The locomotives were designed by F. W. Webb. A total of 158 were built in batches by Crewe Works 1887–1897 with two further additions in 1898 and 1901 respectively. They were officially "renewals" of 96 Newton Class and 62 Precedent Class, so that, for accountancy purposes, they could be charged against the Revenue account rather than the Capital account of a "new" locomotive. On renewal, they kept the numbers and names of their predecessors, and as a result the numbering system continued to be completely haphazard. In addition, the eight Precedent class locomotives that were not renewed, were rebuilt to the Improved specification, but they retained their original thick frames, whereas the renewed locomotives had frames. On 22 August 1895, 790 Hardwicke took 2 hours and 6 minutes for the from to, with an average speed of, setting up a new speed record during the Race to the North. Withdrawals started in December 1905. The London, Midland and Scottish Railway acquired 76 upon the grouping of 1923, and gave them the power classification 1P. The LMS assigned these the numbers 5004–79, in order of build date, though not all received them as withdrawals continued apace. By the end of 1933, only 5001 Snowdon survived and in April 1934 it was renumbered 25001 to clear the number 5001 for an LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0, but was withdrawn in October that year.
Accidents and incidents
On 15 August 1895, locomotive No. 275 Vulcan was one of two locomotives hauling an express passenger train that derailed at, Lancashire due to excessive speed on a curve. One person was killed.
On 27 October 1895, locomotive No. 790 Hardwicke was hauling an express passenger train that collided with a freight train at. The express was derailed and Hardwicke was severely damaged. The accident was caused by the driver of the freight misreading signals.
On 14 August 1915, a locomotive hauling a passenger train suffered a mechanical defect which resulted in track being damaged at Weedon, Northamptonshire. Locomotive No. 1189 Stewart was one of two hauling a mail train that was derailed on the damaged track. Ten people were killed and 21 were injured.
Preservation
One, No. 790 Hardwicke has been preserved as part of the National Railway Collection. It was overhauled in 1976 and hauled some excursion trains on the main line, on one of which it double-headed with Flying Scotsman. In the same year it made a special run on the Settle - Carlisle railway, double heading with Midland compound 1000, to celebrate the line's centenary. During this period it was allocated TOPSnumber 98 190. It is currently a static exhibit in The National Railway Museum in Shildon.
