LMS Route: Nuneaton to Birmingham New Street
LMS Route: Birmingham New Street to Tamworth
Saltley Shed: mrsalt435
MR 2F Kirtley 0-6-0 No 697, its post 1907 number, inside
Saltley MPD Factory. Number 697, built by the Vulcan Foundry Co in 1870, was a
member of the MR's 700 class and wore the LMS' running number 2697 until
withdrawn in November 1930 to be scrapped by Derby later that year.
This is an interesting photograph as it shows Saltley was
able to carry out significant levels of maintenance work to its allocation
locomotives without recourse to sending them back to Derby. The locomotive has
had her buffers removed, has no coupling rods and alongside and in front is
evidence of instruments designed to check for square etc. when realigning axles
with pistons etc.
Another item of note is the freshly painted body, but is
that a new fabricated unpainted chimney? Within the shed there is a turntable
in the foreground, one of a series located internally, and used to maximise
space. To the right high on the wall is a shaft driving via a 'twisted' belt,
in all probability a lathe or grinding machine. The 'twist' was a technique
that aided the belt to be kept taught.
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