BR standard class 2 2-6-0

Infobox Locomotive
powertype=Steam
name = BR standard class 2 2-6-0

---

caption = 78019 is preserved on the Great Central Railway in Leicestershire
designer = R. A. Riddles
builder = British Railways
builddate = 1953
totalproduction = 65
whytetype = 2-6-0
gauge = 4' 8½"
leadingsize =
driversize = 5' 0"
length =
weight = 49 tons 5 cwt
fueltype = coal
fuelc

waterc

cylindercount = 2 outside
cylindersize = 16½" x 24"
firearea =
boilerpressure = 200 psi
tractiveeffort = 18,515 lbf
railroadclass= 2MT| The British Railways Standard Class 2 2-6-0 is a class of steam locomotive, one of the BR standard classes of the 1950s. The smallest of the standard classes, 65 were built.

The design was derived from the LMS Class 2MT 2-6-0 with a reduced cab to enable it to fit into the loading gauge and other standard fittings, most notably a taller chimney. Like the Ivatt the BR design had a tender cab to enhance crew protection and visibility when running tender first. They were all attached to a BR3 type tender. These locomotives are often known by the nickname "Mickey Mouse".

Darlington works was responsible for building the entire fleet of 65 engines and for the time construction of the LMSR and BR designs overlapped. The last No.78064 was completed in 1956 but the class remained intact for just seven years. Coincidently the first to be withdrawn No.78015 was a Darlington based engine. Like the LMSR counterpart the Standard Mogul was arranged for a low axle loading just 13 ton 15cwt. This allowed it to operate on most lightly laid routes and secondary lines. Bizarrely some of the class had speedometers fitted.Among crews the 2MT 2-6-0 gained a reputation for being very sure footed. Some maintained however that the engine did not steam well. The loudest complaint was about the draughty and dirty footplate. This was surprising given the efforts of Robert Riddles and his team to optimize working conditions in the Standards' cab layout.

Preservation

Four survived the cutter's torch, these being 78018 78019, 78022 and 78059. The last of these was left without a tender and is being rebuilt as 2-6-2T 84030 due to the lack of preservation of a one of the sister 2-6-2Ts and the Bluebell Railway's preference of a tank engine over a tender engine.

* [http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=5276 78018]
* [http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=5277 78019]
* [http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=5279 78022]
* [http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=5280 78059]

References

* "A Detailed History of BR Standard Steam Locomotives", - Vol 2 - The 4-6-0 and 2-6-0 Classes. RCTS ISBN 0-901115-93-2
*Classic British steam locomotives