GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Hatton Station: gwrhj101

GWR 4-6-0 Modified Castle (5098 class) No 7033 'Hartlebury Castle' on the up Cambrian Coast express is seen here about to drift across the Hatton Middle Junction. A 60mph speed restriction over the facing North Junction forced expresses to slow after descending the 1 in 177 gradient into Hatton, while south of Hatton the line descended rapidly again. The Grand Union canal can be seen in the background. C1956.

Built at Swindon in July 1950 No 7033 was like all post war Castles having an improved boiler (98c) with a three-row superheater. In addition, mechanical lubricators were fitted for cylinders, values and regulator. To further improve efficiency, boilers with a four-row superheater (98d) were fitted to the remaining Castle class engines after 1953 and following successful draughting trials on the King Class engines, twin orifice blastpipes were also fitted. No 7033 was fitted with a double chimney in July 1959. This engine was finally withdrawn from Old Oak Common Shed (81A) in January 1963 and scrapped by J Cashmore at Great Bridge in June the following year.

Robert Ferris

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