oh, Doctor Beeching! It was for this that it received the name 'Blossom'.

Both 46443 and 46521 appeared in a film version of The Seven-Per-Cent Solution. For this role both locomotives were heavily disguised to have a European flavour.

Both "Oh, Doctor Beeching!" and "The Seven-Per-Cent Solution" were filmed on the Severn Valley Railway.

In the 2008 film adaption of Why Didn't They Ask Evans?, an Ivatt engine can be seen pulling an express train.

Christopher Awdry had meant to write one of the LMS Ivatt Class 2s into the 39th book of the Railway Series as Barry the Rescue Engine, but was pushed aside by the publishers to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the books with the publication of Thomas and the Fat Controller's Engines

References

  1. ↑ Hopkins, Simon (November 2007). "Bridgnorth's stalwart 'Mickey Mouse' is focus of charter". Steam Railway 343: page 24.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to LMS Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0.