# LNWR Improved Precedent Class

The London and North Western Railway (LNWR) Improved Precedent Class or Renewed Precedent Class is a class of 2-4-0 steam locomotives originally designed for express passenger work. They later gained the nickname of Jumbos.

## History

The locomotives were designed by F. W. Webb. A total of 158 were built in batches by Crewe Works 1887–1897 with two further additions in 1898 and 1901 respectively. They were officially "renewals" (i.e. replacements) of 96 Newton Class and 62 Precedent Class, so that, for accountancy purposes, they could be charged against the Revenue account rather than the Capital account of a "new" locomotive. On renewal, they kept the numbers and names of their predecessors, and as a result the numbering system continued to be completely haphazard. In addition, the eight Precedent class locomotives that were not renewed, were rebuilt to the Improved specification, but they retained their original 7⁄8-inch (22.2 mm) thick frames, whereas the renewed locomotives had 1-inch (25.4 mm) frames.
On 22 August 1895, 790 Hardwicke took 2 hours and 6 minutes for the 141 miles (227 km) from Crewe to Carlisle, with an average speed of 67.1 mph (108.0 km/h), setting up a new speed record during the Race to the North.
When George Whale (who succeeded Francis Webb in 1903) introduced his Precursor and Experiment Classes in March 1904 and April 1905 respectively, the Improved Precedents ultimately began seeing withdrawals, starting in December 1905. By the outbreak of the First World War in July 1914, only 112 Large Jumbos were in service.
The London, Midland and Scottish Railway acquired 76 upon the grouping of 1923, and gave them the power classification 1P. The LMS assigned these the numbers 5004–79, in order of build date, though not all received them as withdrawals continued apace. By the end of 1933, only 5001 Snowdon survived and in April 1934 it was renumbered 25001 to clear the number 5001 for an LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0, but was withdrawn in October that year.

## Accidents and incidents

* On 15 August 1895, locomotive No. 275 Vulcan was one of two locomotives hauling an express passenger train that derailed at Preston, Lancashire due to excessive speed on a curve. One person was killed.
* On 27 October 1895, locomotive No. 790 Hardwicke was hauling an express passenger train that collided with a freight train at Preston. The express was derailed and Hardwicke was severely damaged. The accident was caused by the driver of the freight misreading signals.
* The Ditton Junction rail crash: On 17 September 1912, a late afternoon express train, packed with holidaymakers returning to Liverpool from Chester, hauled by Precedent class "Cook" left the rails just to the east of Ditton Junction railway station and crashed into the brickwork of the bridge that carried Hale Road over the railway. Thirteen passengers were killed.
* The Weedon rail crashes: On 14 August 1915, a locomotive hauling a passenger train suffered a mechanical defect which resulted in track being damaged at Weedon, Northamptonshire. Locomotive No. 1189 Stewart was one of two hauling a mail train that was derailed on the damaged track. Ten people were killed and 21 were injured.

## Preservation

One, No. 790 Hardwicke (built 1892, LMS No. 5031, withdrawn 1932) has been preserved as part of the National Railway Collection. It was overhauled in 1976 and hauled some excursion trains on the main line, on one of which it double-headed with Flying Scotsman. In the same year it made a special run on the Settle - Carlisle railway, double heading with Midland compound 1000, to celebrate the line's centenary. During this period it was allocated TOPS number 98 190. It is currently a static exhibit in the National Railway Museum Shildon.

