The North Staffordshire Railway (NSR) was a British railway company formed in 1845 to promote a number of lines in the Staffordshire Potteries and surrounding areas in Staffordshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire and Shropshire.
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.
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".
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 SR Q1 class is a type of austerity steam locomotive constructed during the Second World War. The class was designed by Oliver Bulleid for use on the intensive freight turns experienced during wartime on the Southern Railway network. A total of 40 locomotives were built. Bulleid incorporated many innovations and weight-saving concepts to produce a highly functional design. The class lasted in service until July 1966, and the first member of the class, number C1, has been preserved by the National Railway Museum.
The MGWR Classes F, Fa and Fb are a group of similar classes of 0-6-0 steam locomotives of the Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland which were designed and built between 1921 and 1924. The locomotives could be used to handle goods and also for passenger traffic.
The Belfast and Northern Counties Railway (BNCR) Class A was a class of 13 two-cylinder compound steam locomotives built for service in north-east Ireland. The first two members of the class would be the last locomotives to be built for the independent BNCR, being completed before its purchase by the Midland Railway in 1903. The members of the class were rebuilt by the LMS (NCC) becoming either Class A1 or Class U2 depending on how they had been modified.
The Glasgow and South Western Railway (G&SWR) 403 Class was a class of 2-6-0 (mogul) steam locomotive designed by Peter Drummond, of which 11 were built in 1915 by the North British Locomotive Company at its Queens Park works. Originally built as the 403 class, as a result of renumbering they became known as the 33 Class in 1916 and then 51 Class in 1919, before passing to the London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) on its formation in 1923, where they were given power classification 4F.
The LSWR G6 class was an 0-6-0T tank locomotive designed by William Adams for the London and South Western Railway.
The Belfast and Northern Counties Railway Class B was a class of 4-4-0 two-cylinder compound steam locomotives that was introduced for passenger service in the north-east of Ireland during the late 1890s.
The LMS (Northern Counties Committee)Class B3 4-4-0 passenger steam locomotives were rebuilds of Belfast and Northern Counties Railway (BNCR) two-cylinder compound locomotives. They operated services throughout the NCC's 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) broad gauge system in the north-east of Ireland.
The London and North Western Railway (LNWR) Prince of Wales Class was a class of express passenger locomotive. It was in effect, a superheated version of the Experiment Class 4-6-0.
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 G&SWR 45 Class were 0-6-2T steam locomotives designed by Peter Drummond for the Glasgow and South Western Railway (G&SWR) of which 18 were built in 1915-1917, followed by a further 10 of a slightly modified design in 1919 after Robert Whitelegg took over as Chief Mechanical Engineer.
The North Staffordshire Railway (NSR) New L Class was a class of 0-6-2T steam locomotives designed by John H. Adams, third son of William Adams. They were designed as a development as the previous L Class, adding a boiler common to the M Class and differed from the L Class with, amongst other things higher bunker sides and new cab roofs, and the abandonment of the cast safety valve cover. 28 were built between 1908 and 1923, with the final four constructed under the auspices of the newly formed LMS with the whole class withdrawn by the end of 1937. There is one survivor.
The North Staffordshire Railway (NSR) M Class was a class of 0-4-4T steam locomotive designed by John H. Adams, third son of William Adams. It was designed for suburban passenger work on the potteries loop lines. They shared components such as a drumhead smokebox which rested on the saddle and an almost identical boiler with the NSR L class. The boiler of the M class later became a standard boiler for the NSR, it being used on the NSR's New L class and H class. The M class introduced a new form of cab roof which curved around to join the cab sides, as with the Midland Railway at the time, and was soon copied by the SE&CR. Five were built between 1907 and 1908 at the NSR's Stoke Works and withdrawals taking place between 1930 and 1939. None survived into preservation.
The North Staffordshire Railway (NSR) H1 Class was a class of 0-6-0 steam locomotive designed by John H. Adams, third son of William Adams. They were designed as a development as the previous H Class, adding a Belpaire firebox to a new design of boiler, which was similar to that of the NSR G class but with a reduced barrel length. Four were built between December 1910 and March 1911, all at the company's Stoke railway works. The whole class was withdrawn by the end of 1930, having quickly been displaced by the LMS 4F.
The Caledonian Railway 908 Class were 4-6-0 mixed traffic locomotives designed by John F. McIntosh and built in 1906, at the Caledonian Railway's own St. Rollox Works.
The North Staffordshire Railway (NSR) H Class was a class of 0-6-0 steam locomotive designed by John H. Adams, third son of William Adams. They were designed to replace aging 0-6-0 locomotives on NSR long distance goods and coal trains both on and off the NR network thanks to the NSR's extensive running powers. Four were built in December 1909 all at the company's Stoke railway works. The whole class was withdrawn by the beginning of 1930, owing to the small nature of the class. This small class was supplemented by an additional modified four, designated H1 class.
The Glasgow and South Western Railway (G&SWR) 131 Class and 137 Class were two closely related classes of 4-4-0 steam locomotives designed by Peter Drummond. A total of 12 locomotives were built between 1913 and 1915, with some constructed by the North British Locomotive Company (NBL) at its Queens Park works and others by the G&SWR at its Kilmarnock works. Originally designated as the 131 and 137 classes, the locomotives were later renumbered and became known as the 331 and 325 classes, respectively, in 1919. Following the formation of the London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) in 1923, the locomotives were transferred to the LMS, where they were classified as 3P in terms of power rating.
