LMS Ivatt Class 2 46443
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Contents
46443 in service
The LMS Ivatt Class 2 was designed by H.G. (George) Ivatt for work on secondary and branch line duties. Locomotives of this class were often referred to as a "Mickey Mouse". It is a 2-6-0 'Mogul', rated 2MT by BR following nationalisation. The design of the BR Standard class 2 2-6-0 closely followed the Ivatt Class 2 design.
46443 was built at BR’s Crewe works in April 1950 and was based at Derby for 11 years. In 1951 46443 moved to Saltley, where duties were limited to infrequent rush hour journeys. A final move to Newton Heath (near Manchester) in 1966 was followed by withdrawal in March 1967.
46443 in preservation
46443 was purchased from BR by a private owner in 1967, and was the second engine to arrive on the Severn Valley Railway that year. The SVR bought the locomotive in 1972, but announced in 1983 that the locomotive had been sold as part of the deal that brought 45690 Leander to the SVR, and would be leaving the following year. A fund was launched to 'buy back' the locomotive, during which time it gained the nickname 'The Peoples Engine', and 46443 never left the SVR. It is now owned by The SVR 46443 Fund.
A regular at the SVR ever since, 46443 had covered 145,997 miles in preservation when withdrawn from service in October 2011. It is now on display in The Engine House awaiting its next overhaul.
Sources
Past editions of SVR News
Information display board in The Engine House