GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

Birmingham Snow Hill - British Railways Period Locomotives: gwrbsh2540

An unidentified ex-Great Western Railway 4-6-0 68xx (Grange) class locomotive approaches the northern end of Snow Hill in 1953. The locomotive is carrying a class A (express) lamp headcode and a Train Identification Board with the number '910' indicating that the train had originated in a BR (Southern Region) location (for more details see 'headcodes'). Unfortunately the Board obscures the smokebox number plate, so it is not possible to identify the actual locomotive here.

The 68xx (Grange) class were designed for mixed traffic duties with eighty in total being built at the Swindon works as lot 308 between 1936 and 1939. They were designed as a smaller-wheeled (five foot, eight inch diameter) version of the successful 49xx (Hall) Class 4-6-0 two cylinder locomotives. These 68xx class locomotives were classified by the Great Western Railway as ‘conversions’, but although an equal number of 43xx class 2-6-0 locomotives were withdrawn, this was an accountancy classification, because very few of the withdrawn 43xx parts were suitable for reuse. Fitted with a tapered standard No 1 boiler operating at a pressure of 225 lbs, produced a tractive effort at 85% of 28,875 lb (Power group - D) and their maximum axle weight of 18 tons, 8 cwt restricted them to main lines and a few branch lines (Route colour – Red). See 'misc_equip195' for more details of the Great Western Railway's Engine Map classification. They were reliable performers and their power and mixed traffic characteristics meant they could handle most duties on the GWR's network. The class were often used for the haulage of perishable goods, such as fruit and broccoli, and for excursion trains. Withdrawals started in 1960, but eighteen were still operating in 1965.

The non-corridor suburban coach on the right has ten third class compartments and displays the characteristics of the 63 foot long diagram C83 coach. The table below gives details of the construction of diagram C83 carriages. Several of the first lot were built just prior to nationalisation and carried Great Western Railway livery, but most were built post nationalisation and painted in BR maroon, with some of these being constructed by the Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Co (BRCWC). For more details of the BRCWCS works see 'brc&wc_works'.

This photograph is displayed courtesy of the HMRS (Historical Model Railway Society) and copies can be ordered directly from them using the link HERE, quoting 'AEN133' part of the Ralph Lacey collection.

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