GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Olton Station: gwro4012

On Sunday 25th March 1934 bridge tests were carried out on the recently quadrupled Great Western Railway’s main line. At location 124m 11c on the approaches to Olton station from Acocks Green, are four Great Western Railway 6000 (King) class locomotives Nos. 6001 and 6014 on the left, with Nos. 6017 and 6005 alongside on the right. These locomotives are performing a second speed test on the Richmond Road bridge at about 59-62 mph. The new lines at this location were built on the north-east side of the track, although the tests here are clearly being carried out over the two centre lines.

This photograph is Solihull Central Library record reference No 1791, courtesy R Waring.

Robert Ferris

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