Despite early troubles arising from factions within the new company, the LMS went on to build some very successful designs; many lasted until the end of steam traction on British Railways in 1968.
Those from the smaller railways, and hence non-standard, were withdrawn quite early, while ex-Midland, LNWR and L&YR types persisted.
Unfortunately this practice, while emininently suitable for the route from Sheffield, Derby and Nottingham to London was not at all suited to the route from Euston to Glasgow via Crewe, Preston and Carlisle (the 'West Coast Main Line') and it took several years to convince the senior staff responsible for such matters that this was the case.
The LNWR did not have a significant impact on LMS policy as the Midland, although it did inspire the Fowler-built 7F.
The North Staffordshire Railway handed over 192 standard gauge engines into the LMS capital stock.
There were two other additions to the capital stock, the two locomotives of the 2 feet 6 inches (0.76 m) narrow gauge Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway.
Standard gauge 0-4-0 battery electric locomotive, built in 1917, and three, 3 feet 6 inches (1.07 m) gauge, 0-4-0ST locomotives called Frog, Toad and Bob that worked the Caldon Low tramway, owned by the NSR.
The only class that survived as far as nationalisation were some moderate sized 0-6-0 tender engines classified '3F' by the LMS and as D5 by Bob Rush.
At the end of Fowler's reign, Ernest Lemon briefly took over as CME, but was quickly promoted to make room for William Stanier.
William Stanier arrived in 1932 from the Great Western Railway and, with the backing of Josiah Stamp, reversed the small engine policy.
Charles Fairburn was somewhat restricted by the rules applied to the railway companies by the war situation (not to mention the fact that Stanier had left things in a state that required little or no new design).
A pair of "Black Fives" were the last steam locomotives to be run on British Railways in 1968, although since then there have been almost weekly charter runs for the enthusiast and tourist markets and the occasional timetabled service (for instance at Dawlish and Stratford-upon-Avon).