LMS Route: Trent Valley Line

LMS Route: Nuneaton to Leamington

Nuneaton Station: lnwrns3263

LNWR 2-4-0 Improved Precedent class No 1105 'Hercules' stands at the north end of Nuneaton station. Built at Crewe works No 1105 entered service during December 1897 and was withdrawn in June 1928 prior to the allocated LMS running number, No 5077, being applied. One of the nameplates was sold by GW Railwayana Auctions at their auction in Pershore on 25th May 2013. The details they provided for the sale was 'L&NWR Nameplate `HERCULES`. Curved brass measuring 49" in length, wax filled engraving with `L&NWR Co May` one end and `Crewe 1877` the other end. Between `Crewe` and `1877` it has been stamped `Rebuilt /97`. Ex L&NWR `Renewed Precedent` Class 2-4-0 locomotive number 1105, designed by FW Webb and known as `Jumbos`. Taken in to LMS Stock and numbered LMS 5077. Finally scrapped in July 1928.'

The Class of 158 locomotives were designed by FW Webb and built in batches by Crewe works commencing primarily from 1887 to 1897 although two further additions in 1898 and 1901 were added. They were officially 'renewals' of 96 Newton Class and 62 Precedent Class locomotives, so that, accountancy purposes, they could be charged against the Revenue account rather than the Capital account where new locomotives had to be allocated. Being renewals, they kept the original numbers and names of their predecessors, and as a result the numbering system continued to be completely haphazard. On 22nd August 1895, LNWR No 790 'Hardwicke' took 2 hours and 6 minutes for the 141 miles from Crewe to Carlisle, with an average speed of 67.1 mph (108.0 km/h), setting up a new speed record during the Race to the North. Withdrawals of the Class started in December 1905 but was slow resulting in the LMS acquiring 76 members of the Class in 1923. Allocated the power classification 1P the LMS assigned the remaining locomotives the numbers 5004 to 5079, in order of their build date, though not all received the LMS Stanier Class 5 locomotives but was withdrawn in October that year.

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