LMS Fowler Class 3F

Infobox Locomotive
powertype=Steam
name = LMS Fowler Class 3F


caption = Preserved 47493 on the Spa Valley Railway with a demonstration freight train.
designer = Henry Fowler
builder = W. G. Bagnall (32),
Wm. Beardmore & Co. (90),
Hunslet Engine Co. (90),
LMS Horwich Works (15),
North British Locomotive Co. (75),
Vulcan Foundry (120)
builddate = 1924–1931
totalproduction = 422
whytetype = 0-6-0T
uicclass = Cn
gauge = RailGauge|ussg
driversize = convert|55|in|m|3|abbr=on
length = 31 ft 4¾ in
wheelbase = convert|16.5|ft|m|2|abbr=on
weight = convert|49.50|LT|t|1
superheatertype=None
boiler=LMS type G5½
tubearea= convert|967|sqft|abbr=on
fireboxarea= convert|97|sqft|abbr=on
fueltype = Coal
fuelc
convert|2.25|LT|t|1
waterc
convert|1200|impgal|l|abbr=on|lk=on
cylindercount = Two, inside
cylindersize = 18×26 in (457×660 mm)
valvegear = Stephenson, slide valves
firearea = convert|16|sqft|abbr=on
boilerpressure = convert|160|psi|MPa|2|abbr=on|lk=on
tractiveeffort = convert|20835|lbf|kN|2|abbr=on|lk=on
railroadclass = 3F
nicknames="Jinty"
retiredate = 1959–1967

The London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Fowler 3F 0-6-0T is a class of steam locomotive, often known as jinty. They represent the ultimate development of the Midland Railway's six-coupled tank engines.

Introduction

The design was based on rebuilds by Henry Fowler of the Midland Railway 2441 Class introduced in 1899 by Samuel Waite Johnson. These rebuilds featured a Belpaire firebox and improved cab. 422 jinties were built between 1924 and 1930, with it being just one of the Midland designs perpetuated by LMS. They were built by the ex-L&YR Horwich Works and the private firms Bagnall's, Beardmores, Hunslet, North British and the Vulcan Foundry.

Details

When new, they were numbered 7100–7149, 16400–16764. Numbers 7150–7156 were added when the LMS absorbed the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway locomotives in 1930. In the 1934 LMS renumbering scheme, the locomotives were assigned the series 7260–7681. On the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 they were initially chosen as the standard shunting locomotive for the War Department, but later the more modern Hunslet "Austerity" 0-6-0ST was chosen in preference. Nevertheless, eight were dispatched to France before its fall in 1940, and only five returned in 1948. Two, 7456 and 7553, were converted to the RailGauge|63 Irish broad gauge in 1944 and 1945 for use on Northern Counties Committee lines in Northern Ireland, becoming the NCC Y Class, nos 18 and 19. A total of 417 thus entered British Railways stock in 1948.

British Railways numbers were the LMS numbers prefixed with '4'. Numbers 47478, 47479, 47480, 47481, 47655 and 47681 were fitted for Push-pull train working.

The first withdrawals started in 1959 and by 1964 half had been withdrawn. The final five survived until 1967, with a further one, 47445 continuing with the National Coal Board.

Preservation

No less than ten have survived to preservation, these being 16576/(4)7493, (4)7279, (4)7324, (4)7327, (4)7357, (4)7383, (4)7406, (4)7445, (4)7564 and (4)7298. Their locations and conditions are:

* 47279 - Based at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and currently in operational condition.
* 47298 - Based at the Llangollen Railway and currently painted in Thomas the Tank Engine livery.
* 47324 - Based at the East Lancashire Railway and currently in operational condition. Boiler certificate expires in 2015.
* 47327 - Based at the Midland Railway Butterley, currently in operational condition and usually painted in Thomas the Tank Engine livery though currently carrying Midland Maroon and original number 16410.
* 47357 - Based at the Midland Railway Butterley and currently under overhaul. This Jinty achieved 'fame' somewhat after being painted in a fictional Midland Railway maroon livery.
* 47383 - Based at the Severn Valley Railway and currently stored awaiting overhaul. Cosmetic restoration has been carried out in preparation for the opening of 'Engine House.'
* 47406 - Based at the Great Central Railway and currently undergoing restoration into operational condition.
* 47445 - Based at the Midland Railway Butterley and currently undergoing restoration into operational condition.
* 47493 - Based at the Spa Valley Railway and currently in operation condition.
* 47564 - Based at the Midland Railway Butterley as scrap kit of parts. Unlikely to be restored.

In fiction

An engine of this type can be seen in the Rev. W. Awdry's The Railway Series book 'The Eight Famous Engines'. The character's name was Jinty, and came from the "Other Railway" (aka British Railways) to help out when the main engines went on a journey to England.

Models

A OO gauge model of the Class 3F was produced by Tri-ang and continued after the company's acquisition by Hornby Railways. In the 2000s Bachmann Branchline released a more detailed OO model. In N gauge Graham Farish produced a model as a "GP Tank" in various liveries including some of other railway companies before later tooling an accurate 'Jinty' model. In O gauge and Gauge 1 Bachmann Brassworks produce an example. In HO (3.5 mm) scale Firedrake Productions produced a small run of 20 kits.

External links

* Photo galleries [http://tony-pearce.fotopic.net/c605961.html] [http://tony-pearce.fotopic.net/c222766.html]

References

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