LMS Stanier Class 5

LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0

Class 5 number 45379.

Technical specifications

Designer(s)

William Stanier

Serial number(s)

AW: 1166–1265, 1280–1506

VF: 4565–4614, 4618–4667

Manufacturer(s)

Crewe Works (241)
Derby Works (54)
Horwich Works (120)
Vulcan Foundry (100)
Armstrong Whitworth (327)

Build date

1934–1951

Total produced

842

Classification

LMS:

5P5F
BR: 5MT

Wheel arrangement

4-6-0

Dimensions

Length: 63 ft 7 3⁄4 in (19.40 m) to 63 ft 11 3⁄4 in (19.50 m)

Rail gauge

4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Valve gear

Most Walschaerts; Several fitted with Caprotti; one fitted with outside Stephenson

Cylinders

Two, outside

Boiler type

LMS Type 3C

Fuel type

Coal

Performance figures

Tractive effort

25,455 lbf (113.23 kN)

Service information

Operator(s)

LMS, BR

Disposition details

Withdrawn

1961–1968

Preserved

18

Number scrapped

824

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 colour scheme and their power class of 5MT.

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 realizing the superiority of details not used on the GWR. Stanier realized 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.

Accidents and incidents[]

On 13 October 1939, No. 5025 was hauling an express passenger train from Euston to Stranraer (pilot to locomotive 6130 The West Yorkshire Regiment, an LMS Royal Scot Class 4-6-0) when it was in collision with locomotive LNWR Class G1 0-8-0 9169, which was attaching a van to the rear of an Inverness train at Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, severely damaging it. Five people were killed and more than 30 were injured. No. 5025 was repaired and survives at the Strathspey Railway.
In 1941, locomotive No. 5425 was severely damaged in a Luftwaffe air raid. It was subsequently repaired at Crewe Works.
On 1 January 1946, engine No. 5495 was involved in the Lichfield rail crash, in which the freight train it was hauling was derailed at Lichfield Trent Valley station, Staffordshire due to faulty points. The train collided with a passenger train, which was hauled by LNWR Prince of Wales Class 4-6-0 no. 25802, killing 20 people and injuring 21.
On 23 January 1955, locomotive No. 45274 was hauling an express passenger train that was derailed due to excessive speed on a curve, in the Sutton Coldfield rail crash. Nineteen people were killed and 64 were injured.
On 16 January 1958, a locomotive of the class was hauling a passenger train that collided with a light engine that was standing foul of the line at Preston due to a signalman's error. Both trains were derailed; thirteen people were injured.
On 4 February 2006, locomotive 45305 Alderman A. E. Draper collided with a rake of six carriages at Loughborough Central, damaging the locomotive and one of the carriages. Two people were injured. An investigation by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) found that the driver was not wearing spectacles at the time of the accident, despite it being a requirement on his medical certificate to do so when driving.
On 2 October 2015, locomotive No. 45231 was working a private charter train for West Coast Railways (WCRC) through Doncaster when it was noticed that its TPWS (Train Protection and Warning System) had been isolated by the footplate crew. Isolation of the TPWS had been a factor in the Wootton Bassett SPAD incident in March of the same year. As a result, WCRC were suspended from operating on the national network by the Office of Rail and Road.

Withdrawal[]

The class remained intact until 1961 when 45401 was the first Black Five to be withdrawn from stock following a collision at Warrington, although the boiler was re-used and actually lasted to the end of steam on BR. The remainder of the class were withdrawn between 1962 and 1968. Some members of the class, 46 in total, survived to the last day of steam on BR in August 1968. No. 45318, a Lostock Hall based engine, hauled the last scheduled train on 3 August 1968; a Preston to Liverpool exchange. The locomotive was withdrawn a few days later and then scrapped the following year at Drapers.

Preservation[]

Of the 842 engines to be built 18 examples survive with at least 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.

Thirteen members of the class have also operated on the mainline in preservation: 44767, 44806, 44871, 44932, 45000, 45025, 45110, 45212, 45231, 45305, 45337, 45407 & 45428. Examples from all builders have had engines run on the mainline with Derby being the last to have an example run on the mainline, it's first engine 44806 making it's debut in November 2025.

LMS Crewe Works: 44767, 44871 and 45000. LMS Derby Works: 44806. LMS Horwich Works: 44932. Armstrong Whitworth: 45212, 45231, 45305, 45337, 45407 and 45428 & Vulcan Foundry: 45025 and 45110.

As of November 2025, six members of the class are operational with five having mainline certificates: 44871, 44932 & 45407 are fully certified to operate on the national network while 44806 & 45428 are restricted to only run between Grosmont and Whitby with occasional trips from Whitby to Battersby. 45025 is only permitted to operate on heritage railways with no plans at present to operate on the mainline.

Nine members of the class: 44767, 45110, 45163, 45212, 45231, 45293, 45305, 45337 & 45491 are in the process of undergoing overhauls/restorations to working order with three being restored from Barry Scrapyard condition: 45163, 45293 and 45491. Six engines: 44767, 45110, 45163, 45212, 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. The second black five on long term hire with Riley & Son Ltd (45212), was withdrawn from traffic in November 2025 for overhaul.

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.

Select 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[]

Number (LMS)	Number (BR)	Name	Built	Withdrawn	Builder	Boiler Type	Owner	Livery	Home Base	Current status	Mainline Certified	Notes
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	Yes (2025 - ongoing, Grosmont to Whitby & Whitby to Battersby only)	Formerly named Magpie and later Kenneth Aldcroft.
4871	44871		March 1945	August 1968	Crewe Works	Domed	Ian Riley	BR Lined Black, Early Emblem	East Lancashire Railway	Operational	Yes	Formerly named Sovereign. Hauled Fifteen Guinea Special in August 1968.
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.
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.
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. Formerly named RAF Biggin Hill. Hauled Fifteen Guinea Special in August 1968.
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. Will be under 25 year loan agreement with Riley & Son Ltd following completion of restoration, estimated return to traffic planned for 2027.
5212	45212		November 1935	August 1968	Armstrong Whitworth	Domed	Keighley and Worth Valley Railway	BR Lined Black, Late Crest	Keighley and Worth Valley Railway	Under Overhaul	No (2017 - 2025) To be certified	On long term loan agreement with Riley & Son Ltd.
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.
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
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
5407	45407	The Lancashire Fusilier	September 1937	August 1968	Armstrong Whitworth	Domed	Ian Riley	BR Lined Black, Early Emblem	East Lancashire Railway	Operational	Yes (20## - ongoing)
5428	45428	Eric Treacy	October 1937	October 1967	Armstrong Whitworth	Domed	North York Moors Historical Railway Trust	BR Unlined Black, Late Crest	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)	TBC	Under Restoration	No	Under restoration from ex-Barry Scrapyard condition. Only surviving example having a boiler with top feed on the front ring in conjunction with Walschaerts valve gear.

In Fiction[]

In The Railway Series children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry and its television adaption Thomas and Friends, the character Henry the Green Engine, who was formerly based on a flawed LNER Gresley A1 prototype design, was rebuilt into a LMS Stanier Black Five 4-6-0 at Crewe Works after crashing into a goods train while pulling the Flying Kipper.