Midland Railway 2501 Class

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. The engines were shipped disassembled as kits of parts, and re-assembled at Derby. Baldwin constructed similar 2-6-0's for the Great Central Railway and Great Northern Railway around the same time.[1]

Midland Railway 2501 class
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works Serial number 16621–16630, 16844–16853, 16960–16965, 16984–16987 Build date 1899 Total produced 30
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-6-0  • UIC 1′Cn2 Gauge 4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Leading dia. 2 ft 9 ^1⁄4 in (845 mm) Driver dia. 5 ft 0 ^1⁄4 in (1,530 mm) Length over buffers: 51 ft 6 ^1⁄4 in (15.70 m) Axle load 13 long tons 7 cwt (29,900 lb or 13.6 t) Adhesive weight 38 long tons 0.75 cwt (85,200 lb or 38.6 t) Loco weight 45 long tons 16.25 cwt (102,600 lb or 46.5 t) Tender weight 34 long tons 12.5 cwt (77,600 lb or 35.2 t) Tender type Two two-axle bogies Fuel type Coal Boiler pressure 160 lbf/in^2 (1.10 MPa) Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 18 in × 24 in (457 mm × 610 mm) Valve gear Stephenson, inside Valve type Slide valves
Performance figures Tractive effort 17,626 lbf (78.40 kN)
Career Operators Midland Railway Class 2501 Numbers New: 2501–2510, 2521–2540 1907: 2200–2229 Delivered 1899 Withdrawn 1908–1914 Disposition All scrapped

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.[2] 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Being non-standard, they had a short life and were all withdrawn between November 1908 and March 1914.[3]. All were scrapped.

Table of withdrawals[3]

Year	Quantity in service at start of year	Quantity withdrawn	Locomotive numbers	Notes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

References

1. https://transportsofdelight.smugmug.com/RAILWAYS/LOCOMOTIVES-OF-LNER-CONSTITUENT-COMPANIES/LOCOMOTIVES-OF-THE-GREAT-CENTRAL-RAILWAY/i-5GjJ6XT/
2. https://www.warwickshirerailways.com/lms/mrs1903.htm
3. Baxter 1982, pp. 172–173.

• Baxter, Bertram (1982). Baxter, David (ed.). British Locomotive Catalogue 1825–1923. Volume 3A: Midland Railway and its constituent companies. Ashbourne, Derbyshire: Moorland Publishing Company. ISBN 9780903485524.
• Ellis, C. Hamilton (1966). The Midland Railway. Ashford, Middlesex: Malaga Books. pp. 111–114.
• Essery, R. J. & Jenkinson, D. (1989). An Illustrated Review of Midland Locomotives from 1883, volume 4: Goods Tender Classes. Didcot, Oxon: Wild Swan Publications. pp. 15–18. ISBN 0-906867-74-6.
• Hunt, Dave. American Locomotives of the Midland Railway (No 1 Supplement to Midland Record) ISSN 1357-6399