Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Locomotives Of The Midland Railway shopping experience:
1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Locomotives Of The Midland Railway offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Locomotives Of The Midland Railway at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.
2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Locomotives Of The Midland Railway? Wrong! If the Locomotives Of The Midland Railway is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about Locomotives Of The Midland Railway then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Locomotives Of The Midland Railway? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Locomotives Of The Midland Railway and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Locomotives Of The Midland Railway wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your Locomotives Of The Midland Railway then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Locomotives Of The Midland Railway site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Locomotives Of The Midland Railway, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Locomotives Of The Midland Railway, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
The
Midland Railway's locomotives (which it always referred to as engines), followed its small engine policy. The policy was later adopted by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, and contrasted with the
London and North Western Railway's policy. It was, perhaps, carried on too long, giving rise to the derisive poem:
M is for Midland with engines galore
Two on each train and asking for more
The small engine policy was partly the consequence of a difference in the background of senior managers. In most railway companies, the elite position was the design, construction and maintenance of locomotives. Bigger engines brought more prestige and allowed longer trains. In the Midland, the marketing department was paramount. They recognised that people wanted more frequent, shorter trains rather than an infrequent service. It concentrated on very light, very fast and frequent trains.
The Midland was blessed, in that George Stephenson had built its main lines with very shallow gradients. The LNWR had to cope with the hilly country north of Manchester. The Midland had also found it more efficient to use smaller, less fuel hungry locos, simply adding pilots or banking engines as necessary.
Numbering and classification
Numbering was somewhat erratic. When new locomotives took the numbers of old engines, the old engines were placed on the duplicate list and had an A suffix added to their numbers.
The Midland classified their stock into three classes numbered 1 to 3 with 1 the least powerful and three the most. Stock were also split into passenger and freight engines. Just before grouping class 4 was introduced. This system formed the basis for the subsequent LMS and BR classification systems.
See also LMS locomotive numbering and classification
Engines inherited from constituent companies
Midland formed in
1844 from the Midland Counties Railway, the North Midland Railway and the
Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway, and took over a number of others including the Leicester and Swannington Railway and the Birmingham and Gloucester Railway. See
Engines built by the Midland
Initially, the Midland concentrated on maintaining and improving the somewhat varied fleet that it had inherited, with the assistance of
E. B. Wilson and Company in Leeds. In addition it bought in twenty four of their
Jenny Lind locomotives.
Kirtley (1844-1873)
See
Matthew Kirtley
Johnson (1873-1903)
See Samuel W. Johnson. Classes include:
Deeley (1903-1909)
See Richard Deeley
Fowler (1909-1923)
See
Henry Fowler (engineer)
Clayton
Liveries
Prior to 1883 painted green. After 1883 the Midland adopted its distinctive crimson lake livery for passenger engines, with unlined black for goods engines.
Influence on LMS locomotive policy
The LMS continued the Midland's small engine policy until William Stanier arrived in
1933. The last new Midland design was LMS Stanier 0-4-4T of 1932/3 but some Fowler 4Fs were constructed as late as
1940.
Preservation
No. 1000.Five original Midland locomotives have survived, these being:
In addition, there are 13 engines of two classes built by the LMS to essentially Midland designs:
- 4Fs nos (4)4027 (4)4123 and (4)4422
- 3F Jinties nos 16576/(4)7493, (4)7279 (4)7324, (4)7327, (4)7357, (4)7383 (4)7406 (4)7445 (4)7564 and (4)7298
And two engines built by the Midland for the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway:
- S&DJR 7F 2-8-0 nos 88 and 89.
Further, there are several more engines to later non-Midland designs built at Derby which have survived.
References
- Bob Essery and David Jenkinson An illustrated review of Midland locomotives from 1883
- Vol. 1 - A general survey
- Vol. 2 - Passenger tender classes
- Vol. 3 - Tank engines
- Vol. 4 - Goods tender classes
External links
- Some photographs of Midland engines from the Midland Railway Society
The
Midland Railway's locomotives (which it always referred to as engines), followed its small engine policy. The policy was later adopted by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, and contrasted with the London and North Western Railway's policy. It was, perhaps, carried on too long, giving rise to the derisive poem:
M is for Midland with engines galore
Two on each train and asking for more
The small engine policy was partly the consequence of a difference in the background of senior managers. In most railway companies, the elite position was the design, construction and maintenance of locomotives. Bigger engines brought more prestige and allowed longer trains. In the Midland, the marketing department was paramount. They recognised that people wanted more frequent, shorter trains rather than an infrequent service. It concentrated on very light, very fast and frequent trains.
The Midland was blessed, in that George Stephenson had built its main lines with very shallow gradients. The LNWR had to cope with the hilly country north of Manchester. The Midland had also found it more efficient to use smaller, less fuel hungry locos, simply adding pilots or banking engines as necessary.
Numbering and classification
Numbering was somewhat erratic. When new locomotives took the numbers of old engines, the old engines were placed on the duplicate list and had an A suffix added to their numbers.
The Midland classified their stock into three classes numbered 1 to 3 with 1 the least powerful and three the most. Stock were also split into passenger and freight engines. Just before grouping class 4 was introduced. This system formed the basis for the subsequent LMS and BR classification systems.
See also LMS locomotive numbering and classification
Engines inherited from constituent companies
Midland formed in
1844 from the Midland Counties Railway, the North Midland Railway and the Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway, and took over a number of others including the
Leicester and Swannington Railway and the Birmingham and Gloucester Railway. See
Engines built by the Midland
Initially, the Midland concentrated on maintaining and improving the somewhat varied fleet that it had inherited, with the assistance of
E. B. Wilson and Company in Leeds. In addition it bought in twenty four of their
Jenny Lind locomotives.
Kirtley (1844-1873)
See
Matthew Kirtley
Johnson (1873-1903)
See Samuel W. Johnson. Classes include:
Deeley (1903-1909)
See
Richard Deeley
Fowler (1909-1923)
See
Henry Fowler (engineer)
Clayton
Liveries
Prior to 1883 painted green. After 1883 the Midland adopted its distinctive crimson lake livery for passenger engines, with unlined black for goods engines.
Influence on LMS locomotive policy
The LMS continued the Midland's small engine policy until
William Stanier arrived in 1933. The last new Midland design was LMS Stanier 0-4-4T of 1932/3 but some Fowler 4Fs were constructed as late as
1940.
Preservation
No. 1000.Five original Midland locomotives have survived, these being:
In addition, there are 13 engines of two classes built by the LMS to essentially Midland designs:
- 4Fs nos (4)4027 (4)4123 and (4)4422
- 3F Jinties nos 16576/(4)7493, (4)7279 (4)7324, (4)7327, (4)7357, (4)7383 (4)7406 (4)7445 (4)7564 and (4)7298
And two engines built by the Midland for the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway:
- S&DJR 7F 2-8-0 nos 88 and 89.
Further, there are several more engines to later non-Midland designs built at Derby which have survived.
References
- Bob Essery and David Jenkinson An illustrated review of Midland locomotives from 1883
- Vol. 1 - A general survey
- Vol. 2 - Passenger tender classes
- Vol. 3 - Tank engines
- Vol. 4 - Goods tender classes
External links
- Some photographs of Midland engines from the Midland Railway Society