LMS Route: Nuneaton to Birmingham New Street

LMS Route: Birmingham New Street to Tamworth

Saltley Shed: mrsalt663

Ex-LMS 2-6-0+0-6-2 Garratt No 47975 is seen stabled with other locomotives on one of Saltley's 'back roads' located next to the Camp Hill lines on 27th June 1948. In the distance the water tower adjacent to Saltley shed's No 2 roundhouse can be seen meaning the coaling tower would have been to the right of the locomotive in the foreground. Built by Beyer Peacock in September 1930 No 47975 remained in service until late June 1955 when it was withdrawn from its home shed at Toton to be scrapped by Crewe works. Richard Strange writes 'The Garratt was withdrawn on 30th June 1955 and was cut up at Crewe by 26th August 1955'.

This view of No 47975 clearly illustrates the Garratt design principles, effectively it had two 2-6-0 chassis with the cab, firebox and boiler suspended between the two chassis with a large water tank over one chassis and the rotating coal bunker over the other chassis. With one two-man crew it was supposed to offer greater economy by reducing labour costs. As stated earlier, the design faults caused by the meddling of the former Midland design office at Derby, which insisted on Beyer Garratt using standard Midland components which were based on that railway's small engine policy, resulted in a class that never achieved its potential. William Stanier's 2-8-0 8F built just a few years after the Garratts were more than capable of providing the motive power for the LMS' heavy freight services.

back