The truth about the LBSCR’s E2s 

Thomas the Good Enough Engine

This video can basically be summed up with; “The E2s had faults but most of these faults weren’t that much of a big issue because they where just dockside tank engines”

Thomas: I'm a failure. Wilbert Awdry: No you're not. All you need are some adjustments. A larger coal bunker and tanks ought to do the trick.

Thomas: im I a great engine sir? The Fat Controller: you're good enough

Thomas: *saves James* Thomas:I'll have my own branch! Sir Topham Hatt: *thinks about how such a locomotive will be able to travel long distances* Thomas:I'll get my branch, right?.. Sir Topham Hatt:... Thomas:I'LL HAVE A BRANCH, RIGHT?.. Sir Topham Hatt:I dont know, i'm realy dont know...

11:26 Truly a sobering statement. We tend to romanticise steam locomotives (and to be fair, they deserve most of it) but often forget that, to the railways, they were tools to perform tasks.

"But, for a class of average tank engines, what their final legacy was being quite remarkable. Do you know what I mean?" (Show an E2 jumping over the HiT insignia.)

Now, I won't deny that the LBSCR E2 class did have some problems. - overpowered brakes - low coal storage - 16' ft wheelbase etc. -I2 class boilers And between the E2 haters and the E2 simps, I'm kinda in the middle. (Not saying the E2 class is the worst, but also not denying their flaws)

That ending was perfect! I wish the ending theme had played more, but it was such a memorable line.

Well, you have to remember that Thomas was a HEAVILY modified version of the E2, no dipped footplate in the back, smaller than usual, etc. Your video is about what the real LBSCR E2, which is somewhat different from what Thomas is. Of course, your video pointed out all the problems a regular LBSCR E2 had, but Thomas seemed to have little to none of the problems you stated, leading me to believe Thomas is modified internally, too.

if thomas had become a J50, would the same people hate the j50 just because people would associated the class with Thomas?

🎵 Thomas the good enough engiene rolling along 🎵

The ending was so satisfying

I think that E2s didn’t excel in any capacity, they just did everything alright, they weren’t the greatest at just one thing, but they did just about everything okay enough to be useful. I really like the E2s but we can all agree they’re not without their flaws, also shout out to this guy who only put clips from the classic series Thomas.

4:53 AHAHAHAHAH, goddamn it Solmon, you’re great.

There’s one that everyone knows that’s still in service, and he’s number 1

I like the Thomas & Friends characters as characters in their own universes. I don't really care all too much about the actual, real life engines they were based off of.

"Sir, why is thomas Your favorite?" Topham : "He's terrible, i hate him. I just wanted him to feel special"

Very good video! I love the idea of an unbiased summary of the E2's. Just... one little thing about your K class tank engine. Keep the front pony truck and have a 2-6-2. That pony truck was on the K's for a reason.

I just think they’re neat! (edit) I say fix them, the bunker isn’t really an issue, unless they added some austerity modifications to it. Add some condensing equipment to recover some of that steam to water for the thirst that engine has. The boiler being interchangeable with previous engines, I don’t think it really needs to be changed. Modify the driving wheels and properly match the cylinders and solve the balance issue they had at higher speeds, also give the center drivers wider flanges to allow them to negotiate the sharp dockyard corners. The tight brake issues are probably solvable with a less heavy hand on the brake. I mean, you want the thing to stop, isn’t that the point? Honestly, a little bit of money would solve a lot of the issues to make the engine from “good enough” to “respectable” but we’re talking about a railway that was getting head first in to electrification and was generally cash strapped. 50 year service life tho, it was probably good for something!

“But for a class with less than average tank engines, what their final legacy ended up being is quite remarkable. Don’t you agree?” -Solmon (2021)

Interesting! I’m not the biggest Thomas head, BUT I’ll be starting a live steam Thomas build on my channel in a month or so for the Thomas fans :) Keep steaming!

Nice video. Despite their mediocreness, its sad that all the e2's got scrapped. But, like the ending said, they do have Thomas as their lasting legacy:)

The detail about push-pull trains is interesting, because in the Railway Series books, Thomas' coaches, Annie and Clarabel, are push-pull coaches for his branch line.

E2s may have flaws such as short coal storage, they still managed to live an incredibly long life!

Plot twist: E2s Are Just Replacements for E1. Also Southern Railway mens are Very fuckin hated E2s.

