LMS Fairburn 2-6-4T

LMS Fairburn 2-6-4T
42140 at Derby
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Charles E. Fairburn Builder LMS & BR Derby Works BR Brighton Works Build date 1945–1951 Total produced 277
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-6-4T  • UIC 1′C2′ h2t Gauge 4 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) Wheelbase 37 ft 1 in (11.30 m) Length 45 ft 9+3⁄4 in (13.96 m) Loco weight 42050–42146: 84.70 long tons (86.06 t; 94.86 short tons) remainder: 85.25 long tons (86.62 t; 95.48 short tons) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 3.5 long tons (3.6 t; 3.9 short tons) Water cap. 42050–42146: 1,875 imp gal (8,520 L) remainder: 2,000 imp gal (9,100 L) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 26+3⁄4 sq ft (2.49 m2) Boiler LMS type 4C Boiler pressure 200 lbf/in2 (1.38 MPa) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 143 sq ft (13.3 m2)  • Tubes and flues 1,223 sq ft (113.6 m2) Superheater: ​  • Heating area 230 sq ft (21 m2) Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 19+5⁄8 in × 26 in (498 mm × 660 mm) Valve gear Walschaerts
Performance figures Tractive effort 24,670 lbf (109.74 kN)
Career Operators London, Midland and Scottish Railway British Railways Power class LMS: 4P BR: 4MT Withdrawn 1961–1967 Disposition Two preserved, remainder scrapped

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.

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).

It was also the basis for the later British Railways 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; 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.

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

• On 19 April 1955, locomotive No. 42073 was in collision with V2 No. 60968 at Newcastle Central station, Northumberland. Both locomotives were derailed.

Withdrawal

The class was withdrawn between 1961 and 1967.

Table of withdrawals

Year	Quantity in service at start of year	Quantity withdrawn	Locomotive numbers
1961	277	3	42217/20, 42683.
1962	274	43	42088/94/97, 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.
1963	231	30	42063/67–68/91/98, 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.
1964	201	57	42054/56–57/59/77/84/89–90/92/99, 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.
1965	144	54	42050–51/53/60–62/64–65/70/75/82, 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.
1966	90	48	42058/69/74/78/87/95–96, 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.
1967	42	42	42052/55/68/71–73/76/79–81/83/85–86/93, 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

• 
  42072 at Leeds City station
• 
  Unidentified Fairburn 2-6-4T passing Stanningley
• 
  42689 passing Stanningley
• 
  42085 at Lakeside railway station (2004)

References

Sources

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