At the end of the Second World War, the LMS urgently needed a modern branch line locomotive to replace several hundred ageing 0-6-0s. The solution came from newly appointed Chief Mechanical Engineer H. G. Ivatt, who proposed a 2-6-0 wheel arrangement as a superior alternative to the traditional 0-6-0. The 2-6-0 offered improved ride quality and greater route availability, and Ivatt’s design went on to prove itself in service.
The resulting Class 2 Moguls were widely appreciated across the locomotive department for their reliable performance and ease of maintenance. Designed for light mixed-traffic duties, they were ideally suited to rural and secondary lines. The class was allocated across all British Railways regions except the Southern.
The first twenty Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0s were built at Crewe between December 1946 and March 1947 and were numbered 6400 to 6419. After nationalisation in 1948, they were renumbered 46400 to 46419 under British Railways. BR continued production between 1948 and 1953, building a further 108 locomotives and bringing the class total to 128, numbered 46400 to 46527.
The Class 2s initially proved less than satisfactory in service. In 1951, in an effort to improve draughting, 46413 was sent to Swindon Works, while 46424 received a stovepipe chimney during tests at Derby. This led to the fitting of a slender chimney on locomotives under construction at Darlington in 1951 and 1952.
The final 25 locomotives, 46503 to 46527, were built at Swindon Works in 1952 and 1953. Allocated to the Western Region from new, they were fitted with Great Western-style vacuum ejectors and firehole doors, setting them apart from earlier examples constructed at Crewe and Darlington. Some 22 of this batch, 46503 to 46524, were initially allocated to Oswestry shed, from where they worked much of the secondary traffic on the Cambrian lines for around a decade. The final three, 46525 to 46527, were new to Bristol St. Philip’s Marsh.
At Oswestry, the Ivatt 2MTs replaced ageing ‘Dean Goods’ 0-6-0s, the more modern ‘Dukedog’ 4-4-0s, and a variety of other ex-Great Western types that had previously handled traffic on the Cambrian system. With a low axle load, sure-footed handling and economical operation, the Swindon-built Moguls were particularly well suited to the lightly laid rural routes of the region.
In later years, several Western Region examples were repainted into BR lined green livery, adding a splash of colour to what was otherwise a largely black-finished class. 46522 was recorded in lined green at Swindon as early as 1959, with others—such as 46517 to 46521—carrying the same scheme up to withdrawal. Meanwhile, some locomotives, including 46510 to 46514 and 46516, remained in lined black throughout their lives. One example, No. 46521, achieved modest fame in preservation when it appeared in the BBC sitcom Oh, Doctor Beeching!, briefly carrying the name “Blossom” for its television role. The class’s long service life, widespread allocation, and subtle regional variations make it an appealing subject for modellers working in a variety of periods and settings.
Modelling
Graham Farish’s long-awaited Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0 was first announced in 2009, with engineering prototypes shown at The International N Gauge Show (TINGS) in 2012. After a protracted development period, the finished model finally arrived in 2013 and was quickly praised for its blend of detail, performance and fidelity. It represented a considerable step forward for British-outline N gauge steam, featuring a modern chassis, six-pin DCC socket in the tender, and a wealth of separately fitted parts including lamp irons, wire handrails, and a fine metal fallplate.
Despite its compact size, the model accurately captures the proportions and character of the prototype. The BR lining and early crest are crisply printed, and shed plates and number plates are legible under magnification. The model’s chimney, motion and wheelbase reflect the BR short-chimney variant, making it particularly suitable for modelling early 1950s builds. The valve gear is slightly overscale in section, but this was accepted by many as a necessary compromise to ensure mechanical strength in service.
The motor is housed in the locomotive boiler, providing smooth direct drive to the coupled wheels. Electrical pickup is taken from all six driving wheels and from all six tender wheels, with power transmitted via a permanently wired loco–tender connection. The decoder socket is located in the tender and accepts a standard 6-pin DCC decoder. Traction tyres are fitted to the rear driving wheels.
Thanks to its dimensions and reliable running, the Graham Farish 2MT is an excellent candidate for conversion to 2mm finescale. The coupled wheelbase sits well within 2FS tolerances, and the combination of small drivers and compact motion lends itself to finescale adaptation. The model depicts an early Crewe- or Darlington-built locomotive with the shorter BR pattern chimney, making it especially suitable for layouts set in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Modellers wishing to represent Swindon-built examples—especially those allocated to the Western Region—may need to modify the chimney and other fittings to match the distinctive later style. The class’s regional distinctions, varied liveries, and extended working life offer plenty of scope for personalisation.
References
- Beattie, Ian. “LMS Ivatt Mickey Mouse 2-6-0.” Railway Modeller, vol. 33, no. 378, April 1982.
- Derrick, Kevin. Looking Back at Riddles and Ivatt Locomotives. Strathwood Ltd, 2009.
- Essery, R. J., and David Jenkinson. An Illustrated History of LMS Locomotives – Volume Five: The Post-Grouping Standard Designs. Silver Link Books, 1989.
- Haresnape, Brian. Ivatt and Riddles Locomotives. Ian Allan Ltd., 1977.
- Ivatt 2-6-0s and 2-6-2Ts. Locomotives Illustrated, no. 72, July–Aug. 1990, Ian Allan Publishing.
- “Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0.” Model Rail, no. 186, Sept. 2013, pp. 16–18.
- Jennison, John. The Book of the Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0s. Irwell Press, 2023.
- Morrison, Gavin. The Power of the LMS 2-6-0s. Oxford Publishing Company, 30 Nov. 2005, pp84-105.
- Shaw, Michael C. “Ivatt’s ‘2MTs’.” Hornby Magazine, no. 4, Oct. 2007, pp. 72–73.