GWR Route: The North Warwickshire Line

GWR Route: Stratford on Avon to Hatton

Stratford on Avon Shed: gwrsa1457

Ex-Great Western Railway 2-6-0 93xx class mogul No 9314 approaching Stratford-upon-Avon Station with a Class H through freight on 29th April 1958. The distinctive ventilation stacks in the roof of Stratford Engine Shed are visible on the right of this photograph, with the Flower’s Brewery behind. No 9314 was built at Swindon Works in March 1932 as part of lot 276. This was the final variation of the 43xx class which had been first built in 1911. The 93xx class had screw reverse, outside steam pipes and cab side windows. The frames were 6.5 inches longer and an extra cast weight was added immediately behind the front buffer beam to improve adhesion. The result was that the engines were 11 tons heavier, which restricted them to Red routes. In June 1958 this additional weight was removed from No 9314 and the locomotive was renumbered No 7336. This allowed operation on the lighter Blue classified routes. These engines were known as ‘Maids of all Work’ and although designed as freight engines could deputise for passenger duties. No 9314 was allocated to Old Oak Common shed (PDN) in 1934 and to Wolverhampton (Oxley) shed (OXY) in December 1947. No 7336 was withdrawn from Shrewsbury shed (84G) in September 1962 and scrapped by TW Ward, Attercliffe, Sheffield in January 1964.

Robert Ferris

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