LMS Class 7F 0-8-0
The London Midland and Scottish Railway Class Fowler Class 7F was an update of the London and North Western Railway (LNWR) G2 Class 0-8-0. The class were sometimes known as 'Baby Austins' after a motor car that was becoming popular at the time.
It featured a Belpaire firebox and increased boiler pressure over its predecessor and so was given a higher power rating. Unfortunately the design had been done at the old Midlands's Derby Works and the drawing office staff insisted on using Midland practice. Among other things this meant that the axle bearings were too small for the loads they had to carry. All 175 were built at Crewe.
| Number | Lot No. | Date built | Maker's Nos. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LMS | BR | |||
| 9500-99 | 49500-99 | 57 | 1929 | 6872-5971 |
| 9600-2 | 49600-2 | 71 | 1930 | 6047-9 |
| 9603-19 | 49603-19 | 71 | 1931 | 6050-66 |
| 9620-32 | 49620-32 | 81 | 1931 | 1-13 |
| 9633 | 49633 | 81 | 1932 | 14 |
| 9634/5 | 49634/5 | 81 | 1931 | 15/6 |
| 9636-59 | 49636-59 | 81 | 1932 | 17-40 |
| 9660-74 | 49660-74 | 84 | 1932 | 41-55 |
9672-4 were fitted with ACFI feedwater heaters when built but these were removed during the war. After the war five were briefly converted to oil burning.
They all survived to pass into British Railways ownership, but there were only 19 left by the end of January 1959. They had a fairly short life and were all withdrawn between 1949 and 1962 some time before the G2s which lasted until 1964.
