Birmingham New Street Station

LNWR Locomotives: lnwrbns_pg1931

LNWR 4-4-0 Benbow class No 1974 'Howe' is seen standing at Platform 2 whilst at the head of a local passenger service. Built at Crewe works in August 1903, No 1974 was the only Webb four-cylinder Compound to be superheated, being converted in May 1921, and ran until withdrawal in March 1928 still retaining its LNWR number. On the platform to the left of the locomotive is a mobile tank and connecting hose pipe used by staff to top up the water tanks to toilets on coaching stock. Ted Talbot writes, Although the class was originally known as the Alfred the Great class, they were all soon modified with separate valve gear for the outside cylinders, as seen here, and with the long splasher above it. The first to be so modified was No 1952 Benbow on 22nd September 1903, and for that reason the modified engines were generally known as 'Benbows'.

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