LMS Route: Rugby to Wolverhampton

Hampton - Locomotives: lnwrhia682

A LNWR 0-8-0 G1 class goods locomotive is seen at the head of an up local goods train as it approaches Hampton formerly 'Derby Junction' station circa 1921. To the left of the locomotive can be seen two sets of trackwork and the signal is in all probability controlling part of the access to the junction. The substantial structure to the right is a platelayers hut (also called a Permanent Way or PW hut) which provided both mess facilities and storage for the gang responsible for looking after this section of the line. Thirty-two 'B' class 0-8-0's had been converted to 'G' class by 1917 but the superheated versions were found to be clearly superior so later 'B's were converted direct to 'G1' class. Twenty-six were sent to France to be used by the ROD in World War I, all being later returned so they probably did not go too near the trenches! In 1912 the 'G1' class were produced with superheating and 8 inch piston valves then in 1921 boiler pressure was increased to 175 psi , becoming the 'G2' class variation. Finally improvements to braking and valve motion were launched in the 'G2a' class in 1935, the last of which was finally scrapped just four years before the end of steam on British Railways, in 1964. In latter days they were all generally known as 'Super D's', being a 'D' class superheated. Courtesy LNWR Society.

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