Midland Railway Class 2 4-4-0

The Midland Railway Class 2 4-4-0 was a series of 12 classes of 4-4-0 steam locomotives built by and for the Midland Railway between 1876 and 1901 while Samuel W. Johnson held the post of locomotive superintendent.

They were designed for use on express passenger trains but later on were downgraded to secondary work when more powerful types were introduced.

Starting with the "1738" class boilers were made of steel rather than wrought iron, which accounts for the higher permitted pressures.

The results were essentially completely new engines (designated "483" class), but carrying the numbers of old ones.

A possible reason for this was that royalties paid to the Schmidt superheater company were less for a "rebuild" than for a new engine.