# Midland Railway 2601 Class

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Class of 4-2-2 steam locomotives

Midland Railway 2601 Class Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Samuel Waite Johnson Builder Derby Works Build date 1899–1900 Total produced 10 Specifications Configuration: ​ • Whyte 4-2-2 • UIC 2′A1 n2 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Driver dia. 7 ft 9+1⁄2 in (2.37 m)[1] Loco weight 50 long tons 3 cwt (51.0 t) Fuel type Coal Boiler MR type F[2] Boiler pressure 180 lbf/in2 (1,200 kPa) [1] Cylinders Two, inside Cylinder size 19+1⁄2 in × 26 in (500 mm × 660 mm)[1] Valve gear Stephenson[3] Performance figures Tractive effort 16,131 lbf (71.8 kN) Career Operators Midland Railway Class 2601 class Numbers New: 2601–2608, 22–23 1900: 2606-2608 became 19-21 1907: 685–694 [1] Withdrawn 1919–1922 Disposition All scrapped

The Midland Railway **2601 class** was the last of four classes of [4-2-2 steam locomotives](/source/4-2-2) designed by [Samuel Johnson](/source/Samuel_Waite_Johnson) for the [Midland Railway](/source/Midland_Railway). They were a development of his [115 class](/source/Midland_Railway_115_Class) *Spinners*.[i]

Only 10 were built at [Derby Works](/source/Derby_Works),[2] and none were preserved.

## Design

### The resurgence of singles

Towards the end of the 19th century, the age of the [single-driver locomotive](/source/Single_(locomotive)) was obsolete because the trains, which had become heavier, required pulling forces that could no longer be provided by a single drive axle. When [steam sanding](/source/Steam_sanding) was invented by [James Gresham](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_Gresham_(inventor)&action=edit&redlink=1) in 1885[4] this improved the traction of the driving wheels enough that singles were once again a practical design.[3] There was a resurgence of single designs across a number of railways, such as the GWR's [Dean Singles](/source/GWR_3031_Class), Holden's [P43](/source/GER_Class_P43) for the GER and [Johnson](/source/Samuel_Waite_Johnson)'s [115 class](/source/Midland_Railway_115_Class) *Spinners* for the [Midland Railway](/source/Midland_Railway).[5][6] All of these were used for high-speed passenger services of moderate weight and not usually of the longest distances. This required a locomotive that was powerful,[ii] with the ability to run at high speeds, but only modest [tractive effort](/source/Tractive_effort).[7]

Most used [double frames](/source/Double_frame) and two [inside cylinders](/source/Inside_cylinders_(steam_locomotive)).[3] [Outside frames](/source/Outside_frame), and thus double frames, were generally seen as obsolete,[iii] but this was an issue with coupled wheels and the need for their [coupling rods](/source/Coupling_rod) to use outside cranks. For singles, especially inside-cylindered singles, this was an irrelevance. The use of inside cylinders also reduced the [rocking couple](/source/Rocking_couple),[iv] which could become a problem for outside-cylindered locomotives with short wheelbases at high speed. By using double frames, Johnson's *Spinners* had four main axle bearings[6] and thus was not undersized and without continual trouble.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

### 2601 class

A few years after the 115s, Johnson followed these with the slightly improved 2601 class.[6] The cylinder sizes remained the same and the driving wheels increased by 1⁄2 in (13 mm). The only major change was that the [slide valves](/source/Slide_valve) were replaced by [piston valves](/source/Piston_valve_(steam_engine)), although the boiler was still un[superheated](/source/Superheater).[6]

The boiler was enlarged, with a larger grate area and a small increase in working pressure from 170 to 180 psi (1,172 to 1,241 kPa). The [steam dome](/source/Steam_dome) was now directly above the driving axle, rather than noticeably ahead of it, as on the 115s. By 1900 Johnson was using the new [Belpaire firebox](/source/Belpaire_firebox) design for the [4-4-0 *Belpaires*](/source/Midland_Railway_Class_3_4-4-0), but this firebox was wider than the previous [round-topped boiler](/source/Round-topped_boiler) and there was insufficient space for it between the tall single drivers.[8]

The 6-wheeled [tender](/source/Tender_(rail)) was replaced with an 8-wheeled [bogie](/source/Bogie) design. This provides a further identification feature in photographs between a 115 and a 2601.[6]

