LMS Route: Birmingham-Soho-Perry Barr-Birmingham

Soho East Junction: lnwrsej3575

Ex-LNWR 'G2' 0-8-0 No 49430 and 'G2A' No 49361 head the Stephenson Locomotive Society (Midland Area) 'Farewell to London & North Western Railway Locomotives' Railtour on 12th December 1964. The lead locomotive No 49430, was built as LNWR No 2226 by Crewe works in February 1922, renumbered by the LMS as No 9430 and then British Railways as No 49430, and as such was to remain in service until December 1964 when, as the last member of the class in service, it was withdrawn from 2F Bescot shed to be scrapped by J Cashmore of Great Bridge. The second locomotive was much older being built as LNWR No 1289 by Crewe works in May 1903. Renumbered by the LMS as No 9361 in August 1923 it was rebuilt with a G2A boiler in September 1938 which it carried until it too was withdrawn in December 1964 from 2F Bescot shed to be scrapped by J Cashmore of Great Bridge.

The primary route for the SLS special with both locomotives leading was, commencing at Bescot: Great Barr, Soho East Junction, Birmingham New Street, Vauxhall, Aston, Perry Barr, Soho Road, Dudley Port, Tipton, Princes End, Wednesbury, Pleck Junction, Walsall, Ryecroft Junction, Aldridge, Penns, Park Lane Junction, Water Orton West Junction, Kingsbury Station Junction, ending at Hall End Sidings. From here an excursion to Baddesley Colliery powered each way by both two locomotives, one in each direction took place. The special then returned to Bescot via: Kingsbury Junction, Whitacre, Water Orton, Landor Street Junction, St Andrews Junction, Camp Hill, Lifford Station Junction, Selly Oak, Birmingham New Street, Perry Barr North and finally Bescot.

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