K&WVR visitors and residents Std class 2 78019 and the L&Y 957

A visitor from the Great Central that weekend was

BR Class 2MT, numbered in the 78019.

Between 1948 and 1950 following the Second World War, to satisfy the demand for new locomotives to replace obsolete and worn out machines the Railway Executive of British Railways continued to build locomotives of the most modern Big Four designs. One such was the Ivatt 2MT (see No.46521) a state of the art small locomotive introduced in the immediate post war era in accordance with latest design techniques.

The first Ivatt 2MT appeared from Derby in 1946 and the last emerged from Swindon in March 1953.
The Railway Executive then undertook the design a series of Standard Classes taking best practise from each of the Big Four railway companies but based most of its new locomotives on existing LMS designs. Some classes saw a few design developments but the BR Class 2MT, numbered in the 78XXX series, mechanically was virtually identical to its Ivatt predecessor, with some changes to the cab and the controls, the addition of grease lubrication points and the use of the BR standard injectors and clacks. A further improvement to the tender involved the use of Timken roller bearings on the wheel sets.

 

 

Controversy has surrounded the design, with its detractors questioning whether the BR 2MT was necessary at all given its similarity to the Ivatt design. In the event that the demise of steam saw them all withdrawn within 16 years of their introduction this is a valid question, but it must be remembered that they were introduced as an update of a successful design and were expected to last up to forty years, if the depreciation figures on the record cards are to be believed! The last 78XXXs were withdrawn in May 1967.
The GCR’s engine emerged from Darlington in March 1954 and spent its early years in the north east before moving to the north west and finally becoming one of the unlikely small stud of 78XXXs allocated to Willesden (1A), to work empty stock trains out of Euston until the end of steam there.

Many thanks to the GCR for the above notes. Pictures are my own

 

Now here is the Lanky tender engine referred to

in Fred Kerr's notes about the Taffy tank No 85.

 

Having now seen both engines more closely I can only agree and back up Fred's comments on the

similarity of the two. My researches show that a certain William Lorimer and his son also named William who became a senior member of the design team at Neilson's, where No85 was built, was briefly employed by Beyer Peacock. So the connection would explain much.

Of course Neilson's became the North British Locomotive Company.

Gives me a chance to put in another plug for the Taffy tank. Any and all help will always be appreciated in getting No 85 back in steam and on the line again. Any help can be sent to
http://www.kwvr.co.uk/