BR Standard Class 2 2-6-2T

The class was designed at Derby Works and introduced in 1953. The design derived from the LMS Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2T which BR had built after nationalisation. Modifications were made to the Ivatt design including a reduced cab to reduce the loading gauge and some standard fittings. BR classified them 2MT, emphasising a mixed-traffic role.

As most services which required 2MT 2-6-2Ts were already served by the 130 Ivatt engines, B.R. only ordered 30 engines, which eliminated pre-grouping steam locomotives as much as possible on local services.

The first 20 engines were outshopped at Crewe Works, and intended for use on ex-London Midland and Scottish Railway routes, then known as the London Midland Region.

The second batch, this time built at Darlington Works, and were also the final steam locomotives built at Darlington were numbered 84020–84029, and intended for Southern Region lines.

Only two liveries were carried by the 2MTs- British Railway lined black with the earlier and later emblems. Although all locomotives received the latter, only 84000–84019 received the early emblem as the Darlington built locomotives were constructed in 1957, following the 1956 changeover to the late crest. The Darlington engines carried large {{convert|10|in|cm|1|adj=on}} high cab-side numerals, whilst the Crewe engines carried standard {{convert|8|in|cm|1|adj=on}} high numerals.

The LMR locomotives were used on push-pull routes, and were often allocated alongside the Ivatt 2MT 2-6-2T engines with which they shared most of their origins. Numbers 84021–84029, the Southern Region locomotives were all allocated to the Eastern Section depot at Ashford for use on the lines over Romney Marsh and local trains on the Margate via Canterbury West route. Most were transferred away to the North Eastern Region in the early 1960s following electrification, but several locomotives (including some of the LMR allocation) were re-allocated to Eastleigh in 1965 for possible use on the Isle of Wight, replacing life-expired LSWR O2 class engines, which were all over 70 years old by then. However, this plan did not cover a coaching stock replacement, and thus the locomotives were ultimately scrapped.

None of the class was preserved, although their size and configuration would have made them an ideal choice for use on heritage railways. However, four BR Standard Class 2 2-6-0 locomotives – the tender-equipped equivalent – did survive, and one of these, 78059, is being rebuilt into 2-6-2T "84030". This takes the next number in the original series. 78059 was chosen primarily because it lost its tender, one of several sold off while at Woodham Brothers scrapyard. Further reasons cited by the Bluebell Railway (where 78059 is based) are the suitability of the locomotive class for the railway's service trains, and because the tender version of the class was never allocated to the Southern Region, while the tank engine verson is more appropriate for the Bluebell's Southern location.

As of 2013 78059 was considered no longer existent, as the fitting of the hind engine frame extensions thus turned it into 84030.{{cite web |title=British Railways Standard Class 2MT 2-6-2 Tank Locomotive No 84030 |publisher=Bluebell Railway |date=14 April 2008 |url=http://www.rhbnc.ac.uk/bluebell/locos/84030.html |accessdate=23 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717204527/http://www.rhbnc.ac.uk/bluebell/locos/84030.html |archivedate=17 July 2011}}{{cite web |title=Locomotive Works News |work=Restoration/conversion of "84030" |publisher=Bluebell Railway |date=17 September 2009 |url=http://www.rhbnc.ac.uk/bluebell/loco_news/oh_84030.html |accessdate=23 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717204536/http://www.rhbnc.ac.uk/bluebell/loco_news/oh_84030.html |archivedate=17 July 2011}}

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• {{Bradley-StdSteamBR}}
• {{cite book |title=A Detailed History of British Railways Standard Steam Locomotives: vol 3 Tank Engine Classes |first1=Paul J. |last1=Chancellor |editor=Taylor, R. K. |date=December 1997 |publisher=Railway Correspondence and Travel Society (RCTS) |isbn=0-901115-77-0}}

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{{commons cat|BR Standard Class 2 2-6-2T}}

• [http://www.railuk.info/steam/getsteamclass.php?item=BR2/2 Class BR2/2 Details] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001165336/http://www.railuk.info/steam/getsteamclass.php?item=BR2/2 |date=1 October 2022 }} at Rail UK
• [http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/locos/84030.html Bluebell page for "84030"]

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2 2-6-2T

Category:2-6-2T locomotives

Category:1′C1′ h2t locomotives

Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1953

Category:Scrapped locomotives

Category:Standard-gauge steam locomotives of Great Britain