LMS Fairburn 2-6-4T

The Fairburn Tank 2-6-4T was a class of 277 steam tank locomotives designed by Charles E. Fairburn for the London, Midland and Scottish Railway and built between 1945 and 1951. It was based on the earlier Stanier 2-6-4T, itself derived from Henry Fowler's design, but Fairburn shortened the coupled wheelbase from 16 ft 6 in to 15 ft 4 in so that it could negotiate curves of 5 chains, and the overall weight was reduced by 3.5 tonnes. It was used mainly on suburban passenger trains and was the basis for the later British Railways Standard Class 4 tank. Forty-one were built at Brighton works for the Southern Region in 1950 and 1951. The class was withdrawn between 1961 and 1967, and two of the Brighton-built engines survive.