LNER Route: Leicester to Marylebone

Catesby Tunnel: gcct316

Ex-WD 'Austerity' 2-8-0 No 90448 crosses Catesby viaduct (structure No 486) heading into a wintry sun on the long 1 in 176 drag up to the tunnel on Saturday 1st December 1962. At the time of the photograph, No 90448 was allocated to Woodford Halse shed. Nearly three years earlier, on 28th February 1960, No 90448 had been seen working a Class H freight service through Broom East Signal Box (see image 'smj_brm407'). Built as WD 8627 by the Vulcan Foundry in March 1944, the locomotive was renumbered by the War Department again in January 1945 by adding 70000 to the number. Disposed of by the WD to the LNER it became LNER No 3127 in March 1947 and under British Railways ownership it was renumbered as 63127 before being allocated No 90448 in January 1951 which it carried until December 1965 when it was withdrawn from 40B Immigham shed to be scrapped by Draper's of Hull.

Tony Newman

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