LMS Stanier Class 5

The Class 5MT 4-6-0 was the universal mixed-traffic engine of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway under William Stanier, introduced in 1934 to handle the bulk of the system's medium-power passenger and freight workings. The design drew on Stanier's earlier Great Western experience, adapted to the LMS loading gauge: a tapered Belpaire boiler, two outside cylinders, and Walschaerts valve gear. With 842 locomotives ultimately built it became one of the most numerous British steam classes of the twentieth century, and the most numerous mixed-traffic class on any British railway.

Construction was shared between LMS works and outside contractors. Crewe Works built 241, Horwich Works 120, Derby Works 54, Armstrong Whitworth 327, and Vulcan Foundry 100, for a total of 842. Construction continued in unbroken succession from 1934 to 1951, by which point the locomotives had passed under British Railways ownership and were being numbered 44658 to 45499.

The class was withdrawn between 1961 and 1968, with 45401 the first to go in 1961 after a collision at Warrington. They were among the last main-line steam locomotives in BR service, surviving on the London Midland Region right up to the end of steam in August 1968.

Eighteen Black Fives have been preserved, twelve bought directly from BR and six rescued from Woodham Brothers' scrapyard at Barry. Several remain main-line certified.