The London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0 is a class of steam locomotive designed for light mixed traffic. A total of 218 of them were built between 1946 and 1953 and were classified as 2F, BR 2MT. No. 46441 was one of the 218 of these locomotives built and was constructed in April 1950 at Crewe Works.
It was withdrawn from service and saved from scrap when it was moved to Carnforth in April 1967 as the steam depot was purchased by Dr Peter Beet and became Steamtown.
No. 46441 was one of the smallest tender engines to operate on the former British Rail system during the 90’s as well as being a regular at Carnforth and working at its home on the East Lancashire Railway. It’s duties included the Lake Windermere cruise, a passenger train from Morecambe to Lakeside, via Ulverston hauling the District Engineer’s saloon.
No. 46441 last steamed in 2002 and was then placed on static display in the Ribble Steam Railway Museum at Preston. At the time, the locomotive's current owner, Chris Beet, had no plans to overhaul it for a number of years.
In April 2018, the locomotive was moved to the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway as a base of operation while it was being returned to steam. The boiler work will be undertaken at Carnforth by West Coast Railways whilst the remainder of the tasks will be undertaken at Haverthwaite.
The boiler was lifted off the frames in July 2019. and allocated to Lancaster, Green Ayre. It is currently unknown when No. 46441 is expected to return to traffic.
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