LMS Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0

The Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0 was a class of steam locomotives designed for light mixed traffic for the London, Midland and Scottish Railway. William Stanier had concentrated on larger engines, and elderly 0-6-0s still formed the backbone of the low-powered fleet, so George Ivatt introduced a new low-powered design, a tender version of his Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2T tank engine. The tender engines had a greater range, carrying 3,000 imperial gallons of water and four long tons of coal, and performed well once draughting problems were resolved at Derby and Swindon. A total of 128 were built between 1946 and 1953, mostly at Crewe, twenty of them by the LMS and the remaining 108 by British Railways. Further engines were built as the BR Standard Class 2 2-6-0, and both types are often nicknamed Mickey Mouse. The class was withdrawn between 1961 and 1967.