GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Bentley Heath Crossing: gwrbh28

Great Western Railway 4-6-0 40xx or 'Star' class No 4066 Malvern Abbey on an Up express passing Bentley Heath during the quadrupling construction work circa 1932. On the left is the contractors 60cm temporary line, while on the right are several loaded common user open wagons. No 4066 was one of the last batch of twelve ‘Star’ class locomotives built at Swindon Works in December 1922 under Lot 217. No 4066 was known to have been initially allocated to Stafford shed near Wolverhampton where the locomotive was used on Wolverhampton to Paddington express passenger services. Twelve years later in January 1934 No 4066 was still allocated to Stafford Road shed in Wolverhampton.

The locomotive was renamed ‘Sir Robert Horne’ in May 1935 (Robert Horne was the Great Western Railway's Chairman from 1934 to 1940), but these nameplates were removed in July 1937 and new nameplates with ‘Viscount Horne’ were fitted August 1937. This new identity did not last long however, as No 4066 was withdrawn from Gloucester shed in December 1937, after only fifteen years of service. The 60cm line belonged to the contractors engaged in the quadrupling works between Olton and Lapworth – Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Co. Ltd They operated thirteen 60 cm gauge, 20 h.p. petrol powered, four wheeled locomotives built by Motor Rail Ltd. (Simplex Works Bedford). Two of these locomotives were new, but the rest were reconditioned or rebuilt following ownership by other contractors.

Robert Ferris

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