The Midland’s Mysterious Paget Locomotive

Known as the ‘Paget Locomotive’, or ‘Paget’s Folly’ by its critics, 2-6-2 No. 2299 was an experimental steam locomotive constructed at Derby Works in 1907/08 to the design of MR General Superintendent, Sir Cecil Paget. His novel concept, with many ingenious features could have played a greater role in shaping the future of steam locomotives, but internal politics at Derby Works reduced it to little more than a footnote in British railway history.

In 1906 Paget, son of MR chairman