# Midland Railway 115 Class

The Midland Railway 115 Class was the third of four classes of 4-2-2 steam locomotive, nicknamed "Spinners", designed by Samuel Waite Johnson. A total of 15 of the class were built between 1896 and 1899. They were capable of reaching speeds of up to 90 miles per hour (145 km/h). One engine, No. 673, is preserved in the National Collection.

## Classes of Midland Railway 4-2-2 locomotives

Single-driver locomotives had been superseded in the late 19th century as loads increased, but were then reintroduced when steam sanding allowed better adhesion. Five similar classes were built, with slight enlargements each time, and details as follows:
Midland Railway 4-2-2 classes :
| Class | Quantity | Years built | Driving wheels | Cylinders | Boiler pressure |
| 25 class | 18 | 1887–90 | 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) | 18 in × 26 in (460 mm × 660 mm), slide valves | 160 lbf/in$^2$ (1,100 kPa) |
| 1853 class | 42 | 1889–93 | 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) | 18+1⁄2 in × 26 in (470 mm × 660 mm), slide valves | 160 lbf/in$^2$ (1,100 kPa) |
| 179 class | 10 | 1893–96 | 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) | 19 in × 26 in (480 mm × 660 mm), piston valves | 160 lbf/in$^2$ (1,100 kPa) |
| 115 class | 15 | 1896–99 | 7 ft 9 in (2.36 m) | 19+1⁄2 in × 26 in (500 mm × 660 mm), piston valves | 170 lbf/in$^2$ (1,200 kPa) |
| 2601 class | 10 | 1899–1900 | 7 ft 9+1⁄2 in (2.37 m) | 19+1⁄2 in × 26 in (500 mm × 660 mm), piston valves | 180 lbf/in$^2$ (1,200 kPa) |

## Construction history

The fifteen locomotives in the 115 class were built in two batches, both at Derby Works.
Table of orders and numbers :
| Original No. | 1907 (& LMS) No. | Derby Works Order No. | Year | Notes |
| 115–119 | 670–674 | 1474 | 1896–97 | |
| 120, 121, 123–128, 130, 131 | 675–684 | 1659 | 1899 | |

## Service history

It was quite common for the class to pull an express weighing 200–250 long tons (203–254 t; 224–280 short tons), which suited them 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 (140 km/h) were not uncommon, and the sight of their large, spinning driving wheels with no visible connecting rods earned them the nickname "Spinners". Due to the Midland's practice of building low-powered locomotives and relying on double-heading to cope with heavier trains, many had working lives of up to 30 years. They made ideal pilot engines for the later Johnson/Deeley 4-4-0 classes.

### Renumbering

In the Midland Railway 1907 renumbering scheme, they were assigned numbers 670–684. During World War I most were placed in store, but were then pressed into service afterward as pilots on the Nottingham to London coal trains. Twelve locomotives survived to the 1923 grouping, keeping their Midland Railway numbers in LMS service. Nevertheless by 1927 only three of the class remained, with the last engine, 673 (formerly 118) being withdrawn in 1928 and subsequently preserved.
Table of withdrawals :
| Year | Quantity in service at start of year | Quantity withdrawn | Locomotive numbers |
| 1921 | 15 | 2 | 675, 684 |
| 1922 | 13 | 1 | 681 |
| 1925 | 12 | 2 | 674, 676 |
| 1926 | 10 | 8 | 670–672, 677, 678, 680, 682, 683 |
| 1928 | 2 | 2 | 673, 679 |

## Preservation

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 but not on display currently.

## Gallery

* Caption: "A Jubilee Year Record-Maker. Midland Railway No. 116." In 1897, No. 116 (shown here in photographic grey) reached a speed of 90 mph (140 km/h) while under full load, at that time the highest recorded speed in the UK.
* Preserved No. 673 in Midland Railway crimson lake livery at the Rocket 150 celebration in Rain­hill in May 1980.
* Model of No. 117. Note the differences to No. 673, both in con­struc­tion (smokebox door, hand­rail) and livery (base of smokebox red lined with yellow; boiler bands picked out in yellow; springs red lined with yellow; wheel spokes red; different lining on tender sides; number, coat of arms and MR initials in different locations.