LMS Route: Nuneaton to Leamington

Kenilworth Junction: lnwrkj196

British Railways built Ivatt 2MT 2-6-2T No 41228 draws away from Kenilworth Junction at the head of a two-coach local passenger service for Coventry circa 1957. Built at Crewe works in October 1948 No 41228 was to last in service for less than 16 years before being withdrawn from Nine Elms shed in June 1964 to be scrapped by G Cohen of Kettering in December 1964. The class was introduced by the LMS in 1946 and were built until 1952. They were based on the LMS Stanier 2-6-2T which was, in turn, based on the LMS Fowler 2-6-2T. Only ten were built by the LMS before nationalisation in 1948, and were numbered No 1200 to No 1209. British Railways added the prefix '4' to their numbers so they became No 41200 to No 41209. A further 120 were built by British Railways - No 41210 to No 41329 - with most being built at Crewe works with the last ten being built at Derby. The class were ideal for push-pull operation and consequently fifty engines were fitted with push-pull equipment, these being No 41210 to 41220, No 41270 to 41289 and No 41320 to 41329. George Ivatt adopted US practice in their design and employed self-emptying ashpans, self-cleaning smokeboxes and rocking grates which were labour-saving devices. A tender version, the Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0 was also produced. The LMS classified them as 2P, but BR preferred the classification 2MT.

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