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Midland Railway 115 Class

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Midland Railway 115 Class
No. 673 at the Rainhill Trials 150th anniversary cavalcade in 1980
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerSamuel Waite Johnson
BuilderDerby Works
Build date1896–97 (5), 1899 (10)
Total produced15
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte4-2-2
 • UIC2′A1 n2
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia.3 ft 6 in (1.067 m)
Driver dia.7 ft 9+12 in (2.375 m)[1]
Axle load18 long tons 10 cwt (18.8 t)
Loco weight47 long tons 6+12 cwt (48.08 t)
Tender weight41 long tons 4 cwt (41.9 t) loaded
Total weight88 long tons 10+12 cwt (89.95 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity4 long tons (4 t)
Water cap.3,500 imp gal (16,000 L; 4,200 US gal)
BoilerMR type E
Boiler pressure170 psi (1.17 MPa)
CylindersTwo, inside
Cylinder size19+12 by 26 inches (495 by 660 millimetres)[1]
Performance figures
Tractive effort15,279 lbf (68.0 kN)
Career
Operators
Class115
Numbers
  • New: 115–121, 123–128, 130–131
  • 1907: 670–684
NicknamesSpinners
Withdrawn1921-1928
Disposition1 preserved, 14 scrapped

The Midland Railway 115 Class was the third of four classes of 4-2-2 steam locomotive, nicknamed "Spinners", designed by Samuel Waite Johnson. A total of 15 of the class were built between 1896 and 1899. They were capable of reaching speeds of up to 90 miles per hour (145 km/h).[2] One engine, No. 673, is preserved in the National Collection.

Classes of Midland Railway 4-2-2 locomotives

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Single-driver locomotives had been superseded in the late 19th century as loads increased, but were then reintroduced when steam sanding allowed better adhesion.[3] Five similar classes were built, with slight enlargements each time, and details as follows:

Midland Railway 4-2-2 classes[4]
Class Quantity Years built Driving wheels Cylinders Boiler pressure
25 class 18 1887–90 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) 18 in × 26 in (460 mm × 660 mm), slide valves 160 lbf/in2 (1,100 kPa)
1853 class 42 1889–93 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) 18+12 in × 26 in (470 mm × 660 mm), slide valves
179 class 10 1893–96 19 in × 26 in (480 mm × 660 mm), piston valves
115 class 15 1896–99 7 ft 9 in (2.36 m) 19+12 in × 26 in (500 mm × 660 mm), piston valves 170 lbf/in2 (1,200 kPa)
2601 class 10 1899–1900 7 ft 9+12 in (2.37 m) 180 lbf/in2 (1,200 kPa)

Construction history

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The fifteen locomotives in the 115 class were built in two batches, both at Derby Works.

Table of orders and numbers[5]
Original No. 1907 (& LMS) No. Derby Works
Order No.
Year Notes
115–119 670–674 1474 1896–97
120, 121, 123–128, 130, 131 675–684 1659 1899

Service history

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It was quite common for the class to pull an express weighing 200–250 long tons (203–254 t; 224–280 short tons), which suited them perfectly. Given a dry rail, they could maintain a tight schedule with 350 long tons (356 t; 392 short tons). Speeds up to 90 mph (140 km/h) were not uncommon, and the sight of their large, spinning driving wheels with no visible connecting rods earned them the nickname "Spinners". Due to the Midland's practice of building low-powered locomotives and relying on double-heading to cope with heavier trains, many had working lives of up to 30 years. They made ideal pilot engines for the later Johnson/Deeley 4-4-0 classes.

Renumbering

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In the Midland Railway 1907 renumbering scheme, they were assigned numbers 670–684. During World War I most were placed in store, but were then pressed into service afterward as pilots on the Nottingham to London coal trains. Twelve locomotives survived to the 1923 grouping, keeping their Midland Railway numbers in LMS service. Nevertheless by 1927 only three of the class remained, with the last engine, 673 (formerly 118) being withdrawn in 1928 and subsequently preserved.

Table of withdrawals[5]
Year Quantity in
service at
start of year
Quantity
withdrawn
Locomotive numbers Notes
1921 15 2 675, 684
1922 13 1 681
1925 12 2 674, 676
1926 10 8 670–672, 677, 678, 680, 682, 683
1928 2 2 673, 679

Preservation

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No. 673 is the sole survivor of its class. It was steamed around 1976–1980 when it took part in the Rainhill Trials 150th cavalcade but is currently a static exhibit in the National Railway Museum in York but not on display currently.

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References

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  1. ^ a b Essery & Jenkinson 1988, p. 170.
  2. ^ Train: The Definitive Visual History. DK Publishing. 2014. p. 96. ISBN 9781465436580. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  3. ^ W.A.Tuplin (1973). Midland Steam. David and Charles. pp. 66–71.
  4. ^ Baxter 1982, pp. 118, 133–135.
  5. ^ a b Baxter 1982, pp. 134–135.
  6. ^ Charles Rous-Marten: "Notable Speed-Trials of British Locomotives." In The Engineering Magazine, vol. XV, no. 1, April 1898, New York, p. 97.
  • Baxter, Bertram (1982). Baxter, David (ed.). British Locomotive Catalogue 1825–1923. Vol. 3A: Midland Railway and its constituent companies. Ashbourne, Derbyshire: Moorland Publishing Company. ISBN 9780903485524.
  • Herring, Peter (2000) Classic British Steam Locomotives, Enderby: Abbeydale, ISBN 1-86147-057-6
  • Casserley, H.C.; Johnston, Stuart W. (1974) [1966]. Locomotives at the Grouping 3: London, Midland and Scottish. Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0554-0.
  • Essery, R. J & Jenkinson, D. (1988). An Illustrated Review of Midland Locomotives, Volume 2: Passenger tender classes. Didcot: Wild Swan Publications. ISBN 0-906867-59-2.