The Midland Railway 2501 Class was a class of 2-6-0 steam locomotives built in the United States in 1899. The Midland's own Derby Works had reached their capacity, and were unable to produce additional engines at the time, and many British locomotive builders were recovering from a labor dispute over working hours, thus the railway placed an order with the Baldwin Locomotive Works for 30 engines. These engines were manufactured in four batches and shipped disassembled as kits of parts, before being re-assembled at Derby. Baldwin constructed similar 2-6-0's for the Great Central Railway (GCR Class 15) and Great Northern Railway (GNR Class H1) around the same time.
Appearance The engines were designed with little or no consideration to British practice, having several distinct characteristics of American practice, such as the use of bar frames, sand carried in a second dome on top of the boiler, and eight-wheel bogie tenders. A further 10 engines were ordered from the Schenectady Locomotive Works, which became the 2511 Class.
Numbering Originally Nos 2501–2510, 2521–2540, in the Midland's 1907 renumbering scheme, the Baldwins became Nos 2200–2229, in the same order.
Withdrawal Being non-standard, they had a short life and were all withdrawn between November 1908 and March 1914. All were scrapped.
+ Table of withdrawals Year Quantity inservice atstart of year Quantitywithdrawn Locomotive numbers Notes 1908 30 1 2209 1909 29 8 2212, 2215, 2219–2221, 2225, 2226, 2229 1910 21 3 2203, 2204, 2207 1911 18 3 2200, 2202, 2208 1912 15 2 2227, 2228 1913 13 10 2201, 2205, 2206, 2211, 2213, 2216–2218, 2222, 2224 1914 3 3 2210, 2214, 2223
See also Locomotives of the Midland Railway
References
Hunt, Dave. American Locomotives of the Midland Railway (No 1 Supplement to Midland Record)