Birmingham New Street Station

Midland Railway Locomotives: lnwrbns_pg1936

Modernised Kirtley double framed '800' class 2-4-0 No 24 is standing on the short spur by No 2 Signal Cabin at New Street station. The spur was often used by station pilots, as it kept them out of the way when the station was busy. Compare image 'lnwrbns_br1807' for a 1950 view of an engine on the spur that includes the signal box. The bridge in the photo carried Queens Drive over the Midland side's lines at the eastern end of the station. The roof of the station can be seen in the top left corner. No 24 would have been painted in the passenger livery of Crimson Lake, though it is not possible to be certain whether this is a Midland Railway or early LMSR scene as the photo is undated and there are no visible ownership markings on the engine. No 24 was one of the first "800" class engines to be built, emerging from the company's Derby works in February 1870 with the running number 166. It was comprehensively rebuilt by Johnson in November 1882. In September 1899 it was transferred to the duplicate list and became No 166A. In 1907 it returned to the main stock list as No 24. The Deeley front end was probably fitted roundabout this time. In 1920 it was one of four "800" class engines allocated to Birmingham [See list in Hawkins & Reeve]. It passed to the LMSR in 1923 and was withdrawn from service by that company in December 1926. Compare above with the images in 'lnwrbns_pg1929' and 'mrb16'. The caption to image 'mrb16' includes a potted history of the class.

John Dews

back