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LMS Route: The Shakespeare Route

Clifford Sidings: smjc223

Ex-LMS 4F 0-6-0 No 44188 passes Clifton Sidings on the RCTS' Farewell to the SMJ tour

Ex-LMS 4F 0-6-0 No 44188 passes Clifton Sidings on the RCTS' Farewell to the SMJ tour, the last ever steam service to use the line on 24th April 1965. The sidings can be seen in situ on the left adjacent to the rear of the train. Dick Bodily wrote on the SMJ website (www.smj.me) 'According to 6 Bells Junction, No 44188 completed the railtour by taking the train back to Birmingham single handed. I've cut and pasted this from elsewhere on the site it was contributed by John Jennings some time ago 'The VERY last train in April 1965 was double headed into Old Town by a 64xx series pannier. The lead driver on the 4F was Ted Hewins an ex LMS man and he refused to allow the 64xx to go any further ordering it to remain at Old Town where it could keep its "bloody WR lower quadrant signals company". This ensured that the last train over the SMJ was hauled by an 0-6-0 Goods keeping the tradition of the line intact.' Built in April 1925 by St Rollox Works, No 44188 was to remain in service until November 1965 when it was withdrawn from 2F Bescot shed to be scrapped by J Cashmore's of Great Bridge.

Photograph courtesy of John Jennings

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