British Rail Standard class 2

The team around Riddles designed the class 2 with the wheel arrangement 2-6-0 as the smallest tender locomotive among the standard classes. It was designed for use with all types of trains on branch lines and therefore had an axle load of less than 14 tons. So it had the route availability 3, i.e. the lowest category, which means it could be used on all lines.

The basis was the LMS Ivatt class 2 2-6-0. Since the LMS had a larger loading gauge than many other British railways, it had to be fitted with a smaller cab. In order to improve the working conditions for the crew when reversing, the type BR3 tender was fitted with weather protection. The fittings on the boiler have been adapted to the standard program.

In the first few months, the LMS locomotive and the standard locomotive were built in Darlington at the same time. The standard locomotive earned the nickname “Mickey Mouse” because it was quite powerful despite its small size. As planned, it was used on branch lines with passenger and freight trains and for shunting. Although Riddles had put great effort in the working conditions during development, the cab was apparently drafty and a lot of dirt quickly accumulated. Most machines were withdrawn between 1965 and 1967. Today four units are still preserved, one of which is being converted into a standard class 2 tank variant.