Midland 990 Class Spinner

The Midland 990 Class Spinner designation is an alternative reference to the celebrated Midland Railway 990 Class single-driver 4-2-2 express locomotives designed by Samuel Waite Johnson — the Johnson Spinners — which are covered in full in the Midland 990 Class entry. The Spinner name reflects the locomotives' single large driving wheel, which appeared to spin freely at speed in a way that fascinated Victorian observers unused to uncoupled driving wheels.

See the Midland 990 Class entry for the complete history of these magnificent locomotives, widely regarded as the most beautiful ever built in Britain, including details of their crimson lake livery, their 7 ft 9 in driving wheels, their service on the Midland's St Pancras expresses, and the preservation of No. 673 at the Midland Railway Centre, Butterley.