LMS Garratt

The LMS Garratt was a class of 2-6-0+0-6-2 Garratt steam locomotives designed for heavy freight, and with 33 built from 1927 it was the most numerous class of Garratt in Britain. The railway had followed the Midland small engine policy of double heading coal trains between Toton and Brent with 0-6-0s, and a Fowler designed Garratt built by Beyer, Peacock and Company was ordered to haul 1,450 long tons at 25 mph. Three were built in April 1927 and the other thirty between August and November 1930. Derby insisted on its standard axleboxes, which overheated and were a major weakness, and the engines were heavy on coal and maintenance. From 1931 most received revolving coal bunkers. They averaged 25,000 miles a year, lasted about 25 years, and were withdrawn between June 1955 and April 1958; none were preserved.