LMS Ivatt Class 4 43106

43106 at Kidderminster

43106 in service

43106 is the only surviving example of an LMS Ivatt Class 4 2-6-0 Mogul. These locomotives were mainly designed for medium freight work but were also widely used on secondary passenger services. They were classified as 4MT by BR. The unusual design with raised running plates led to members of the class being referred to by nicknames such as “Doodlebug” or “Flying Pig”.

Although an LMS design, 43106 was built after nationalisation by BR at the former LNER Darlington Works. The locomotive entered service at South Lynn, Norfolk in April 1951 where it remained for 5 years. Whilst operating in East Anglia it carried Whitaker token exchange apparatus fitted into a "pocket" towards the front of the tender. Most of the tooling to reproduce the apparatus this locomotive carried whilst there has been made.

Thereafter 43106 was mostly based in the East Midlands and Merseyside. Following a short spell at Carlisle, 43106 was withdrawn from service by BR at at Lostock Hall, Preston in August 1968 after a relatively short working life of 17 years 2 months.

43106 in preservation

43106 was one of the SVR’s early locomotives, arriving ‘light engine’ direct from Lostock Hall in August 2008. It worked services on the official opening day in May 1970.

43106’s most recent overhaul was completed in 2009.

43106, affectionately referred to on the SVR as “The Flying Pig”, is owned by the Ivatt Class 4 Group.

See also

Steam Locomotives