Though, Thomas wasn't originally planned to be based off the E2. Thomas was originally planned to be based off the J50. The illustrator changed that to the E2. Btw, there is a EMD diesel locomotive also a E2. I wonder if British railway companies went with a different classification code and get a larger headlight to help with visibility.

One thing I have wondered for a while is why didn’t L.B. Billington us the boiler from the E4 class 0-6-2 tanks designed by his father? They had been in service for around a decade by that time and had proven themselves. Also, I too think it really isn’t fair to judge them based on how they performed on passenger work since they were designed as shunters and short distance goods engines unlike Stroudly’s A1 class or the E4 class, and even then, the A1 wasn’t without crew complaints either though for the A1 it was more that the cab was barely big enough for the crew to do their work without the driver being hit in back of the leg with a shovel every time the fireman added coal to the fire.

You know I can't agree more on the subject however I don't think there mediocre but good enough but for what they are there actually pretty remarkable

You my bro, speak truth about these poor verbally abused, and misunderstood locomotives. You deserve my respect. Good video! 😉✌️

Finally these are the answers I’ve been looking for!

A well thought out analysis, very gud

I wonder what Thomas would look like if he was a class J50 in the books

I love this video man! I was listening to thomas mysteries and decided to subscribe to you I really lirk your content!

Great video, thanks for making and uploading. I love the archive file exerpts and all that research!

"He's a good enough little engine, you know." "All the other people will tell you so."

Well Said , Sir. i've seen arguments about them being useless, arguing they were useless, or what flaws could have been rectified may have improved the performance, Ive seen videos arguing Thomas may have been other Trains like a Jinty or E2. But your argument covers factors others did not consider or perhaps willfully ignored. E2's did what they did, and 2 world wars kept them going longer.

I should design Thomas as a hybrid of any of the LB&SCR Tank Engines.

Am i the single one on this planet who loves E2’s not beacuse of a certain tv show?

I think the E2s were alright but could've been better had it not been for wartime shortages and other problems, great vid!

I completely agree with this video. I was wondering if anyone noticed how the E2's weren't as bad as everyone chalked them up to be, but weren't that great as well. Good eye for noticing this.

I wonder if the opinon on the E2 would be different if either the Reverend Awdry had never created the RWS, or if one or two of the class had survived into preservation. Both would be interesting thought experiments for someone far better versed in the history of steam locomotives than I am

Thomas: *had an existential questioning crisis*

Happy 3 more subscribers until 700 bro Truly a gamer moment

The E2 in a nutshell, they just stuck around not because they were good, but because no one really bothered with replacing them with a better design.

Regardless of your thoughts on the E2 The Terrier was the superior locomotive.

nice video wish the e2 where a around

THE E2 The E stands for:Good ENUF

Really fantastic video I'll be watching your channel with great interest.

0:33 this picture is funny because you can tell the realistic troll face right there clearly representing that one side of the fandom that prays over thomas and wants to make they’re ocs e2s with hair, I’m glad my oc is a j50

In fairness, a lot of successful designs in history were just "good enough". During WW2, there were two vehicles the British military used from the beginning to the end - the Wellington bomber and the Matilda Mk2 tank. Both were considered "good" in 1939, and considered "adequate for niche duties" by 1945. Both were liked by their crews because they were familiar and dependable. Sometimes "good enough" really is good enough.

how to fix the E2 1: give it a boiler that has less coal and water consumption 2: weaken the treads and flanges on the middle axle to help with going around corners 3: Give it cylinders of the E3 or driving wheels the same size as the jinty 4: just be nicer to the brake handle

Honestly, I don't see Thomas as any other class of engine. Thomas just fits the E2 look, whether it may be my nostalgia talking or something, but just his build alone is just so memorable. Very nicely done video!

Jesus, this is the first time I've heard your voice. And it's fucking cool.

I don’t think the e2s where really that well made. Definitely had a lot of problems. But… I do like Thomas

You know, you bring a fair point

Appreciate getting the straight dope about the class for once. Know it doesn't really matter at this stage, but I wonder if refitting the boiler with a superheater would've helped matters any?

This is why the Thomas and Friends series is popular. It bases its engines, locomotives, and rolling stock on real world equipment that people of every age can relate to. Although the show's version is a redesign with a shorter wheel base and over the top speed and longer than average fuel reserves, the E2 Class (still don't get why only one engine gets a 'class') has been remembered.

