GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Leamington Shed: gwrls3845

British Railways built A1 4-6-2 No 60145 'St Mungo' arrives at Leamington station with an up express service. Built midway in the construction of the A1s and in several ways was always ‘in the middle’ for events like repainting – but became notable as the final member of the British Railways built class to survive. It was authorised on 2nd May 1946, in LNER days, as part of that year’s programme. Two years later, under BR, 60145 was noted 'nearly complete' on 28th February. It was completed in March with No 60144, making them the 15th and 16th of the 23-strong Darlington batch. With No 60124 complete in Doncaster this made March’s trio the 25, 26 and 27th members of the class –about midway. Like all Darlington A1s, plus No 60114 to No 60126 of the Doncaster build, No 60145 was turned out resplendent in LNER green with black and white lining but with BR’s name spelt out in block capitals on the tender. The locomotive was withdrawn in June 1966 from 50A York North shed to be scrapped by Drapers of Hull. A nameplate can be seen in Glasgow Transport Museum.

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