## Fleet list

LNWR/LMS fleet list :
| LNWR No. | Name | Crewe Works No. | Date built | LMS No. | Date scrapped | Notes |
| 271 | Minotaur | 2996 | June 1887 | 5004 | December 1927 | † |
| 1132 | North Western | 2997 | June 1887 | — | May 1906 | |
| 1220 | Belted Will | 2998 | June 1887 | — | March 1921 | |
| 1487 | Faraday | 2999 | 1887 | — | April 1907 | |
| 1670 | Ganymede | 3001 | 1887 | — | December 1905 | |
| 1485 | Smeaton | 3022 | December 1887 | — | May 1914 | |
| 1749 | Hibernia | 3023 | January 1888 | — | May 1915 | |
| 275 | Vulcan | 3024 | January 1888 | — | December 1909 | |
| 1522 | Pitt | 3025 | January 1888 | 5005 | July 1932 | |
| 1679 | Bunsen | 3026 | January 1888 | — | December 1913 | |
| 1219 | Lightning | 3027 | January 1888 | — | February 1909 | |
| 1681 | Minerva | 3028 | February 1888 | — | August 1911 | |
| 1528 | Frobisher | 3029 | February 1888 | — | February 1916 | |
| 1527 | Raleigh | 3030 | February 1888 | 5006 | May 1925 | † |
| 1669 | Ilion | 3031 | March 1888 | — | January 1906 | |
| 941 | Blenkinsop | 3042 | October 1888 | 5008 | April 1925 | † |
| 1481 | The Duke of Edinburgh | 3043 | October 1888 | — | May 1913 | |
| 379 | Sedgwick | 3044 | October 1888 | 5007 | February 1928 | |
| 1517 | Princess Helena | 3045 | November 1888 | 5009 | October 1928 | |
| 1216 | Premier | 3046 | November 1888 | — | March 1921 | |
| 1480 | Newton | 3047 | November 1888 | 5010 | March 1928 | |
| 1685 | Gladiator | 3048 | November 1888 | 5015 | November 1927 | |
| 1212 | Pioneer | 3049 | November 1888 | 5013 | January 1928 | |
| 1211 | John Ramsbottom | 3050 | November 1888 | 5012 | December 1930 | |
| 1141 | S. R. Graves | 3051 | November 1888 | — | February 1907 | |
| 1488 | Murdoch | 3052 | November 1888 | 5014 | April 1932 | |
| 276 | Pluto | 3053 | November 1888 | — | July 1907 | |
| 696 | Director | 3054 | November 1888 | 5011 | 1933 | |
| 1530 | Columbus | 3055 | November 1888 | — | November 1921 | |
| 1748 | Britannia | 3056 | July 1889 | 5016 | June 1928 | |
| 1482 | Herschel | 3057 | January 1890 | — | July 1908 | |
| 1677 | Badajos | 3058 | January 1890 | — | October 1922 | |
| 1526 | Drake | 3059 | January 1890 | — | August 1907 | |
| 1529 | Cook | 3060 | September 1889 | — | December 1912 | |
| 1521 | Gladstone | 3061 | September 1889 | 5017 | March 1926 | † |
| 974 | Richard Cobden | 3062 | January 1890 | — | March 1919 | |
| 1742 | Bevere | 3063 | February 1890 | — | July 1912 | |
| 1513 | Shakespeare | 3064 | February 1890 | — | April 1911 | |
| 1672 | Talavera | 3065 | February 1890 | 5018 | 1933 | |
| 1486 | Dalton | 3066 | March 1890 | — | April 1914 | |
| 1524 | Wolfe | 3067 | March 1890 | — | July 1908 | |
| 1483 | Newcomen | 3068 | March 1890 | — | January 1909 | |
| 1515 | Milton | 3069 | May 1890 | — | November 1914 | |
| 382 | Buckingham | 3070 | May 1890 | — | November 1921 | |
| 308 | Booth | 3071 | May 1890 | — | October 1922 | |
| 2006 | Princess | 3142 | November 1890 | 5021 | April 1932 | |
| 1514 | Scott | 3143 | November 1890 | — | November 1914 | |
| 1214 | Prince Albert | 3144 | November 1890 | — | April 1914 | |
| 1218 | Phaeton | 3145 | November 1890 | — | June 1911 | |
| 1674 | Delhi | 3146 | November 1890 | 5020 | November 1930 | |
| 2001 | Henry Crosfield | 3147 | November 1890 | — | January 1912 | |
| 1531 | Cromwell | 3148 | November 1890 | 5019 | July 1928 | |
| 1484 | Telford | 3149 | November 1890 | — | August 1915 | |
