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 coupled wheelbase, reduced from to allowing curves of 5 chains to be negotiated; to reduce the locomotives mass per unit length the overall weight was reduced by .

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 station, Northumberland. Both locomotives were derailed.

Withdrawal

The class was withdrawn between 1961 and 1967.

+ Table of withdrawalsYear Quantity inservice atstart of year Quantitywithdrawn 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.

NumberBuilderBuiltWithdrawnService LifeLocationOwnersLiveryConditionPhotographNotes42073Brighton WorksNov 1950Oct 196716 Years, 10 monthsLakeside and Haverthwaite Railway-BR Lined Black, Late CrestOperational, boiler ticket expires: 202442085Brighton WorksSept 1951Oct 196716 Years, 7 monthsLakeside 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.

References

Sources

External links