I love the e2 class and how it jumps around you can do a lot of storytelling in the ttte universe

I think the E2's failings were the main reason Awdry chose the design as the basis for Thomas. He was represented as a fussy engine that wanted to get out of the yard and explore. With the E2 being designed to have a limited range, that sort of personification of wanting to go on long journeys because you aren't able to makes sense.

Thanks for the video

In my country, a Japanese c12 tank engine was given a special "tender" to get more water and coal for running longer distance, maybe what Thomas need is not special coaches but the opposite idea he given to those big engines, scrap your bunker and get yourself a tender, little Thomas!

Very good explanation of the E2’s flaws, however, I did seem to noticed that you failed to mention the wheelbase. With a wheelbase of 16ft, the E2’s were not permitted into some of the tighter sections of the dockyards, being left to the smaller locomotives such as the E1’s, later the B4’s in southern days, and finally the S100’s which had a wheelbase of 10ft.

you know whats better than an e2 but older? , an a1 terrier

I think you missed out a key point. Yes, they did the job, but they didn’t do it as well as their contemporary counterparts, such as the Fowler Jintys, Gresley J50s and multiple other J class tank engines and miscellaneous GWR shutters or a 57xx. All the classes proved themselves as powerful utility locomotives that we’re designed mainly for shunting or short haul journeys.

i'd really like to hear how'd you fix the E2's while still making them LOOK like E2's without changing much

I wonder what Locomotive would Wilbert Awdry would want for Thomas to be!!!!!

After seeing this video, I am surprised that Thomas is even allowed to pull Annie and Clerabell

I just like how the E2s look I know they work badly thought

Idc we are not brainwashed just for hating the e2s and honestly iam a e2 fan

An engine only remember in children’s show fame 😊I grew up with it and it’s made me happy as a kid

Adorable!

The sad thing about E2s that they won't built right after the extended side tanks they probably could had fixed the issues

Amen to that.

Music at 1:13?

I mean, if they could last up until the end of steam they couldn't be *that* unusable.

solmon u have a familiar profile image whos face is that?

I like this video, thank you salmon.

Lots of things have good intentions, we just don't know what the overall outcome will be.

To be fair for someone's first real locomotive design the E2's weren't the worst thing. Least they were able to do their jobs, lotta designs can't really even do what they were said to do on paper. Do like the idea of the K class tank though, now that would have been a sight! Heck even if the E2's were rebuilt with better boilers they would have been better off.

Cough cough what about the j50 version of Thomas

Unfortunately Thomas the Tank Engine’s design only works as an illustration, like an M.C.Escher drawing. If he had high running plates like an E2 then he would not need splashers. If he did not have high running plates then he would not have a dropped front buffer beam. You can see that the splashers are redundant in the models they built for TV.

Did you say 5,000 gallons of water in their tanks ? !

And also what people don’t see is Thomas about became 2 other tank engines. I believe the original design Thomas was gonna be a I think J50 or something like that tank. And one of Thomas original models from what I’ve seen favored a E1 tank. With the squared off water tanks, more straight buffer beam on front instead of the curved shaped one. And a different wheel covers o guess you’d call em right infront of the water tanks.

Me who didnt knew what a e2 was before this vid: *why is there a debate about a tank engine?*

Do you like the E2

Which do you like better the e2s or the Terriers

So it's like a chevy s10, just fine enough to do things

I've always said the fairest comparison you could make to the E2s were the South Eastern Ps. Both were extremely underwhelming yet both ended up living long, Good Enough™ lives. It is just that one is almost unanimously loved and one... Is the E2.

Facts

I'll say the E2's were good enough to get ajustments

So Billington changed his name, became a corporal in the German Army and the rest, as they say, is history?

11:36 TTTE reference (I think)

LBSC: What the hell are you E2s still here for? You're fired! Employees: Sir, the war effort. LBSC: Oh, that's right. You're unfired. Come here, I need you.

i love the thomas e2 design, and also the j50, but the e2 gives me more charm, I don't know why but, thomas is good, good enough, and if I could update thomas, I would make him more realistic and a e2, but keeping the thomas charm

1:26 is Dat aquitania or am I a dumbass

I once saw someone in a comments section on the last surviving footage of the e2s saying they're better than the a4s

What I did back when I was 15 I mix the e2 with the e4

I like Thomas and friends, however a talking blue steam engine really does not erase the problems those tank engines had.

And Awdry just wanted thomas to be an LNER J50 tank