The Stanier Black Five is a highly successful 4-6-0 mixed-traffic steam locomotive, designed by Sir William Stanier for the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) in the 1930s. Combining power, reliability, and simplicity, it was capable of handling both express passenger services and heavy freight, making it exceptionally versatile. Its straightforward yet robust design facilitated maintenance and ensured long-term operational efficiency. The Black Five quickly became a standard-bearer for mixed-traffic locomotives, admired for its balanced performance, smooth running, and adaptability across the British rail network. A total of 842 were built, and many served well into the final years of steam, with several preserved today for heritage and enthusiast operations.
The Stanier Black Five is a 4-6-0 mixed-traffic steam locomotive designed by Sir William Stanier for the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) in the 1930s. It was intended to combine the power required for express passenger services with the versatility to handle heavy freight. The class is powered by three 18.5" by 28" cylinders with Walschaerts valve gear, generating a tractive effort of 25,455 lbf from a boiler pressure of 225 psi. The driving wheels measure 6 ft 0 in, providing a balance between speed and pulling power, while leading wheels are 3 ft 3 in.
The locomotives are built on plate frames with a length of 63 ft 2 in over buffers and a weight of approximately 77 tons, paired with tenders of around 42 tons carrying 4,000 gallons of water and 9 tons of coal. The boiler offers a heating surface of 1,680 sq ft with a superheater of 252 sq ft, allowing efficient steam generation and smooth performance.
A total of 842 locomotives were constructed between 1934 and 1951, making the Black Five the LMS's standard mixed-traffic locomotive. Its combination of reliability, ease of maintenance, and adaptability ensured widespread use across the LMS network. Many were retained into the British Railways era, and several survive in preservation, continuing to operate on heritage railways and demonstrate their enduring engineering excellence.
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Click here to view photos of 45013 I found on flikr
Updates to follow.
Link to blog to come here
Link to the BR Database. showing the history of 45013 and 5103 in the pre-BR days.