GWR Route: Alcester to Hatton Junction

GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

Bearley Junction: gwrbj766b

Close up of image 'gwrbj766' showing GWR 0-4-2T No 523, which was a regular Alcester branch locomotive, posed with its crew in 1908. A member of the 517 class posed for the camera. Locomotive No 523 was a regular Alcester branch loco although why its posed running bunker first to Bearley is not known. The extended smoke box front plate creates the impression that the locomotive has outside cylinders but this was only a Victorian design practice as the locomotive had inside cylinders. The large box on the side tank is the tool box whilst at the rear with the open cab the bunker has shaped solid coal bars to increase the range of the locomotive. The twelve members of 517 class were built at Wolverhampton commencing in October 1875 with the last being constructed in March 1876. The first to be withdrawn No 1165 (post-grouping number) was scrapped in March 1930 after withdrawal from Tiverton shed whilst the last to be withdrawn was No 1159 in August 1947 from Oxford shed. The last shedded in the county was No 1157 with drawn in November 1935 from Leamington shed.

Robert Ferris

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