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Henry George Ivatt was appointed Chief Mechanical Engineer
(CME)
of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway from 1 February 1946. During his
term as CME he started to replace many of the older types of locomotive.
Intended for use mainly on cross-country and branch line routes his Class 2MT
2-6-0 locomotives soon proved to be reliable and economic in operation. They
also became very popular with engine crews and mechanical staff because of
innovations which reduced maintenance and gave the footplate crew a degree of
comfort that had been lacking on earlier engines. The locomotives soon
demonstrated that they could deliver quite snappy acceleration as well as being
able to give a good turn of speed. The L.M.S. went on to build 20 Class 2MT
2-6-0s to the new design, numbered 6400-6419, between 1946 and 1947. After
nationalisation a further 108 engines, numbered 46420-46527 were built by
British Railways before the design was incorporated, with very little
modification, into BR’s own Standard Class 2 in 1953. Of the 128 Ivatt Class
2MT 2-6-0s built, seven now survive in preservation. |
This book outlines the history of these locomotives at work
in Scotland, from the early arrivals, Nos 46460-46464 which were allocated to
Scottish sheds from new between May and August 1950, through to the 13 examples
transferred from other regions between 1961 and 1963. Each locomotive is
featured in pictures taken on shed, or at work on the typical branch and
secondary main line services throughout Scotland for which they were so suited.
In view of the similarity of design and at first glance that they look almost
like the Ivatt engines, pictures are included of some of the 10 BR Standard
78000 numbered Class 2MT 2-6-0 locomotives that were were allocated to Scottish
sheds to work alongside the original Ivatt engines, undertaking similar duties.
Finally each of the seven Ivatt Class 2MT 2-6-0s that escaped scrapping is
featured, either in BR days or in preservation.
With over 60 photographs, many previously unpublished,
detailed captions to each picture, descriptions of some of the long-lost
Scottish branch lines upon which they worked, a map showing these lines, and
appendices of build dates, shed allocations and withdrawal dates, this book is
the definitive work on this Class of locomotive in Scotland.
The author, Iain A H Smith, has spent many years researching
the history of these engines and finding sorces of photographs of them at work.
He has also worked on the footplate on a heritage railway in Scotland and has
travelled extensively worldwide in search of steam.
He is a director of The Carmyllie Pilot Company Ltd. In July
2000 the Company was set up to restore and subsequently operate No.46464, one of
the engines allocated to Scotland in 1950. This engine had become known as ‘The
Carmyllie Pilot’ during its time working the little-known Carmyllie branch in
Angus. Upon withdrawal it was fortunately saved and worked for a time on the
Strathspey Railway. Following purchase by The Carmyllie Pilot Company it was
moved to a private site near to its old haunts where work continues on a
thorough overhaul, including extensive work to the boiler.
Proceeds from the sale of this book will help fund the
overhaul and return to steam of this locomotive.
Published: April 2005
Size: 172mm x 245mm (approx), 48pp
Colour cover with two pictures, 62 black and white pictures
ISBN: 1-900467-25-9
Imprint: Finial Publishing Limited
Price: £6.95 including p&p
Available by post from:
Mr Iain A H Smith, 14 Moathill East, Cupar, Fife KY15 4DT
Telephone 01334 655965
Email iainahsmith@tudorminstrel.freeserve.co.uk