LMS Fairburn 2-6-4T

The London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Fairburn Tank 2-6-4T is a class of steam locomotive. They were designed by Charles E. Fairburn for the LMS. 277 of these locomotives were built between 1945 and 1951, numbered in the range 42050–42186, (4)2187–(4)2299, (4)2673–(4)2699.

LMS Fairburn 2-6-4T
42140 at Derby
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerCharles E. Fairburn
Builder
Build date1945–1951
Total produced277
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-6-4T
 • UIC1′C2′ h2t
Gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia.3 ft 3 1⁄2 in (1.003 m)
Driver dia.5 ft 9 in (1.753 m)
Trailing dia.3 ft 3 1⁄2 in (1.003 m)
Wheelbase37 ft 1 in (11.30 m)
Length45 ft 9 3⁄4 in (13.96 m)
Loco weight42050–42146: 84.70 long tons (86.06 t; 94.86 short tons)
remainder: 85.25 long tons (86.62 t; 95.48 short tons)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity3.5 long tons (3.6 t; 3.9 short tons)
Water cap42050–42146: 1,875 imp gal (8,520 l)
remainder: 2,000 imp gal (9,100 l)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		26 3⁄4 sq ft (2.49 m2)
BoilerLMS type 4C
Boiler pressure200 lbf/in2 (1.38 MPa)
Heating surface:
 • Tubes and flues		1,223 sq ft (113.6 m2)
 • Firebox143 sq ft (13.3 m2)
Superheater:
​
 • Heating area230 sq ft (21 m2)
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size19 5⁄8 in × 26 in (498 mm × 660 mm)
Valve gearWalschaerts
Performance figures
Tractive effort24,670 lbf (109.74 kN)
Career
Operators
Power class
  • LMS: 4P
  • BR: 4MT
Withdrawn1961–1967
DispositionTwo preserved, remainder scrapped

Overview

This design was based on the earlier Stanier LMS Stanier 2-6-4T, which was derived from Henry Fowler's LMS Fowler 2-6-4T engine. Fairburn modified the design to have a shorter wheelbase, reduced from 16 ft 6 in (5.03 m) to 15 ft 4 in (4.67 m) allowing curves of 5 chains to be negotiated; to reduce the locomotives mass per unit length the overall weight was reduced by 3 long tons 8 cwt (7,600 lb or 3.5 t).[1]

It was also the basis for the later British Rail Standard Class 4 tank. They were used mainly for suburban passenger trains. Forty-one examples of the class were constructed by Brighton railway works for service on the Southern Region of British Railways in 1950 and 1951, replacing earlier designs. Of these, seven were transferred to the North Eastern Region between Spring 1952 and the end of 1954;[2] the other 34 were exchanged for a like number of London Midland Region BR Standard Class 4 2–6–4T locomotives at the end of 1959.[3]

LMS No. BR No. Lot No. Date built Built by
— 42050–065 210 1950 Derby
— 42066–078 3536 1950 Brighton
— 42079–095 3536 1951 Brighton
— 42096–106 3491 1950 Brighton
— 42107–132 202 1949 Derby
— 42133–146 202 1950 Derby
— 42147–182 196 1948 Derby
— 42183–186 196 1949 Derby
2187–89 42187–189 186 1947 Derby
2190–99 42190–199 186 1948 Derby
2200–17 42200–217 177 1945 Derby
2218–22 42218–222 177 1946 Derby
2223–64 42223–264 185 1946 Derby
2265–72 42265–272 185 1947 Derby
2273–99 42273–299 186 1947 Derby
2673–99 42673–699 177 1945 Derby

Accidents and incidents

Withdrawal

The class was withdrawn between 1961 and 1967.

Table of withdrawals
YearQuantity in
service at
start of year		Quantity
withdrawn		Locomotive numbers
1961277342217/20, 42683.
19622744342088/94/97, 42111/17/22/30/44/46/62/64/72–73/75/91/93,
42203/05/07/11/15/19/23/27/37/48/54–55/57–58/68/72/76/90/98,
42674/77–79/84–85/87/92.
19632313042063/67–68/91/98, 42100–01/20/36/40/51/57/66/78/80/82/88,
42206/28/31/38/53/70/79/81/88/93–94, 42681/98.
19642015742054/56–57/59/77/84/89–90/92/99,
42123–24/26–27/35/37/43/48/53/63/67–68/71/85–86/90/92,
42200–01/08/18/21/26/29/34/39/42/44–46/50/56/61–63/75/78/80/82/84/86/91–92,
42682/86/95–96.
19651445442050–51/53/60–62/64–65/70/75/82,
42103–04/06/09/12–14/18–19/29/31/39/47/55/58/60/65/70/74/79/94/98–99,
42202/09/12/14/22/30/41/43/47/59/65/85/89/95–96/99, 42673/75/80/88.
1966904842058/69/74/78/87/95–96,
42102/05/07–08/10/15/21/25/28/32/42/50/56/59/61/69/76–77/81/83–84/95/97,
42204/13/16/25/32/40/49/60/64/66/71/73/77, 42676/90–91/93–94.
1967424242052/55/68/71–73/76/79–81/83/85–86/93,
42116/33–34/38/41/45/49/52/54/87/89/96,
42210/24/33/35–36/51–52/67/69/74/83/87/97, 42689/97/99.

Preservation

Two of the Brighton-built locomotives have survived in preservation.

Number Builder Built Withdrawn Service Life Location Owners Livery Condition Photograph Notes
42073 Brighton Works Nov 1950 Oct 1967 16 Years, 10 months Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway - BR Lined Black, Late Crest Operational, boiler ticket expires: 2024
42085 Brighton Works Sept 1951 Oct 1967 16 Years, 7 months Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway - BR Lined Black, Early Emblem (on completion) Undergoing overhaul

In its early days, 2085 carried Caledonian Railway blue livery, complete with an oval brass Caledonian number plate. This attractive livery was popular with the public, but strongly divided opinions in the preservation movement for its inaccuracy. At the same time, 2073 was painted in LNWR blackberry black, which was comparably anachronistic but generated less hostility as it did at least resemble the original livery.

Models

Bachmann produces a 00 Gauge model of the Fairburn 4MT in LMS Black as well as early and late BR, numbered as 42073. Bachmann (Graham Farish) also produces several N gauge variants: 2691 in LMS black, 42096 (early BR black), and 42073 (late BR black).

ACE Trains have produced an O-gauge model of 2085 in its early-preservation Caledonian Railway blue livery, although the model is actually of a Stanier designed 2-6-4T.

Images

References
  1. "L.M.S. Tank Engine" (PDF), The Engineer, 179: 505, 29 June 1945
  2. Becket 1988, pp. 187, 189.
  3. Becket 1988, pp. 194, 203, 205.
  4. Trevena, Arthur (1981). Trains in Trouble: Vol. 2. Redruth: Atlantic Books. p. 38. ISBN 0-906899 03 6.

Sources
  • Becket, W. S. (1988). The Xpress Locomotive Register. Caernarvon: Xpress Publishing. ISBN 1-901056-023.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Rowledge, J.W.P. (1975). Engines of the LMS built 1923–51. Oxford: Oxford Publishing Company. ISBN 0-902888-59-5.
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