BR standard class 2 2-6-2T
Encyclopedia
The British Railways standard class 2 2-6-2T was a class of steam locomotive, one of the standard classes
of the 1950s.
and introduced in 1953. The design derived from the LMS Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2T
which BR had built after nationalisation. Modifications were made to the Ivatt design including a reduced cab to reduce the loading gauge
and some standard fittings. BR classified them 2MT, emphasising a mixed-traffic role.
As most services which required 2MT 2-6-2Ts were already served by the 130 Ivatt engines, B.R. only ordered 30 engines, which eliminated pre-grouping steam locomotives as much as possible on local services.
The first 20 engines were outshopped at Crewe Works
, and intended for use on ex-London Midland and Scottish Railway routes, then known as the London Midland Region.
The second batch, this time built at Darlington Works
, were numbered 84020–84029, and intended for Southern Region lines.
Only two liveries were carried by the 2MTs- British Railway lined black with the earlier and later emblems. Although all locomotives received the latter, only 84000–84019 received the early emblem as the Darlington built locomotives were constructed in 1957, following the 1956 changeover to the late crest. The Darlington engines carried large 10 inches (25.4 cm) high cab-side numerals, whilst the Crewe engines carried standard 8 inches (20.3 cm) high numerals.
for use on the lines over Romney Marsh and local trains on the Margate via Canterbury West route. Most were transferred away to the North Eastern Region in the early 1960s following electrification, but several locomotives (including some of the LMR allocation) were re-allocated to Eastleigh in 1965 for possible use on the Isle of Wight replacing life expired ex-London and South Western railway "O2" 0-4-4T engines, which dated from the turn of the century. However, this did not cover coaching stock replacement, and thus the locomotives were scrapped.
s. However, four BR standard class 2 2-6-0
locomotives – the tender-equipped equivalent – did survive, and one of these, 78059, is to be rebuilt into 2-6-2T "84030". This takes the next number in the original series. 78059 was chosen primarily because it lost its tender while at Woodham Brothers scrapyard, Barry. Further reasons cited by the Bluebell Railway
, where 78059 is based, are the suitability of the locomotive class for the railway's service trains, and because the tender version of the class was never allocated to the Southern Region
, and hence the tank version (which was allocated there) is far more appropriate for the Bluebell's Southern Region location.
Steam locomotives of British Railways
The steam locomotives of British Railways were used by British Railways over the period 1948–1968. The vast majority of these were inherited from its four constituent companies, the "Big Four"....
of the 1950s.
Design and construction
The class was designed at Derby WorksDerby Works
The Midland Railway Locomotive Works, known locally as "the loco" comprised a number of British manufacturing facilities in Derby building locomotives and, initially, rolling stock in Derby, UK.-Early days:...
and introduced in 1953. The design derived from the LMS Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2T
LMS Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2T
The London, Midland and Scottish Railway Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2T is a class of light 'mixed-traffic' steam locomotive introduced in 1946.- Background :...
which BR had built after nationalisation. Modifications were made to the Ivatt design including a reduced cab to reduce the loading gauge
Loading gauge
A loading gauge defines the maximum height and width for railway vehicles and their loads to ensure safe passage through bridges, tunnels and other structures...
and some standard fittings. BR classified them 2MT, emphasising a mixed-traffic role.
As most services which required 2MT 2-6-2Ts were already served by the 130 Ivatt engines, B.R. only ordered 30 engines, which eliminated pre-grouping steam locomotives as much as possible on local services.
The first 20 engines were outshopped at Crewe Works
Crewe Works
Crewe railway works is a British railway engineering facility built in 1840 by the Grand Junction Railway. It is located in the town of Crewe, in the county of Cheshire....
, and intended for use on ex-London Midland and Scottish Railway routes, then known as the London Midland Region.
The second batch, this time built at Darlington Works
Darlington Works
Darlington railway works, known in the town as North Road Shops, was built in 1863 by the Stockton and Darlington Railway in the town of Darlington in the north east of England.-NER History:The first new locomotive was built at the works in 1864...
, were numbered 84020–84029, and intended for Southern Region lines.
Liveries
Service
The LMR locomotives were used on push-pull routes, and were often allocated alongside the Ivatt 2MT 2-6-2T engines with which they shared most of their origins. Numbers 84021–84029, the Southern Region locomotives were all allocated to the Eastern Section depot at AshfordAshford, Kent
Ashford is a town in the borough of Ashford in Kent, England. In 2005 it was voted the fourth best place to live in the United Kingdom. It lies on the Great Stour river, the M20 motorway, and the South Eastern Main Line and High Speed 1 railways. Its agricultural market is one of the most...
for use on the lines over Romney Marsh and local trains on the Margate via Canterbury West route. Most were transferred away to the North Eastern Region in the early 1960s following electrification, but several locomotives (including some of the LMR allocation) were re-allocated to Eastleigh in 1965 for possible use on the Isle of Wight replacing life expired ex-London and South Western railway "O2" 0-4-4T engines, which dated from the turn of the century. However, this did not cover coaching stock replacement, and thus the locomotives were scrapped.
Preservation
None of the class survived the cutter's torch, although their size and configuration would have made them an ideal choice for use on heritage railwayHeritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
s. However, four BR standard class 2 2-6-0
BR standard class 2 2-6-0
The BR Standard Class 2 2-6-0 is a class of steam locomotive, one of the British Railways Standard classes of the 1950s. They were physically the smallest of the Standard classes; 65 were built....
locomotives – the tender-equipped equivalent – did survive, and one of these, 78059, is to be rebuilt into 2-6-2T "84030". This takes the next number in the original series. 78059 was chosen primarily because it lost its tender while at Woodham Brothers scrapyard, Barry. Further reasons cited by the Bluebell Railway
Bluebell Railway
The Bluebell Railway is a heritage line running for nine miles along the border between East and West Sussex, England. Steam trains are operated between and , with an intermediate station at .The railway is managed and run largely by volunteers...
, where 78059 is based, are the suitability of the locomotive class for the railway's service trains, and because the tender version of the class was never allocated to the Southern Region
Southern Region of British Railways
The Southern Region was a region of British Railways from 1948. The region ceased to be an operating unit in its own right in the 1980s and was wound up at the end of 1992. The region covered south London, southern England and the south coast, including the busy commuter belt areas of Kent, Sussex...
, and hence the tank version (which was allocated there) is far more appropriate for the Bluebell's Southern Region location.