The London, Midland and Scottish Railway had the largest stock of steam locomotives of any of the 'Big Four' Grouping, i.e. pre-Nationalisation railway companies in the UK. Despite early troubles arising from factions within the new company, the LMS went on to build some very successful designs; many lasted until the end of steam traction on British Railways in 1968. For an explanation of numbering and classification, see British Rail locomotive and multiple unit numbering and classification.
Robert John "Bob" Essery was a British railway modeller and historian with a particular interest in the London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) and one of its principal constituents, the Midland Railway (MR).
A number of different numbering and classification schemes were used for the locomotives owned by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) and its constituent companies; this page explains the principal systems that were used.
The London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Stanier Class 2 0-4-4T was a class of 10 light passenger locomotives built in 1932. Ostensibly designed under new Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) William Stanier, they were in fact the last new design of the Midland Railway's school of engineering.
The London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Fowler 3F0-6-0T is a class of steam locomotives, often known as Jinty. They represent the ultimate development of the Midland Railway's six-coupled tank engines. They could reach speeds of up to 60 mph (97 km/h).
The London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Fowler Class 4F is a class of 0-6-0 steam locomotive designed for medium freight work. They represent the ultimate development of Midland Railway's six coupled tender engines. Many trainspotters knew them as "Duck Sixes", a nickname derived from their wheel arrangement.
The Midland Railway 2228 Class was a class of 0-4-4T side tank steam locomotive designed by Samuel Johnson. They were given the power classification 1P.
The Midland Railway Johnson 0-6-0 were a class of locomotives serving Britain's Midland Railway system in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Between 1875 and 1908 the Midland Railway, under the control of locomotive superintendents Samuel Waite Johnson and Richard Deeley, ordered 935 goods tender engines of 0-6-0 type, both from the railway's own shops at Derby and various external suppliers. Although there were many variations between different batches both as delivered and as successively rebuilt, all 935 can be regarded as a single series, one of the largest classes of engine on Britain's railways. The locomotives served as late as 1964, but none of them now survive.
The London, Tilbury and Southend Railway (LTSR) 79 Class is a class of 4-4-2T suburban tank engines. They were designed by Thomas Whitelegg, as a development of the earlier 37 Class. They could reach a top speed of 65 mph.
The London, Tilbury and Southend Railway (LT&SR) 2100 Class was a class of 4-6-4T steam locomotives. Eight were built in 1912, the year the Midland Railway took over the LT&SR, to the design of Robert Harben Whitelegg. Hence, they were numbered in the Midland numbering system as 2100–2107, and none received a name. The Midland gave them the power classification 3P. All subsequently passed into LMS ownership in 1923. They were all withdrawn 1929–1934, and all were scrapped.
From its opening in 1854, the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway (LTSR) hired locomotives from the Eastern Counties Railway (ECR), and this arrangement continued after the ECR amalgamated with other railways in 1862 to create the Great Eastern Railway (GER). In 1880 the LTSR bought its first locomotive, saving on hiring costs from the GER and further engines followed that year. The LTSR principally operated tank engines, which it named after towns on the route. The railway's first locomotive superintendent was Thomas Whitelegg, who in 1910 was succeeded by his son Robert. The LTSR became part of the Midland Railway (MR) in 1912, but nevertheless continued to be operated independently. The Midland removed locomotive names and renumbered engines. The Midland, and its successor the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS), continued to build some LTSR designs until 1930.
The Midland Railway (MR) 1322 Class was a class of small 0-4-0ST steam locomotives designed for shunting. The next class of shunting engines built by the Midland was the 1116A Class, which was nearly identical.
The LT&SR 69 class was a class of 0-6-2T steam locomotives designed for freight work on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway. Six were initially built in 1903 to the design of Thomas Whitelegg, four more followed in 1908, and a further four in 1912, after the LT&SR's takeover by the Midland Railway (MR) in that year, giving a total of 14. The Midland renumbered them 2180–2193, and all entered LMS stock upon the grouping of 1923. The LMS renumbered them 2220–2233 in 1923, but then took them back to 2180–2193 in 1939. In 1947 they were again renumbered 1980–1993 by the LMS, and in 1948 all were acquired by British Railways. BR added 40000 to their numbers so they became 41980–41993. Withdrawals started in 1958, and by 1959 all but 41981 had gone. The last engine was withdrawn in 1962, and none of the small fleet were preserved.
The LT&SR 49 class was a class of 0-6-0 steam locomotives. They were the only tender engines used by the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway. They were originally ordered by the Ottoman Railway in Turkey, however that order was cancelled after they had been built and instead they were sold to the LT&SR in 1898. The LT&SR numbered them 49 and 50.
The Midland Railway 1252 class was a class of thirty 0-4-4T locomotives built by Neilson and Company in 1875–1876 to the design of Samuel Waite Johnson. They were a development of the 6 Class. Originally numbers 1262–1281 and 1252–1261. Under the Midland Railway's 1907 renumbering scheme they became 1236–1265.
The LTSR 37 class was a class of 4-4-2T suburban tank engines built for the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway in 1897–98. They were designed by Thomas Whitelegg as a development of the earlier LT&SR 1 Class.
The London, Tilbury and Southend Railway 1 class was a class of 4-4-2T suburban tank engines. Thirty-six were built between 1880–1892, by Sharp, Stewart and Company and Nasmyth, Wilson and Company. They were the first locomotives owned by the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway and were the first 4-4-2T locomotives to operate in Britain.
The North Staffordshire Railway built or had constructed for it, approximately 350 locomotives. Until the company established Stoke railway works at Stoke-upon-Trent in 1864, a variety of engineering firms supplied locomotives. The company became more self-reliant as time went on, and by the beginning of the 20th century virtually all new engines were produced at Stoke works.
The Glasgow and South Western Railway 540 Class were 4-6-4T steam tank locomotives designed by Robert Whitelegg and built in 1922, shortly before the G&SWR was absorbed into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS). They were referred to in official G&SWR publicity as the Baltic Class, although they were also known more prosaically to enginemen as the 'Big Pugs'.
The Midland Railway 1823 Class was a class of twenty 0-4-4T steam locomotives. They had the power classification 1P.
