Locomotives of the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway explained

From its opening in 1854, the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway (LTSR) hired locomotives from the Eastern Counties Railway (ECR), and this arrangement continued after the ECR amalgamated with other railways in 1862 to create the Great Eastern Railway (GER). In 1880 the LTSR bought its first locomotive, saving on hiring costs from the GER and further engines followed that year.^[1] The LTSR principally operated tank engines, which it named after towns on the route. The railway's first locomotive superintendent was Thomas Whitelegg, who in 1910 was succeeded by his son Robert. The LTSR became part of the Midland Railway (MR) in 1912, but nevertheless continued to be operated independently. The Midland removed locomotive names and renumbered engines. The Midland, and its successor the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS), continued to build some LTSR designs until 1930.

Locomotive classes

Steam locomotives are divided into the following classes:

LT&SR class	LT&SR Nos.	MR Nos.	Type	Quantity	Manufacturer	Date	Withdrawn	Notes
	1–36	2110–2145		36	Sharp, Stewart & Co. (30) Nasmyth, Wilson & Co. (6)	1880–1892	1929–1936	align=left
	37–48	2146–2157		12	Sharp, Stewart & Co. (6) Dübs & Co. (6)	1897–1898	1951–1952	align=left
	49–50	2898–2899		2		1899	1933, 1936	align=left
	51–68	2158–2175		18	Sharp, Stewart & Co. (12) North British Locomotive Co. (6)	1900–1903	1947–1953	align=left
	69–78	2180–2189		10		1903–1908	1958–1962	align=left
	79–82	2176–2179		4		1909	1951–1956	align=left
Locomotives built to LT&SR designs after 1912
	(83–86)	2190–2193		4		1912	1959	align=left	Ordered by the LT&SR
	(87–94)	2100–2107		8		1912	1929–1934	align=left	Ordered by the LT&SR
	—	LMS 2110–2119		10		1923	1951–1959	align=left	Ordered by the Midland Railway
	—	LMS 2120–2124		6		1925	1952–1959	align=left	Ordered by the LMS
	—	LMS 2125–2134		10		1927	1956–1960	align=left	Ordered by the LMS
	—	LMS 2151–2160		10		1930	1955–1959	align=left	Ordered by the LMS

The LTSR 37, 51, and 79 classes were similar, with the 51 class being lighter (67.8LT) than the other two (71.5LT71.75LT).

Preservation

Only one LT&SR locomotive has survived into preservation:

Further reading

• Bob Essery The London, Tilbury and Southend Railway and its Locomotives, OPC (2001)
• Bob Essery and David Jenkinson An Illustrated History of LMS locomotives. Volume 4. Absorbed Pre-Group Classes Midland Division

Notes and References

1. Book: Kay. Peter. The London Tilbury and Southend Railway - a history of the line Volume 1. 1996. Peter Kay. Teignmouth,UK. 1 899890 10 6. 46.