## History

Between 1887 and 1900, Johnson had no fewer than 95 single locomotives built by [the railway's own workshops](/source/Derby_Works) in [Derby](/source/Derby), which differed slightly in structural details. They were used on high-quality express trains and reached speeds of up to 90 mph (140 km/h). 2601 *[Princess of Wales](/source/Alexandra_of_Denmark)*, the first of the class, was exhibited at the [Paris Exposition of 1900](/source/Paris_Exposition_of_1900) and awarded the Grand Prix.[7][9]

The class was withdrawn between 1919 and 1922, shortly before the [Grouping](/source/Railways_Act_1921) the following year.[2]

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Midland Railway locomotive class numbering was rather arbitrary, not sequential. Johnson's three classes of 4-2-2 were the 1853, 115 and 2601, in that order.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Power is the [product](/source/Product_(mathematics)) of both speed and tractive effort.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Although some outside frames persisted for slow [mineral engines](/source/Mineral_locomotive) such as the GWR *[Aberdares](/source/GWR_2600_Class)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** This rocking couple is the unbalanced force from two pistons in [anti-parallel](/source/Antiparallel_vectors), as the pistons move in opposite directions. Any [couple](/source/Couple_(mechanics)) would be multiplied by the spacing between the cylinders, which is several times greater for outside cylinders.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Baxter1982135_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Baxter1982135_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Baxter1982135_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Baxter1982135_1-3) Baxter, Bertram (1982). Baxter, David (ed.). *British Locomotive Catalogue 1825–1923*. Vol. 3A: Midland Railway and its constituent companies. Ashbourne, Derbyshire: Moorland Publishing Company. p. 135. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780903485524](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780903485524).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-BR_database,_2601_class_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-BR_database,_2601_class_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-BR_database,_2601_class_2-2) ["MR/LMS Johnson "2601" Class 4-2-2"](https://www.brdatabase.info/locoqry.php?action=class&type=S&id=442206). *BR Database*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Ahrons,_266_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Ahrons,_266_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Ahrons,_266_3-2) [Ahrons, E.L.](/source/E.L._Ahrons) (1927). *The British Steam Railway Locomotive 1825-1925*. Amen Corner, London: [Locomotive Publishing Co.](/source/Locomotive_Publishing_Co.) p. [266](https://archive.org/stream/britishsteamrail00ahro/page/266/mode/2up).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-envy_5-0)** ["James Gresham"](https://steamindex.com/people/gresham.htm). *Steamindex*. Retrieved 2 June 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAhrons1927294–296_6-0)** [Ahrons (1927)](#CITEREFAhrons1927), pp. 294–296.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-loco-info._115_2601_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-loco-info._115_2601_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-loco-info._115_2601_7-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-loco-info._115_2601_7-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-loco-info._115_2601_7-4) ["Midland classes 115 and 2601"](https://www.loco-info.com/view.aspx?id=14939). *loco-info.com*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-RWotW,_27_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-RWotW,_27_9-1) ["Some Famous Singles"](https://www.railwaywondersoftheworld.com/singles.html). *Railway Wonders of the World*. No. 27. 1935.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Cook,_2000,_30_12-0)** Cook, A.F. (2000). *Raising Steam on the LMS: The Evolution of LMS Locomotive Boilers*. [RCTS](/source/RCTS). p. 30. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0901115850](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0901115850).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-BR_database,_2601_Princess_of_Wales_13-0)** ["2601"](https://www.brdatabase.info/locoqry.php?action=locodata&id=442206001&type=S&loco=2601). *BR Database*.

v t e Midland Railway locomotives Matthew Kirtley (1844–1873) 130 156 480 690 700 780 Samuel Waite Johnson (1873–1903) 6 115 1000 1102 1116A 1121 1134A 1142 1252 1322 1377 1532 1823 1833 2228 2441 2501 2511 2601 Cl. 1 2-4-0 Cl. 2 4-4-0 Cl. 3 4-4-0 Richard Deeley (1904–1909) 990 1528 2000 Paget locomotive Henry Fowler (1909–1923) 483 3835 Lickey Banker S&DJR 7F 2-8-0 Locomotives of the Midland Railway LMS locomotives British Railways steam locomotives

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