Bachmann 32-230Class 3F FOwler JInty 47483 BR Black Early Emblem

The origins of the ‘Jinty’ can be traced back to the Midland Railway’s Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) S.W. Johnson and his 2441 Class locomotive. After the formation of the London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS), Sir Henry Fowler, deputy CME of the LMS at the time, took the 2441 Class design and added a Belpaire firebox and improved cab, creating the ultimate development of the Midland Railway’s six-coupled tank engines. A total of 422 ‘Jinties’ were built from 1924 until 1931 with production spread between the LMS and various sub-contractors. The locomotives were versatile, at home shunting in stations, yards, and exchange sidings as well as on trip workings. They could also be found on passenger services and seven saw service on the Somerset & Dorset Railway until 1930 when they were absorbed back into LMS stock. The entire Class survived to Nationalisation, with the first withdrawals in 1959 brought about by the introduction of new diesel shunters. Soon, more and more locomotives were withdrawn and by 1964 less than half remained in traffic. The final examples were withdrawn in 1967, however nine have been preserved.