LMS Route: Birmingham West Suburban Railway

Bournville Shed: mrb668

British Railways 2F 0-6-0 No 58167 stands on a road behind the coaling stage at Bournville on Sunday 17th February 1957. The wagons behind are next to one of the shed's two coal stacks. Built in 1876 by Neilson & Company of Glasgow for the Midland Railway, the engine entered service as their No 1226. It was one of the 120 Johnson 1142 class engines, the first inside framed goods type on the Midland. They were allocated numbers 2900 to 3019 in the 1907 scheme. No 1226 became No 2994. This number was carried over into the LMSR period. It was modernized in 1927, when it was fitted with a G6 Belpaire boiler and a better cab. It was not put on the duplicate list in 1934 as its number was not required for an LMSR standard engine. No less than 75 of the 1142 class were inherited by British Railways in 1948. All but one survived long enough to be allocated new numbers, which were 58114 to 58187. No 2994 became No 58167 in July 1952.

A Saltley engine for at least ten years in 1955, it was probably transferred to Bournville to replace the 2F which fell into the engine pit in 1956. The shed was responsible for providing power for the Halesowen Joint Line, with its weight restricted Dowery Dell Viaduct, and the three 2Fs on its allocation in the fifties were the only engines there light enough to be allowed on that line. No 58167 remained at the shed until withdrawn from service in August 1959. It remained intact, though not at Bournville, until September 1960. It was finally broken up at Albert Looms Breakers in Spondon Derbyshire.

John Dews

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