LMS Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0
The London, Midland and Scottish Railway 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 had greater range: of water and of coal compared to the tank design's and. 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".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 an increase in cylinder diameter of yielded a tractive effort of, greater than the original design. The LMS classified them 2F, BR as 2MT.The 38 members of the Darlington-built batch were allocated to the Eastern and North Eastern Regions of British Railways. The final 25 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The class was withdrawn between 1961 and 1967.| Year | Quantity in service at start of year | Quantity withdrawn | Locomotive numbers |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 but only six engines have run in preservation. Three members of the class have also operated on the mainline in preservation: No's 46441, 46443 & 46521.46443 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.
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 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. The locos current owner Chris Beet who also owns LMS Jubilee no 45690 Leander is having the engine overhauled for use on the railway but it will not be returning to the mainline.
| 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 | 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 | Under Overhaul | BR Lined Crimson, Late Crest | In non-authentic BR Maroon livery. | ||
| 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. 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 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. Local railway staff referred to either locomotive as The Carmyllie Pilot, dependent on which was on duty. | |
| 46512 | E.V. Cooper, Engineer* | Swindon Works | Dec 1952 | Dec 1966 | 13 Years, 11 Months | Strathspey Railway | Operational | BR Lined Black, Early Emblem | Returned to operation March 2011. | |
| 46521 | Blossom* | Swindon Works | Mar 1953 | Oct 1966 | 13 Years, 7 Months | Great Central Railway | Operational | BR Lined Green, Early Emblem | Returned to operation January 2012. |
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 livery. A BR lined green version followed in 1978. They were on sale until 1982. 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'.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.
Both "Oh, Doctor Beeching!" and "The Seven-Per-Cent Solution" were filmed on the Severn Valley Railway.