Mystery Photograph

Mystery Photograph: mrb14

Midland Railway class 1 0-6-0 No 2627 stands in a line of engines in the yard on Sunday 31st August 1919. Built as M.R. No. 775 by Dubs & Company of Glasgow in 1870, it was one of Kirtley's 700 class. Rebuilt in 1902 with a Johnson boiler and cab, it was renumbered in 1907. Fitted with vacuum brakes, it is otherwise a typical rebuilt Kirtley standard goods 0-6-0 of the period. Based at Saltley in 1920, it was not withdrawn for scrap until November 1930. I do have some doubts about the location. There was a siding opposite Bournville shed, but there are no industrial buildings in mrb676, taken in 1956, which shows that siding in the background. They could, of course, have been demolished, but unredeveloped brownfield sites are not common in this area. If it is Bournville, the junction signal would have to have been for the Lifford curve, opened in 1892. Photo mrb1503 shows the site of that signal in 1962.

John Dews

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