LMS Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0
46403 on the Midland Main Line near Souldrop in 1955.
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: ​  • Whyte 2-6-0  • UIC 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 dia. 5 ft 0 in (1.524 m) Length 53 ft 1+3⁄4 in (16.20 m) 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) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 17+1⁄2 sq ft (1.63 m2) Boiler LMS type 7 Boiler pressure 200 lbf/in2 (1.38 MPa) 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 17,410–18,510 lbf (77.44–82.34 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LMS: 2F BR: 2MT Numbers LMS:6400–6419 BR: 46400–46527 Nicknames Mickey Mouse Axle load class BR: Route Availability 2 Withdrawn 1961–1967 Disposition 7 preserved, remainder scrapped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.^[1] The 2-6-0s had greater range: 3,000 imperial gallons (14,000 L; 3,600 US gal) of water and 4 long tons (4.1 t; 4.5 short tons) of coal compared to the tank design's 1,350 imperial gallons (6,100 L; 1,620 US gal) and 3 long tons (3.05 t; 3.36 short tons). So they 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 nicknamed "Mickey Mouse".^[2]

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 (13 mm) 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.

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.

Withdrawal

The class was withdrawn between 1961 and 1967.

Accidents & Incidents

• On 27 April 2013, No. 46521 derailed on the trap points at Quorn and Woodhouse on the Great Central Railway following a misunderstanding between the signalman and the locomotive's crew. The derailment was captured on video by a visitor and subsequently posted on YouTube. Nobody was injured, and the locomotive was recovered using a crane; it was then towed back to the shed by BR Class 45 No. D123.^[3] Almost one month after the incident, the locomotive returned to service.^[4]

Preservation

Seven members of the class have been preserved, five built at Crewe Works and two built at Swindon Works. Of the seven engines preserved, six have run in preservation (46428 is undergoing restoration from scrapyard condition to working order at the East Lancs Railway). Three members of the class have also operated on the mainline in preservation: No's 46441, 46443 & 46521. Three of them were purchased from British Railways while the other four preserved examples were rescued from Barry Scrapyard throughout the 1970s. The ones rescued from Barry Scrapyard include No. 46428, No. 46447, No. 46512, and No. 46521. The ones sold directly into preservation from British Railways include No. 46441, No. 46443, and No. 46464.

46443 became a popular mainline engine in the 1980s when it 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. 46521 saw use on the mainline in the 1990s but only saw a limited amount of use hauling excursion trains with one of its runs being on the GWML in December 1994.^{[citation needed]}. 46441 was one of the smallest tender engines to operate on the former BR system during the 1990s. As well as being a regular at Carnforth and working at its home on the East Lancashire Railway it was also used for the regular steam on the met programme working trains alongside other steam engines. 46441 in recent years has been on static display inside the museum at the Ribble Steam Railway in Preston awaiting an overhaul. In April 2018 the engine was moved by road to its new home at the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway, it is presently the only tender engine based at the railway.^{[citation needed]}

BR no	Image	Name*	Builder	Built	Withdrawn	Service Life	Current Location	Current Condition	Livery	Notes
46428			Crewe Works	Dec 1948	Dec 1966	17 Years, 11 Months	East Lancashire Railway	Under Restoration	N/A	Oldest surviving member of the class. Being restored from condition as recovered from Woodham Brothers scrapyard, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales.
46441			Crewe Works	Feb 1950	Apr 1967	17 Years, 2 Months	Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway	Running In	BR Lined Crimson, Late Crest (on completion)	In non-authentic BR Maroon livery. The engine commenced its running in tests in October 2023 and is expected to re-enter revenue service in 2024.[5] The engine will retain it's non-authentic BR Maroon on completion.[6] Boiler Ticket expires 2033.
46443			Crewe Works	Feb 1950	Mar 1967	17 Years, 28 Days	Severn Valley Railway	Static Display	BR Lined Black, Late Crest	Stored awaiting overhaul in The Engine House, Highley.
46447			Crewe Works	Mar 1950	Dec 1966	16 Years, 9 Months	East Somerset Railway	Operational	BR Lined Black, Late Crest	Returned to operation October 2014. On loan from the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.
46464		The Carmyllie Pilot*	Crewe Works	Jun 1950	Sept 1966	16 Years, 3 Months	Strathspey Railway	Under Restoration	N/A	After preservation, hauled the first scheduled passenger train on the Strathspey Railway on 22 July 1978.[7] Last ran in 1979 and 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.[citation needed] Local railway staff referred to either locomotive as The Carmyllie Pilot, dependent on which was on duty. The engine underwent its steam test in November 2023 and its overhaul is anticipated to be completed by early 2024.[6][8] Boiler Ticket expires 2033.
46512		E.V. Cooper, Engineer*	Swindon Works	Dec 1952	Dec 1966	13 Years, 11 Months	Strathspey Railway	Operational	BR Lined Black, Early Emblem	Boiler Ticket expires 2031.
46521		Blossom*	Swindon Works	Mar 1953	Oct 1966	13 Years, 7 Months	Great Central Railway	Under Overhaul	BR Lined Green, Early Emblem (on completion)	Boiler ticket expired in 2022. Dismantling for overhaul commenced in October 2023.[9]

* 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. In 1975, Hornby Railways produced a model of the class, in British Railways lined black (mixed traffic) livery. A BR lined green version followed in 1978. They were on sale until 1982.^[10] 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 produces several of the same liveries in N gauge. 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'.^[11]

Both 46443 and 46521 appeared in the 1976 Universal Pictures film The Seven-Per-Cent Solution. For this role both locomotives were heavily disguised to have a European flavour.^[12]

Both "Oh, Doctor Beeching!" and "The Seven-Per-Cent Solution" were filmed on the Severn Valley Railway.^[11][12]