Single-Driver Locomotive 45 



The six-wheeled single-driver probably 

 reached its zenith on the Great Northern, 

 where it continued to be built right up to 

 the last decade of the nineteenth century. 

 Stirling, who did so much for the English 

 locomotive generally and on the Great 

 Northern in particular, produced his final 

 2-2-2 design in 1885. They were cheap to 

 construct, splendid in service, and extra- 

 ordinarily light on repairs. With single 

 driving wheels, there is always less wear 

 and tear, but in this final batch of 2-2-23, 

 based largely on much earlier models, 

 Stirling seemed to have evolved the beau 

 ideal type of express engine for light 

 trains. 



Up to 250 tons the 2-2-25 were as good as 

 could be ; strangely enough they persistently 

 gained time on uphill gradients, and never 

 required to be thrashed so long as the loads 

 were kept within bounds. Ivatt thought so 

 well of them that long after Stirling had 

 joined the great majority his successor re- 

 built them with domes, and rather more 

 power for the boiler. They handled the 



