The LMS Stanier Class 5 is a type of 4-6-0 steam locomotive which was built between 1934 and 1951 with several variations. The locomotive is almost universally known as the Black Five, due to their black color scheme and their power class of 5MT.
18 are preserved, with only about 2 or 3 operating steam excursions.
History[]
They were a mixed traffic locomotive, a "do-anything go-anywhere" type, designed by William Stanier, who had previously been with the GWR. In his early LMS days, he designed his Stanier Mogul 2-6-0 in which he experimented with the GWR "School" Class of thought on locomotive design.
A number of details in this design he would never use again realising the superiority of details not used on the GWR. Stanier realised that there was a need for larger locomotives. These were to be the LMS's version of the GWR Halls but not a copy, as the Hall was too wide to run most places in Britain. They shared similar cylinder arrangement (two outside), internal boiler design and size and 6 foot driving wheel diameters.
In their early days, the locomotives were known as the "Black Staniers" from their black livery, in contrast to Stanier's other class of 4-6-0, the LMS Stanier Jubilee Class, which were painted crimson (and known until April 1935 as the "Red Staniers"). Later on, the nickname of the former became "Black Five", the number referring to the power classification. This was originally 5P5F, but from 1940 was shown on cabsides as the simple figure 5.
Specifications[]
The locomotives weighed in at 72.2 or 75 long tons. The driving wheels were 72 in (1.8 m) diameter and the carrying wheels were 39.5 in (1 m) diameter. The locomotives had 2 cylinders which were feed from a superheater. The boiler produced 225 psi of pressure, and the fire grate was 27.75 or 28.5 ft2 (2.57 or 2.65 m2). The locomotive made 25,455 lbf of tractive effort.
The tender could carry 4000 imperial gallons of water, and 9 long tons of coal.
The Caprotti 5s[]
In 1948, British Railways built 20 Black 5s with British Caprotti Valve Gear as part of a program to improve the already good design.
Preservation[]
Of the 842 engines to be built 18 examples survive with atleast 1 from each of the 5 builders batches: 7 LMS-built black 5's survive and 11 by outside contractors. Owing to their late withdrawals around the end of steam in 1968, twelve of the engines we're purchased directly from BR service for preservation (these being: 44767, 44806, 44871, 44932, 45000, 45025, 45110, 45212, 45231, 45305, 45407 & 45428), the remaining six engines we're rescued from Woodham Brother's Scrapyard at Barry Island (these being: 44901, 45163, 45293, 45337, 45379 & 45491). Of the eighteen engines to be preserved, fourteen have operated in preservation. The four engines which haven't yet steamed in preservation being 44901, 45163, 45293 & 45491.
Twelve members of the class have also operated on the mainline in preservation: 44767, 44871, 44932, 45000, 45025, 45110, 45212, 45231, 45305, 45337, 45407 & 45428.
As of July 2024, seven members of the class are operational with five having mainline certificates: 44871, 44932, 45212 & 45407 are fully certified to operate on the national network while 45428 is restricted to only run between Grosmont and Whitby with occasional trips from Whitby to Battersby. While presently not certified 44806 is planned to be mainline certified in 2024 but will also be restricted to only run between Grosmont and Whitby the occasional run to Battersby. 45025 is only permitted to operate on heritage railways with no plans to operate on the mainline.
Eight members of the class: 44767, 45110, 45163, 45231, 45293, 45305, 45337 & 45491 are in the process of undergoing overhauls/restorations to working order with three being restored from Barry Scrapyard condition. Five engines: 44767, 45110, 45163, 45231 and 45305 are all intended to operate on the mainline following the completion of their respective overhauls/restoration. 45293, 45337 & 45491 are undergoing overhauls/restoration for heritage railway only use. 45163 was originally only going to be restored for heritage railway use but an agreement was made in July 2024 with Riley & Son Ltd which will now see 45163 operate on the mainline.
No. 44781 being the 3rd black five used on the Fifteen Guinea Special on Sunday 11th August 1968 was a candidate for preservation. 44781 was used in the film Virgin Soldiers but was left at an angle during filming. Saffron Walden businessman Gerald Pagano agreed to purchase the locomotive and coaches from Columbia Pictures for preservation – but was unable to raise the £5,000 quoted by BR to re-rail the engine and tow it to Carnforth, as a result the engine was scrapped. In 2019, parts were rediscovered in Bartlow and in the National Railway Museum's collection in York.
All surviving examples we're named in preservation but marked names indicate that the engine is presently not wearing them. Loco numbers in bold indicate their current number.