| 1683 | Sisyphus | 3150 | April 1891 | — | January 1908 | |
| 396 | Tennyson | 3151 | May 1891 | — | November 1921 | |
| 1675 | Vimiera | 3192 | May 1891 | 5024 | September 1926 | † |
| 1747 | John Mayall | 3193 | May 1891 | — | December 1905 | |
| 1673 | Lucknow | 3194 | May 1891 | — | March 1919 | |
| 1525 | Abercrombie | 3195 | May 1891 | 5022 | December 1928 | |
| 1668 | Dagmar | 3196 | May 1891 | 5023 | 1932 | |
| 1676 | The Nile | 3197 | May 1891 | — | September 1906 | |
| 2004 | Witch | 3198 | May 1891 | — | July 1912 | |
| 1020 | Wordsworth | 3199 | May 1891 | — | January 1909 | |
| 1518 | Countess | 3200 | May 1891 | 5025 | January 1926 | † |
| 1520 | Franklin | 3201 | May 1891 | 5027 | 1933 | |
| 380 | Quernmore | 3242 | June 1891 | — | October 1922 | |
| 1666 | Ariadne | 3243 | June 1891 | 5028 | September 1925 | † |
| 1680 | Livingstone | 3244 | June 1891 | — | April 1913 | |
| 1217 | Florence | 3245 | June 1891 | — | November 1915 | |
| 2003 | Alecto | 3246 | June 1891 | — | January 1907 | |
| 2002 | Madge | 3247 | June 1891 | 5030 | December 1928 | |
| 1516 | Byron | 3248 | June 1891 | — | July 1907 | |
| 1684 | Speke | 3249 | June 1891 | 5029 | September 1931 | |
| 1671 | Shamrock | 3250 | June 1891 | — | August 1906 | |
| 1519 | Duchess | 3251 | June 1891 | 5026 | October 1928 | |
| 1744 | Magdala | 3282 | April 1892 | — | August 1915 | |
| 1745 | John Bright | 3283 | April 1892 | 5034 | November 1930 | Glowworm from July 1914 |
| 1532 | Hampden | 3284 | June 1892 | — | April 1911 | |
| 304 | Hector | 3285 | June 1892 | 5035 | July 1928 | |
| 790 | Hardwicke | 3286 | April 1892 | 5031 | — | Withdrawn February 1932. Preserved in National Collection |
| 1213 | The Queen | 3287 | April 1892 | 5032 | February 1932 | |
| 403 | Isabella | 3288 | April 1892 | — | September 1922 | |
| 1678 | Airey | 3289 | April 1892 | 5033 | February 1927 | † |
| 395 | Scotia | 3290 | June 1892 | — | November 1919 | |
| 1682 | Novelty | 3291 | June 1892 | 5036 | July 1928 | |
| 1489 | Brindley | 3343 | April 1893 | — | April 1911 | |
| 394 | Eamont | 3344 | April 1893 | — | September 1921 | |
| 942 | Shah of Persia | 3345 | April 1893 | — | January 1916 | |
| 393 | Brougham | 3346 | April 1893 | — | March 1907 | |
| 1667 | Corunna | 3347 | April 1893 | 5039 | April 1928 | |
| 295 | Penmaenmawr | 3348 | April 1893 | — | March 1909 | |
| 1523 | Marlborough | 3349 | April 1893 | — | February 1909 | |
| 381 | Patterdale | 3350 | April 1893 | 5037 | December 1927 | † |
| 787 | Clarendon | 3351 | April 1893 | 5038 | July 1927 | † |
| 1215 | Albion | 3352 | April 1893 | — | March 1908 | |
| 2005 | Lynx | 3352 | January 1894 | 5041 | December 1930 | |
| 919 | Nasmyth | 3490 | December 1893 | 5040 | August 1928 | |
| 2178 | Pluck | 3491 | January 1894 | — | September 1922 | |
| 1173 | The Auditor | 3492 | January 1894 | 5042 | June 1930 | |
| 482 | Pegasus | 3493 | January 1894 | — | October 1914 | |
| 2192 | Caradoc | 3494 | January 1894 | 5043 | July 1927 | † |
| 871 | Proserpine | 3506 | May 1894 | 5044 | August 1925 | † |
| 265 | Thomas Carlyle | 3507 | July 1894 | 5045 | May 1930 | |
| 789 | Breadalbane | 3508 | July 1894 | — | December 1914 | |
| 865 | Envoy | 3509 | July 1894 | 5046 | October 1928 | |
| 867 | Disraeli | 3510 | July 1894 | — | August 1915 | |
| 364 | Henry Pease | 3531 | October 1894 | 5048 | September 1930 | |
| 883 | Phantom | 3532 | August 1894 | 5049 | September 1928 | † |
