LONDON MIDLAND & SCOTTISH RAILWAY CLASS 4F 0-6-0
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Builders: London Midland & Scottish Railway, Derby Year: 1927 No. of cylinders: 2 (26" x 20") Boiler Pressure: 175 psi. Driving wheel diameter: 5ft 3ins. Weight: 90 tons 29 cwt Train Brakes: Vacuum (air piped) Original Owner: London Midland & Scottish Railway Current Owner: The 44422 Locomotive Company Limited |
Background History
Sir Henry Fowler designed these medium sized goods engines, which were initially introduced on the Midland Railway in 1911. They proved very successful as "maids of work", being equally at home on freight or stopping passenger duties, and a total of 772 were built up to 1941. However it was due to their work on freight that they became known as "Standard Goods" or simply just "Standards".
Locomotive History
Locomotive number 4422 was constructed at Derby Locomotive Works for the London Midland & Scottish Railway Company to a design by Sir Henry Fowler. Originally developed for the Midland Railway Company members of this class were designated as Superheater Freight Engines and carried a power classification of 4F. No. 4422 was one of 772 machines produced from 1911 onwards and reached completion on 7th October 1927 at a book cost of £3217 plus tender at £1000. First allocation was to Leicester shed on 26th October 1927 with subsequent transfer to Wigston in January of 1929. Moving to Bristol in 1940 and then Bath (Green Park) in 1948, No. 4422 spent the rest of its working life in South West England. The locomotive became a British Railways asset after nationalisation in 1948 and was subsequently renumbered during the week ending 10th June 1950 and thus became No. 44422. While in the South West No. 44422 found frequent work on the Somerset & Dorset lines and is depicted in many collections piloting West Country pacifics or Standard Class 9's across the Mendip Hills on holiday special duties. Surviving the steam cull of the 1960's, this is one of four 4F engines in preservation but is unique in being the sole left hand drive example. Tablet gear was fitted during its life on the S&D lines. In Spring of 1953 No. 44422 was taken to Horwich Works for what was to be its final overhaul in B.R. ownership and, after some running in work in the North, it returned to its South Western home. It was from Gloucester shed that No. 44422 was finally withdrawn from service in June 1965 and quickly moved to Messers Woodham's scrapyard at Barry Island in South Wales.
Preservation
In June 1975 members of the N.S.R.S. set up a fund for No. 4422, still standing forlornly in South Wales. Here it languished for some 11 years and 8 months before a team of preservationists from the (then) North Staffordshire Railway Society raised £4860 to buy it for restoration at Cheddleton. Thus No. 44422 became the 87th of 212 steam locomotives to leave Barry Scrapyard and escape the cutting torch to run again on the Churnet Valley Railway. The tender originally attached to the 4F when it was withdrawn was left at Barry due to its overall poor condition. A replacement was therefore sought and one was located at B.R.'s Bescot Depot, near Wolverhampton. It was latterly used at Bescot for water storage after withdrawal of the engine it was coupled to L.M.S. 'Crab' 2-6-0 No. 2763, exactly the same amount as a similar tender had cost some 48 years previously! The 4F was transferred by road to Cheddleton in April 1977 and the long haul to restoration began, steaming taking place during September 1990. Now the engine has passed an important watershed in its second stint as a preserved, working asset. It has received a full overhaul and is back in traffic and currently out on hire. Members of the 44422 Locomotive Fund are charged with raising sufficient funds to discharge the loan, arranged to finance the overhaul, and provide for future running costs. Mechanical restoration reached a milestone on 12th September 1991 with a trial steaming at Cheddleton. During 1992 finalisation of the preservation work was completed with the loco and tender adopting the L.M.S. black livery and number 4422.
Later the locomotive visited other railways; East Lancashire, West Somerset, North Yorkshire Moors, Great Central, Llangollen and the Embsay Railway. In 2004 after completing another full overhaul the locomotive was outshopped in BR livery and No. 44422
In June 2009 44422 failed with the cam assembly being badly worn, Being sent to Crewe LNWR works for repairs. After these repairs were made in September 2009 44422 transferred to Wansford.