Preserved Engines[]
Image | Number (LMS) | Number (BR) | Name | Built | Withdrawn | Builder | Boiler Type | Owner | Livery | Home Base | Current status | Mainline Certified | Notes |
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4767 | 44767 | *George Stephenson | December 1947 | December 1967 | Crewe Works | Forward Topfeed | West Coast Railways | BR Lined Black, TBC (on completion) | Carnforth Motive Power Depot | Under Overhaul | No (to be certified) | Only member of the class equipped with Stephenson valve gear. |
4806 | 44806 | July 1944 | August 1968 | Derby Works | Domed | Peter Best | BR Lined Black, Late Crest | North Yorkshire Moors Railway | Operational | No (to be certified) | Formerly named Magpie and later Kenneth Aldcroft.
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4871 | 44871 | March 1945 | August 1968 | Crewe Works | Domed | Ian Riley | BR Lined Black, Early Emblem | East Lancashire Railway | Operational | Yes | Formerly named Sovereign.
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4901 | 44901 | October 1945 | August 1965 | Crewe Works | Domed | Black 5 44901 Company | N/A | Vale of Berkeley Railway | Stored | No | In ex-Barry Scrapyard condition. | ||
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4932 | 44932 | September 1945 | August 1968 | Horwich Works | Domed | West Coast Railways | BR Lined Black, British Railways lettering | Carnforth Motive Power Depot | Operational | Yes (2022-ongoing) | Only surviving Horwich Works built example. | |
5000 | 45000 | March 1935 | October 1967 | Crewe Works | Domeless | National Collection | LMS Lined Black | Shildon Locomotion Museum | Static Display | No | |||
5025 | 45025 | August 1934 | August 1967 | Vulcan Foundry | Domeless | WEC Watkinson Trust | LMS Lined Black | Strathspey Railway | Operational | No | Oldest surviving member of the class. | ||
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5110 | 45110 | July 1935 | August 1968 | Vulcan Foundry | Domeless | West Coast Railways | BR Lined Black, Late Crest (on completion) | Carnforth Motive Power Depot | Under Overhaul | No (to be certified) | Purchased from Severn Valley Railway by West Coast Railways in August 2023.
Hauled Fifteen Guinea Special in August 1968. | |
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5163 | 45163 | August 1935 | May 1965 | Armstrong Whitworth | Domed | 45163 Ltd | BR Lined Black, TBC (on completion) | Colne Valley Railway | Under Restoration | No (to be certified) | Under restoration from ex-Barry Scrapyard condition.
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5212 | 45212 | November 1935 | August 1968 | Armstrong Whitworth | Domed | Keighley and Worth Valley Railway | BR Lined Black, Late Crest | Keighley and Worth Valley Railway | Operational | Yes (2017 - ongoing) | On long term loan agreement with Riley & Son Ltd. | |
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5231 | 45231 | The Sherwood Forester | August 1936 | August 1968 | Armstrong Whitworth | Domed | Locomotive Services Ltd | BR Lined Black, Late Crest (on completion) | Crewe Diesel Depot | Under Overhaul | No (to be certified) | |
5293 | 45293 | December 1937 | August 1965 | Armstrong Whitworth | Domed | The British Enginemen Steam Preservation Society | BR Lined Black, TBC (on completion) | Colne Valley Railway | Under Restoration | No | Under restoration from ex-Barry Scrapyard condition. | ||
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5305 | 45305 | *Alderman A.E. Draper | January 1937 | August 1968 | Armstrong Whitworth | Domed | 5305 Locomotive Association | BR Lined Black, Late Crest (on completion) | Great Central Railway | Under Overhaul | No (to be certified) | |
5337 | 45337 | April 1937 | February 1965 | Armstrong Whitworth | Domed | 26B Railway Company | LMS Lined Black (on completion) | East Lancashire Railway | Under Overhaul | No | |||
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5379 | 45379 | July 1937 | July 1965 | Armstrong Whitworth | Domed | Mid Hants Railway | BR Lined Black, Late Crest | Mid Hants Railway | Static Display | No | On static display in Margate | |
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5407 | 45407 | The Lancashire Fusilier | September 1937 | August 1968 | Armstrong Whitworth | Domed | Ian Riley | BR Lined Black, Early Emblem | East Lancashire Railway | Operational | Yes | |
5428 | 45428 | Eric Treacy | October 1937 | October 1967 | Armstrong Whitworth | Domed | North York Moors Historical Railway Trust | LMS Lined Black | North Yorkshire Moors Railway | Operational | Yes (2018 - ongoing, Grosmont to Whitby & Whitby to Battersby only) | ||
5491 | 45491 | December 1943 | July 1965 | Derby Works | Forward Topfeed | Phil Wainwright | BR Lined Black, TBC (on completion) | Great Central Railway | Under Restoration | No | Under restoration from ex-Barry Scrapyard condition.
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In Fiction[]
Henry the Green Engine from Thomas & Friends is based on an LMS Stanier Class 5
Gallery[]
Videos[]
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