| 256 | President Washington | 3533 | August 1894 | 5047 | February 1923 | † |
| 2175 | Precedent | 3534 | November 1894 | — | April 1915 | |
| 860 | Merrie Carlisle | 3535 | November 1894 | 5050 | 1933 | |
| 253 | President Garfield | 3556 | February 1895 | — | August 1921 | |
| 2188 | Chillington | 3557 | February 1895 | — | July 1908 | |
| 254 | President Lincoln | 3558 | February 1895 | — | July 1908 | |
| 890 | Sir Hardman Earle | 3559 | February 1895 | 5051 | October 1928 | |
| 2182 | Giraffe | 3560 | February 1895 | — | May 1922 | |
| 749 | Mercury | 3571 | May 1895 | 5052 | May 1927 | † |
| 2183 | Antelope | 3572 | May 1895 | 5054 | June 1930 | |
| 945 | Humphrey Davy | 3573 | June 1895 | 5053 | December 1930 | |
| 872 | Wizard | 3574 | August 1895 | — | May 1922 | |
| 2177 | Edward Tootal | 3575 | August 1895 | — | June 1911 | |
| 514 | Lawrence | 3596 | October 1895 | 5055 | August 1926 | † Puck from June 1913 |
| 260 | Duke of Connaught | 3597 | February 1896 | — | August 1914 | |
| 866 | Courier | 3598 | January 1896 | 5057 | December 1928 | |
| 2186 | Lowther | 3599 | January 1896 | 5067 | December 1927 | † |
| 2193 | Salopian | 3600 | February 1896 | 5059 | October 1925 | † |
| 517 | Marathon | 3611 | January 1896 | — | April 1921 | |
| 2185 | Alma | 3612 | January 1896 | 5058 | November 1928 | |
| 477 | Caractacus | 3613 | February 1896 | 5056 | September 1927 | † |
| 619 | Mabel | 3614 | February 1896 | 5060 | May 1926 | † |
| 2176 | Robert Benson | 3615 | April 1896 | 5061 | June 1927 | † |
| 1177 | Princess Louise | 3656 | March 1896 | — | February 1920 | |
| 264 | Buckland | 3657 | January 1896 | — | April 1907 | † |
| 864 | Pilot | 3658 | June 1896 | 5063 | July 1927 | † |
| 1187 | Chandos | 3659 | July 1896 | 5064 | September 1930 | |
| 506 | Sir Alexander Cockburn | 3660 | July 1896 | 5062 | February 1932 | |
| 1183 | Plynlimmon | 3681 | August 1896 | — | January 1911 | |
| 1193 | Joshua Radcliffe | 3682 | August 1896 | — | March 1913 | |
| 478 | Commodore | 3683 | August 1896 | 5065 | September 1926 | † |
| 2194 | Cambrian | 3684 | October 1896 | 5066 | May 1925 | † |
| 868 | Condor | 3685 | November 1896 | — | May 1911 | |
| 869 | Llewellyn | 3726 | November 1896 | — | January 1922 | |
| 2187 | Penrith Beacon | 3727 | December 1896 | 5069 | July 1932 | |
| 1194 | Miranda | 3728 | February 1897 | 5068 | June 1930 | |
| 262 | Wheatstone | 3729 | April 1897 | 5070 | July 1932 | |
| 480 | Duchess of Lancaster | 3730 | February 1897 | 5071 | September 1927 | † |
| 2180 | Perseverance | 3742 | March 1897 | 5073 | February 1926 | † |
| 193 | Rocket | 3743 | March 1897 | 5072 | January 1926 | † |
| 2184 | Reynard | 3744 | May 1897 | — | March 1919 | |
| 858 | Sir Salar Jung | 3745 | May 1897 | — | July 1912 | |
| 2179 | Patience | 3746 | May 1897 | — | January 1920 | |
| 1189 | Stewart | 3777 | June 1897 | — | December 1922 | |
| 2189 | Avon | 3778 | July 1897 | 5076 | August 1927 | † |
| 862 | Balmoral | 3779 | July 1897 | 5075 | 1931 | |
| 857 | Prince Leopold | 3780 | July 1897 | 5074 | July 1928 | † |
| 1105 | Hercules | 3781 | December 1897 | 5077 | July 1928 | † |
| 870 | Fairbairn | 3782 | March 1898 | 5078 | December 1928 | |
| 861 | Amazon | 3783 | September 1901 | 5079 | August 1925 | † |
† LMS number allocated, but never applied

## In fiction

No.790 “Hardwicke” has appeared in the episode 1 and OVA of “Unbreakable Machine-Doll”, the 2013 Japanese animation. In the series, the nameplate spells “Hardrock”.