LMS Route: Evesham to Birmingham

Kings Norton Locomotives: mrknpreg301

MR 'Single' 4-2-2 1P No 662, allocated to Saltley shed, is piloting MR 4-4-0 No 520 on a down express during August 1921. Also known as a 'Spinner', both nicknames resulting from the pair of large driving wheels. No 662 was built by by Derby works in September 1893 and was to remain in service until June 1926 when it was withdrawn to be scrapped the same year. The use of very large diameter driving wheels so late in the evolution of the steam locomotive can be credited to the practice of providing sand directly in front of the wheels and a belief (albeit incorrect) that coupled wheels could not be as free running as a single axle. Another member of the MR's 483 class No 520 was built by Sharp Stewart in December 1899 and was to remain in service until October 1957 when it was withdrawn from 55D Royston shed to be scrapped by Derby works in November 1957.

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