Midland Railway 1377 Class

The Midland Railway 1377 Class is a class of steam locomotive. They were introduced in 1878 by Samuel W. Johnson based on an earlier 1874 design. Up to 1891, 185 were built: 165 by Derby Works and the last 20 by the Vulcan Foundry. Most were built without a rear to the cab and only a short cab roof, hence their nickname "half-cabs", though about 40 were built with full cabs. Originally they were built with round-topped fireboxes, but many later received Belpaire fireboxes. They were given the power classification 1F.

Ownership changes

The engines were taken over by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) at the grouping in 1923. Eighty-seven locomotives passed into British Railways ownership in 1948 and they were numbered 41660-41895 (with gaps).

Withdrawal

No. 41773, condemned at Derby Locomotive Depot 13 April 1960

Withdrawals began in 1928, five years after the Midland had been absorbed into the LMS. In 1932, the frames of 1831 were used for LMS diesel shunter 1831. Withdrawals continued and by 1961 only 11 remained.

Staveley Ironworks contract

Five stayed in use until 1966 because of a contract signed by the Midland in 1866 to provide shunting engines to Staveley Ironworks for 100 years.

Preservation

41708 at Barrow Hill

One of the Staveley engines, 1418 (renumbered 1708 by the Midland Railway in 1907, and 41708 by British Railways), has survived to preservation at Barrow Hill Engine Shed. Before Barrow Hill this engine was preserved on the Midland Railway - Butterley, the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, and the Swanage Railway respectively. The surviving engine became the inspiration of the Bachmann Branchline OO scale model of the class introduced in 2014. Unfortunately an ownership dispute means it is unlikely be working in the near future. The model, the dispute and the class had an extensive write up in Model Rail during 2014.^[1]

References

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