28 Book of Locomotives 



there were just 100, and they were all built 

 upon the compound principle, which, 

 briefly explained, means the use of the 

 steam a second time after it has already 

 passed through one set of cylinders. The 

 compounds were not altogether a success 

 on the North- Western, and when their 

 designer retired, in 1903, his successor made 

 sad havoc in their ranks, especially the 

 " double single " type, of which, in a few 

 years, there was not a member left. 



The development of the locomotive on 

 the North-Western up to a certain point is 

 really the story of the iron steed on all our 

 railways. 



We had the famous ' singles " of the 

 " Problem >: class (wheel formula 2-2-2), 

 which, for forty years, numbered sixty, and 

 they did remarkable work for such midgets. 

 Their place was taken by the " Precedent * 

 (formula 2-4-0), and no better engine was 

 ever built, that is for their size and weight. 

 Some of these hefty little engines still run 

 to and fro on the North-Western section 

 of the L.M.S., but the last of the " Problems" 



