GWR Route: The North Warwickshire Line

GWR Route: Stratford on Avon to Hatton

Stratford on Avon Station: gwrsa1527

Ex-GWR 2-6-2T 'Large Prairie' No 4127 stands at the crossover south of Stratford on Avon West Signal Box ready to run back into the station in 1957. Terminating services at Stratford on Avon would frequently require the train locomotive to run around the train in readiness for its return to Birmingham or Leamington. Beneath the locomotive's cylinders the ground signal, a white disk with a black bar, has been set for the off position allowing the locomotive to run forward from the down line to the up line. Ground signals mimicked a standard signal with an arm so the black bar, which had been in the horizontal position when in the on (danger) position, had moved to the 5 o'clock position. The climb to Earlswood necessitated the locomotive to be travelling boiler first as a safety procedure as this would ensure that water would always cover the firebox crown. Built at Swindon works to Lot 313 in May 1938 No 4127 remained in service until January 1963 when it was withdrawn from 86E Severn Tunnel Junction shed to be scrapped in May 1963 by J Cashmore of Newport.

back