BR Period Locomotives: lnwrbns_br1793

Ex-LNWR 2P 0-6-2T 'Watford Tank' No 6924 is seen passing under Hill Street bridge whilst double-heading an unidentified ex-LMS 4P 4-4-0 Compound on a train to Wolverhampton on 18th June 1949. Built at Crewe works in July 1901 No 6924 remained in service for less than a year being withdrawn in November 1949 from Monument Lane to be scrapped by Crewe works. Compound No 924 was built by the Vulcan works in July 1927 and was to remain service for another eight years being withdrawn in March 1955 from Perth shed to be scrapped by Kilmarnock works.

The 2P was probably needed because the load for the Compound was too heavy to pass through the tunnel to the north of New Street station unaided. The track through the tunnel was a continuous climb and with water constantly dripping on to the rails they would become wet causing locomotives with heavy loads to slip. Another reason could be related to the Watford Tank being shedded at Monument Lane. The line to Wolverhampton was very heavily used and the tunnel severely restricted the number of movements to the north. The pilot engines that served New Street were supplied by Monument Lane shed and when these were required to return to the shed it therefore became standard practice to couple the engine to an existing service passing through the tunnel.

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