LMS Route: Nuneaton to Leamington

Kenilworth Junction: lnwrkj179

Ex-LMS 8F 2-8-0 No 48757 is running light engine and tender first as the signalman stretches out of the cabin to pass over the train staff circa 1955. On the left can be seen a vegetable garden that would have provided the signalmen with some produce as well as acting as a diversion during quiet periods. Second World War rationing resulted in the cutting being fully exploited and other photographs seen by the author shows the cultivation of the ground adjacent to the signal box being quite extensive. John Dews writes, 'No 48757 was one of 68 LMS type 2-8-0s that entered service as LNER Class O6 and were notable for carrying four to five different numbers in as many years. This one was built at Doncaster in November 1945 and carried the number 3152 until renumbered 3552 in 1947. It was then transferred on loan to the LMS later that year and renumbered 8757 by them before being taken over by BR, who renumbered it 48757 in June 1950. It survived into the last year of steam on BR, being withdrawn from Rose Grove in Lancashire in December 1967 after just twenty-two years service. Drapers Ltd of Hull reduced it to scrap the following April.'

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