LMS Fairburn 2-6-4T

The London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Fairburn Tank 2-6-4T is a class of steam locomotive. They were designed by Charles E. Fairburn for the LMS. 277 of these locomotives were built between 1945 and 1951, numbered in the range 42050–42186, (4)2187–(4)2299, (4)2673–(4)2699.
==Overview==
This design was based on the earlier Stanier LMS Stanier 2-6-4T, which was derived from Henry Fowler's LMS Fowler 2-6-4T engine. Fairburn modified the design to have a shorter wheelbase, reduced from 16 ft 6 in (5.03 m) to 15 ft 4 in (4.67 m) allowing curves of 5 chains to be negotiated; to reduce the locomotives mass per unit length the overall weight was reduced by 3 long tons 8 cwt (7,600 lb or 3.5 t).
It was also the basis for the later British Railways Standard Class 4 tank. They were used mainly for suburban passenger trains. Forty-one examples of the class were constructed by Brighton railway works for service on the Southern Region of British Railways in 1950 and 1951, replacing earlier designs. Of these, seven were transferred to the North Eastern Region between Spring 1952 and the end of 1954; the other 34 were exchanged for a like number of London Midland Region BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4T locomotives at the end of 1959.
LMS No.	BR No. 	Lot No.	Date built	Built by
— 	42050–065	210 	1950 	Derby
— 	42066–078	3536 	1950 	Brighton
— 	42079–095	3536 	1951 	Brighton
— 	42096–106	3491 	1950 	Brighton
— 	42107–132	202 	1949 	Derby
— 	42133–146	202 	1950 	Derby
— 	42147–182	196 	1948 	Derby
— 	42183–186	196 	1949 	Derby
2187–89	42187–189	186 	1947 	Derby
2190–99	42190–199	186 	1948 	Derby
2200–17	42200–217	177 	1945 	Derby
2218–22	42218–222	177 	1946 	Derby
2223–64	42223–264	185 	1946 	Derby
2265–72	42265–272	185 	1947 	Derby
2273–99	42273–299	186 	1947 	Derby
2673–99	42673–699	177 	1945 	Derby
==Accidents and incidents==
*On 19 April 1955, locomotive No. 42073 was in collision with V2 No. 60968 at Newcastle Central station, Northumberland. Both locomotives were derailed.
==Withdrawal==
The class was withdrawn between 1961 and 1967.
Table of withdrawals
Year	Quantity in
service at
start of year	Quantity
withdrawn	Locomotive numbers
1961	277	3 	42217/20, 42683.
1962	274	43	42088/94/97, 42111/17/22/30/44/46/62/64/72–73/75/91/93,
42203/05/07/11/15/19/23/27/37/48/54–55/57–58/68/72/76/90/98,
42674/77–79/84–85/87/92.
1963	231	30	42063/67–68/91/98, 42100–01/20/36/40/51/57/66/78/80/82/88,
42206/28/31/38/53/70/79/81/88/93–94, 42681/98.
1964	201	57	42054/56–57/59/77/84/89–90/92/99,
42123–24/26–27/35/37/43/48/53/63/67–68/71/85–86/90/92,
42200–01/08/18/21/26/29/34/39/42/44–46/50/56/61–63/75/78/80/82/84/86/91–92,
42682/86/95–96.
1965	144	54	42050–51/53/60–62/64–65/70/75/82,
42103–04/06/09/12–14/18–19/29/31/39/47/55/58/60/65/70/74/79/94/98–99,
42202/09/12/14/22/30/41/43/47/59/65/85/89/95–96/99, 42673/75/80/88.
1966	90 	48	42058/69/74/78/87/95–96,
42102/05/07–08/10/15/21/25/28/32/42/50/56/59/61/69/76–77/81/83–84/95/97,
42204/13/16/25/32/40/49/60/64/66/71/73/77, 42676/90–91/93–94.
1967	42 	42	42052/55/68/71–73/76/79–81/83/85–86/93,
42116/33–34/38/41/45/49/52/54/87/89/96,
42210/24/33/35–36/51–52/67/69/74/83/87/97, 42689/97/99.
==Preservation==
Two of the Brighton-built locomotives have survived in preservation.
Number	Builder 	Built 	Withdrawn	Service Life 	Location 	Owners	Livery 	Condition 	Photograph	Notes
42073 	Brighton Works	Nov 1950 	Oct 1967 	16 Years, 10 months	Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway	- 	BR Lined Black, Late Crest 	Operational, boiler ticket expires: 2024	 	
42085 	Brighton Works	Sept 1951	Oct 1967 	16 Years, 7 months 	Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway	- 	BR Lined Black, Early Emblem (on completion)	Undergoing overhaul 	 	
In its early days, 2085 carried Caledonian Railway blue livery, complete with an oval brass Caledonian number plate. This attractive livery was popular with the public, but strongly divided opinions in the preservation movement for its inaccuracy. At the same time, 2073 was painted in LNWR blackberry black, which was comparably anachronistic but generated less hostility as it did at least resemble the original livery.
==Models==
Bachmann produces a 00 Gauge model of the Fairburn 4MT in LMS Black as well as early and late BR, numbered as 42073. Bachmann (Graham Farish) also produces several N gauge variants: 2691 in LMS black, 42096 (early BR black), and 42073 (late BR black).
ACE Trains have produced an O-gauge model of 2085 in its early-preservation Caledonian Railway blue livery, although the model is actually of a Stanier designed 2-6-4T.
==Gallery==
File:BlackTankEnginge0648.jpg
Category:LMS locomotives
Category:2-6-4T steam locomotives
Category:Fairburn Locomotives
Category:2-6-4T locomotives
Category:2-6-4T locomotives
Category:Standard gauge locomotives
Category:Locomotives
Category:Tank locomotives
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:Standard gauge steam locomotives of Great Britain
Category:Six-coupled locomotives
Category:2-6-4 locomotives
Category:2-6-4 steam locomotives
Category:Passenger locomotives