Midland Railway 115 Class

Midland Railway 115 Class

No. 673 at the Rainhill Trials 150th anniversary cavalcade in 1980

Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Samuel W. Johnson Builder Derby Works Build date 1896–97 (5), 1899 (10) Total produced 15

Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-2-2  • UIC 2′A1 n2 Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Leading dia. 3 ft 6 in (1.067 m) Driver dia. 7 ft 9 1⁄2 in (2.375 m) Axle load 18 long tons 10 cwt (18.8 t) Loco weight 47 long tons 6 1⁄2 cwt (48.08 t) Tender weight 41 long tons 4 cwt (41.9 t) loaded Total weight 88 long tons 10 1⁄2 cwt (89.95 t) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 4 long tons 0 cwt (4.1 t) Water cap 3,500 imp gal (16,000 l; 4,200 US gal) Boiler MR type E Boiler pressure 170 psi (1.17 MPa) Cylinders Two, inside Cylinder size 19 1⁄2 in × 26 in (495 mm × 660 mm)

Performance figures Tractive effort 15,279 lbf (68.0 kN)

Career Operators Midland Railway London, Midland and Scottish Railway Class 115 Numbers New: 115–121, 123–128, 130–131 1907: 670–684 Disposition 1 preserved, 14 scrapped

The Midland Railway 115 Class is a class of 4-2-2 steam locomotive, nicknamed "Spinners". They were designed by Samuel W. Johnson and a total of 15 of the class were built between 1896 and 1899.

The fifteen locomotives in the class were built in two batches, both at Derby Works.

It was quite common for this class of engine to pull a typical Midland express weighing 200 and 250 long tons (203 and 254 t; 224 and 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 whirring huge driving wheels earned them the nickname "Spinners". Thanks 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.

In the Midland Railway 1907 renumbering scheme, they were assigned numbers 670–684. During World War I most were placed in store but, surprisingly, 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 London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) service. Nevertheless, by 1927 only three of the class remained, with the last engine, 673 (formerly 118) being withdrawn in 1928 and preserved.

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.