The Schools class was arguably R.E.L Maunsell's finest locomotive design. Only five Maunsell express passenger locos survive, three of which are owned by the National Railway Museum.

Built at Eastleigh in 1934, Stowe was originally bought from British Railways for display outside the motor museum at Beaulieu along with three Pullman coaches. It subsequently moved to the East Somerset Railway at Cranmore in 1973. In 1980 it moved to the Bluebell Railway and returned to working order in 1981. The locomotive was bought by the Maunsell Locomotive Society in 2000. Stowe is special because she and she was recorded as achieving the highest known speed for the class - 95mph, in 1938.

When she entered service in 1934 'Stowe' was sent to Fratton depot to work the Waterloo to Portsmouth line. Upon electrification of the Portsmouth line in 1937, 928 was moved to Bournemouth, where she was painted in 'Bournemouth' (later known as Malachite) Green. In 1942 'Stowe' was painted in wartime black. In 1947, 928 regained her Malachite Green and was transferred to Brighton, from where she worked Brighton to Salisbury/Bournemouth services. In 1947 she moved to Bricklayers Arms to work London to Newhaven Boat trains, but was transferred to Stewarts Lane a year later. She returned to Bricklayers Arms in 1949.

'Stowe' was transferred to Tonbridge in 1961, before being moved to Brighton in November of that year, where she was withdrawn in 1962.