GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Olton Station: gwro4017

Four GWR Kings No 6001 ‘King Edward VII’ & No 6014 ‘King Henry VII’ on the left, and No 6017 ‘King Edward IV’ and No 6005 ‘King George II’ on the right

On a Sunday in March 1934, four Great Western Railway 4-6-0 6000 (King) class locomotives No 6001 ‘King Edward VII’ and No 6014 ‘King Henry VII’ on the left, and No 6017 ‘King Edward IV’ and No 6005 ‘King George II’ on the right, traverse the plate girder bridge over Widney Lane on the 1st speed test at 59-62 mph. The locomotives are on the new Relief lines approaching the rebuilt Widney Manor station, and travelling towards Lapworth (location is 120m 66c). The new lines here were built on the south-west side of the original track.

This photograph is Solihull Central Library record reference No 1793, courtesy R Waring.

Robert Ferris

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