Midland Railway 2501 Class Explained

Midland Railway 2501 class
Powertype:Steam
Builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works
Serialnumber:16621–16630, 16844–16853, 16960–16965, 16984–16987
Builddate:1899
Totalproduction:30
Whytetype:2-6-0
Uicclass:1′Cn2
Leadingdiameter:2feet
Driverdiameter:5feet
Length:over buffers: 51feet
Tendertype:Two two-axle bogies
Fueltype:Coal
Boilerpressure:1602NaN2
Cylindercount:Two, outside
Cylindersize:18x
Valvegear:Stephenson, inside
Valvetype:Slide valves
Tractiveeffort:176262NaN2
Operator:Midland Railway
Operatorclass:2501
Fleetnumbers:New: 2501–2510, 2521–2540
1907: 2200–2229
Deliverydate:1899
Withdrawndate:1908–1914
Disposition:All scrapped

The Midland Railway 2501 Class was a class of 2-6-0 steam locomotives built in the United States in 1899. The Midland's own Derby Works had reached their capacity, and were unable to produce additional engines at the time, and many British locomotive builders were recovering from a labor dispute over working hours, thus the railway placed an order with the Baldwin Locomotive Works for 30 engines. These engines were manufactured in four batches and shipped disassembled as kits of parts, before being re-assembled at Derby. Baldwin constructed similar 2-6-0's for the Great Central Railway (GCR Class 15) and Great Northern Railway (GNR Class H1) around the same time.[1] [2]

Appearance

The engines were designed with little or no consideration to British practice, having several distinct characteristics of American practice, such as the use of bar frames, sand carried in a second dome on top of the boiler, and eight-wheel bogie tenders.[3] A further 10 engines were ordered from the Schenectady Locomotive Works, which became the 2511 Class.

Numbering

Originally Nos 2501–2510, 2521–2540, in the Midland's 1907 renumbering scheme, the Baldwins became Nos 2200–2229, in the same order.

Withdrawal

Being non-standard, they had a short life and were all withdrawn between November 1908 and March 1914. All were scrapped.

Table of withdrawals! Year !! Quantity in
service at
start of year !! Quantity
withdrawn !! Locomotive numbers !! Notes
1908 30 1 align=left 2209 align=left
1909 29 8 align=left 2212, 2215, 2219–2221, 2225, 2226, 2229 align=left
1910 21 3 align=left 2203, 2204, 2207 align=left
1911 18 3 align=left 2200, 2202, 2208 align=left
1912 15 2 align=left 2227, 2228 align=left
1913 13 10 align=left 2201, 2205, 2206, 2211, 2213, 2216–2218, 2222, 2224 align=left
1914 3 3 align=left 2210, 2214, 2223 align=left

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: LOCOMOTIVES OF THE GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY - Paul Johnson.
  2. Web site: [Baldwin Locomotive Works, Index of Companies, Construction Numbers from August 1896 to January 1902, Nos. 15000 to 19999] ]. 2024-04-01 . digitalcollections.smu.edu . en.
  3. Web site: Stockingford Shed: MR 2-6-0 No 2222 presents a backdrop to its crew and shunter (With pole) enjoying a break for their photograph.