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 LMS & BR Crewe works BR Darlington Works BR Swindon Works Build date 1946–1953 Total produced 128

Specifications Configuration 2-6-0 UIC class 1′C h2 Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Leading dia 3 ft 0 in (0.914 m) Driver diameter 5 ft 0 in (1.524 m) Length Loco weight 47.10 long tons (47.9 t; 52.8 short tons) (6400–64) 48.45 long tons (49.2 t) (remainder) Tender weight 37.15 long tons (37.7 t; 41.6 short tons) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 4 long tons (4.1 t; 4.5 short tons) Water cap 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 Heating surface:  • Tubes 924 sq ft (85.8 m2)  • Firebox 101 sq ft (9.4 m2) Superheater:  • Heating 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 Operators London, Midland and Scottish Railway British Railways Power class LMS: 2F BR: 2MT Numbers LMS:6400–6419 BR: 46400–46527 Nicknames Mickey Mouse Axle load class BR: Route Availability 2 Withdrawn 1961–1967 Disposition 7 preserved, remainder scrapped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 imperial gallons or 14,000 litres or 3,600 US gallons of water and 4 long tons or 4.1 tonnes or 4.5 short tons of coal compared to the tank design's 1,350 imperial gallons or 6,100 litres or 1,620 US gallons and 3 long tons or 3.05 tonnes or 3.36 short 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".

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 yielded a tractive effort of 18,510 lb (8,400 kg), 1,100 lb (500 kg) greater than the original design. The LMS classified them 2F, BR as 2MT.

Table of orders

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 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.

The class was withdrawn between 1961 and 1967.

Table of withdrawals

Year	Quantity in service at start of year	Quantity withdrawn	Locomotive numbers
1961	128	1	46407.
1962	127	12	46408/15/53/66/69/71/76–78/81/93/95.
1963	115	4	46438/73/83/89.
1964	111	8	46403/09/35/61/67/74/75, 46525.
1965	103	21	46404/13/20/23/25/30/44/56/59/68/72/79/82/88/97/98, 46510/11/24/27.
1966	82	40	46401/05/10/12/14/16/19/21/22/24/26–29/34/42/45–47/50/51/54/58/60/62–64/95/96, 46504/08/09/12–14/17–19/21/26.
1967	42	42	46400/02/06/11/17/18/31–33/36/37/39–41/43/48/49/52/55/57/65/70/80/84–87/90–92/99, 46500–03/05/06/15/16/20/22/23.

Preservation

Seven of the class have been preserved. Two members of the class have also operated on the mainline in preservation: No's 46441 & 46443.

46443 Became a popular mainline engine in the 1980s when she was one of the engines used during the 150th anniversary of the Great Western Railway traveling along many old branchlines including the old Bristol Harbour Railway.

46441 Was one of the smallest tender engines to operate on the former BR system during the 90's. As well as being a regular at Carnforth and working at her home on the East Lancashire Railway she was also used for the regular steam on the met programme working trains alongside other steam engines. 46441 Is currently located at the Ribble Steam Railway in Preston and is currently on static display inside the museum awaiting overhaul. The locos current owner Chris Beet who also owns LMS Jubilee no 45690 Leander currently has no plans in overhauling the loco.

BR no	Image	Name*	Builder	Current Location	Notes
46428			Crewe	East Lancashire Railway	Undergoing 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 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

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

External links

• The Carmyllie Pilot Company Limited (owners of 46464)