LMS Route: Trent Valley Line

LMS Route: Nuneaton to Leamington

NuneatonStation: lnwrns1712

British Railways 4MT 2-6-0 No 78059, the last engine to work off Nuneaton shed, is seen with a number of shed staff before it leaves the shed for the last time. Peter Lee records in his book on the Trent Valley line that the shed officially closed on 6th June 1966 with all other locomotives being transferred except for No 78059 which stayed for a further three weeks to assist in clearing up the yard of stores, coal and ash before leaving at the end of June. The staff in the photograph are from left to right at ground level: George Brookes, Edwin Holmes, Harry Gunn, Alan Burnham (Fitters); Mrs Randle (Office Clerk); Lol Green (Fireman); Ernie Morris (Office Clerk); Jack Green (fitter); Unknown (Running Shed Foreman's Office Clerk); Don Foulds (Driver); Bill Lowe (Running Shed Foreman); kneeling is George Hall (Fitters Mate). On the footplate in the cab are: Albert Harris, Alf Drake (Fitters) and Charles Woodford (Fitter).

Riddles 2-6-0 No 78059 was built at Darlington Plant in September 1956 and remained in service until November 1966 when it was withdrawn from Crewe South shed for scrapping by Dia Woodham of Barry in South Wales. However No 78059 was one of some 200 engines that were famously saved because Dai Woodham was initially too busy cutting up steel wagons etc and then realised that the rusting hulks were worth more than if cut up and without the expense. Today No 78059 is preserved at the Bluebell Railway although this might change over time. My thanks to Marc Jones who identified Lol Green as the unidentified fireman in the above photograph. Marc writes, 'The missing name of the Fireman is Lol Green, later a guard and a C&W examiner at Nuneaton. Lol was a smashing fellow to work with always great fun'.

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