GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Knowle & Dorridge Station: gwrkd1633

GWR Queen class 2-2-2 No 1128 Duke of York is seen standing at Knowle & Dorridge with an up local service circa 1912. The original member of the Queen class, No 55 'Queen' was built at Swindon works in 1873 as a single prototype. A further 20 locomotives were constructed in 1875 and were numbered 999, 1000 and 1116 to 1133. The second locomotive No 999 was named Sir Alexander which has resulted on occasion to the later series being referred to as the Sir Alexander Class although in fact the locomotives were essentially built to the same design as No 55 'Queen'. All of the class were built with 7'0" diameter driving wheels and 18 x 24 inch cylinders. The class's duties were the expresses on the London to Wolverhampton and London to Gloucester via Swindon routes. The founder member of the class, No 55 'Queen' was appropriately used as the principal GWR royal locomotive and carried the royal coat of arms for royal journeys.

back