GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Olton Station: gwro2153

Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 6953 'Leighton Hall', modified to burn oil, passes through the station on the up main line in 1948. The immediate post-war years saw a near bankrupt Britain export high quality steam cold from its mines whilst importing inferior and cheaper coal from elsewhere. As was the case after the First World War oil was another fuel that the government actively encouraged the railways to use which resulted in a number of locomotives from several classes being converted. Initially the GWR started to convert some 2-8-0 and 2-8-0T locomotives followed several Castle and Hall Class locomotives. Whilst 1,217 GWR locomotives were initially targeted few were converted before the scheme was dropped. The above locomotive only ran burning oil from April 1947 to September 1948. Built by Swindon works to Lot 340 in February 1943 No 6953 remained in service until December 1965 when it was withdrawn from 81F Oxford shed.

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