The Midland Railway 115 Class was the third of four classes of 4-2-2 steam locomotive, nicknamed "Spinners", designed by Samuel Waite Johnson. A total of 15 of the class were built between 1896 and 1899. They were capable of reaching speeds of up to 90 miles per hour (145 km/h). One engine, No. 673, is preserved in the National Collection.
Classes of Midland Railway 4-2-2 locomotives[]
Single-driver locomotives had been superseded in the late 19th century as loads increased, but were then reintroduced when steam sanding allowed better adhesion. Five similar classes were built, with slight enlargements each time, and details as follows:
| Class | Quantity | Years built | Driving wheels | Cylinders | Boiler pressure | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 class | 18 | 1887–90 | 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) | 18 in × 26 in (460 mm × 660 mm),
slide valves |
160 lbf/in2 (1,100 kPa) | File:896f2633a21baea55d12a2ad385582b0.jpg |
| 1853 class | 42 | 1889–93 | 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) | 18+1⁄2 in × 26 in (470 mm × 660 mm),
slide valves |
File:S-l300.jpg | |
| 179 class | 10 | 1893–96 | 19 in × 26 in (480 mm × 660 mm),
piston valves |
|||
| 115 class | 15 | 1896–99 | 7 ft 9 in (2.36 m) | 19+1⁄2 in × 26 in (500 mm × 660 mm),
piston valves |
170 lbf/in2 (1,200 kPa) | |
| 2601 class | 10 | 1899–1900 | 7 ft 9+1⁄2 in (2.37 m) | 180 lbf/in2 (1,200 kPa) | File:35662772690 f4f00ec1ed b.jpg |
Construction history[]
The fifteen locomotives in the 115 class were built in two batches, both at Derby Works.
| Original No. | 1907 (& LMS) No. | Derby Works Order No. |
Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 115–119 | 670–674 | 1474 | 1896–97 |
| 120, 121, 123–128, 130, 131 | 675–684 | 1659 | 1899 |
Service history[]
It was quite common for engines of this class to pull a typical Midland express weighing 200–250 long tons (203–254 t; 224–280 short tons), which suited the Class 115 perfectly. Given a dry rail they could maintain a tight schedule with 350 long tons (356 t; 392 short tons). Speeds up to 90 mph were not uncommon, and the sight of their large, spinning driving wheels with no visible connecting rods, like a spinning wheel, earned them the nickname "Spinners". Due to the Midland's practice of building low powered locomotives and relying on double-heading to cope with heavier trains, many enjoyed working lives of up to 30 years. They made ideal pilot engines for the later Johnson/Deeley 4-4-0 classes.
Renumbering[]
In the Midland Railway 1907 renumbering scheme, they were assigned numbers 670–684. During World War I most were placed in store, but were then pressed into service afterwards as pilots on the Nottingham to London coal trains. Twelve locomotives survived to the 1923 grouping, keeping their Midland Railway numbers in LMS service. Nevertheless, by 1927 only three of the class remained, with the last engine, 673 (formerly 118) being withdrawn in 1928 and subsequently preserved.
| Year | Quantity in service at start of year |
Quantity withdrawn |
Locomotive numbers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1921 | 15 | 2 | 675, 684 |
| 1922 | 13 | 1 | 681 |
| 1925 | 12 | 2 | 674, 676 |
| 1926 | 10 | 8 | 670–672, 677, 678, 680, 682, 683 |
| 1928 | 2 | 2 | 673, 679 |
Preservation[]
No. 673 is the sole survivor of its class. It was steamed around 1976–1980 when it took part in the Rainhill Trials 150th cavalcade but is currently a static exhibit in the National Railway Museum in York.
Gallery[]
In 1897, no 116 (shown here in photographic grey) reached a speed of 90 mph while under full load, at that time the highest recorded speed in the UK.
References[]
- Herring, Peter (2000) Classic British Steam Locomotives, Enderby: Abbeydale, ISBN: 1-86147-057-6
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