LMS Route: Birmingham New Street to Lichfield

Wylde Green Station: lnwrwg3359

An unidentified LNWR 4-4-2T 'Precursor' tank locomotive departs Wylde Green station with a local stopping service for Sutton Coldfield circa 1910. The paths which ran either side of the line from the end of the platforms to Highbridge Road can clearly be seen in the photograph. Some lighting has been provided on both pathways. Fifty LNWR 4-4-2T 'Precursor' tank locomotives were built to the design of George Whale between 1906 and 1909, being a tank engine version of his Precursor Class tender locomotive. The first thirty had 3 ft 9 in carrying wheels, the last twenty had 3 ft 3 in carrying wheels. All fifty locomotives passed into LMS ownership in 1923 when the LMS gave them the power classification 2P. The LMS also renumbered them into solid block of numbers: No 6780 to No 6809 for the locomotives with 3 ft 9 inch carrying wheels and No 6810 to No 6829 for the locomotives with 3 ft 3 inch carrying wheels, in the order given above. They were all withdrawn between 1927 and 1940 with none being preserved.

Original photographer ET Waterman

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