The London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) No. 41241 is a 2-6-2T LMS Class 2MT tank engine preserved at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway (KWVR).
Operational history[]
No. 41241 was built by British Railways (BR) at Crewe Works in September 1949. It was first sent to Bath Green Park shed where it saw use on local passenger services and the occasional banking job. It was later transferred to Wellington shed in October 1959. In 1964, No. 41241 was moved to Leamington Spa, back to Wellington and to Wales, where it stayed at Bangor and then Croes Newydd. In 1965, No. 41241 went to Llandudno Junction shed for about 3 months before finally being transferred to Skipton where it was withdrawn from service in December 1966.
Preservation[]
No. 41241 was purchased directly from BR by the KWVR for preservation and in March 1967, it arrived on the KWVR under its own power. Due to BR requiring that preserved steam locomotives did not wear the BR livery with their then current crest, it was repainted into a lined maroon livery with the letters KWVR written on its side tanks. It wore this livery for the railway's reopening in June 1968 where it pulled the re-opening special.
In 1975, No. 41241 made an appearance at the Rocket 150 cavalcade in Shildon under its own power with a set of the Worth Valley's coaches. It was also used on the Shildon shuttle trains during the event taking people from the main station at Shildon to the event and also between Darlington and Shildon.
It was later repainted into an authentic BR black livery (both the early and late versions) and has worn this livery for most of its preservation career.
On January 20, 2013, No. 41241s boiler ticket expired, and it was withdrawn from service for its 10-year overhaul. After an extensive overhaul, it was returned to traffic during the KWVR's 50th anniversary gala in June 2018 wearing its original maroon livery.
No. 41241 now operates regularly on the KWVR with its boiler ticket set to expire again in 2027.
Trivia[]
- No. 41241 is one of four surviving examples of the LMS Class 2MT 2-6-2T left in preservation.
- Arthur from Thomas & Friends is based on this engine and number. Shown in his concept art.
- The Keighley and Worth Valley renumbered the locomotive to 5972 matching the serial number of the Hogwarts Express, and added a headboard with the train's name and the Lego logo capping of the makeover.