Midland belpair??

Not sure where to post this there used to be big four & pregrouping threads here but can't seem to find them. I recently picked up a book on the pregrouping locos that passed to BR. Contained therein was a photo of the last surviving Johnson Midland belpair inside cylinder 4-4-0 3P. Lettered LMS and numbered 40726 in mostly original condition. I was not aware that in the 1950s any of these still existed. I presumed all were rebuilt by Fowler and looked like a Rebuilt compound , 2P, or long ago scrapped. This loco is shown at Hull on a rail tour in 1952. Obviously she was sadly not preserved. Was there any group or individuals that tried to preserve her and when and where was she dismantled? How dishearting that one survived that long far beyond its intended lifespan only to be broken up anyway in the breakup yard.

 

Many classes of Pre-Grouping British 4-4-0s became extinct in the early 1950s. The preservation of engines only began to gather pace during the late 1950s, so I would be surprised if there was any serious attempt to preserve a "Midland Belpaire". One of the forum's LMS experts might know more.

There were 80 engines in this class, of which 22 survived to become property of the nationalized BR in 1948. Further information here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midland_Railway_Class_3_4-4-0

And a photo gallery here:

https://railway-photography.smugmug...gines/Johnson-3P-AC-4-4-0-700-77940711-40762/

 

Might have been better to build them rather than the ubiquitous & underperforming 2P's

 

Nice looking locos, and probably better than the 2Ps.... As Midland locos go though, they weren't that old, being introduced in 1900. The Midland was every bit as good as the LNWR & GWR at recycling old locos, particularly the Kirtley double-framed 0-6-0s and Johnson's 2F 0-6-0s...

Richard.

 

the 2Ps had their uses . the M&GNJ luvved 'em , and they could run. the Belpairs were good engines .they were built to compare with the Compounds where they came off 2nd best

 

Thank you all for your replys and info. Hopefully a LMS Midland Guru can provide the info about the final one of the class. Glad to hear that many passed to BR.

 

I Googled loco 40726 and it came up with Mike Morant's Collection showing several pictures of the Hull and Barnsley Railtour on 24th August 1952. The captions say that the loco was built at Derby in December 1902. This railtour seems to have been its last duty as it was withdrawn as the last of its class from Canklow shed (19C) the following month.

Hope this is of interest

Peter

 

Thanks those are some very nice photographs also.