LMS Route: Evesham to Birmingham

Alcester Station: mra132a

Close up of image 'mra132' showing the Midland Railway Kirtley double framed 0-6-0 locomotive at the head of the goods train passing through the station. Before the 1880s, motive power used on the line would have been Kirtley 2-4-0 locomotives on passenger services and, as seen above, Kirtley 0-6-0 locomotives on goods services. By 1900, Johnson 0-4-4T locomotives and Johnson M Class 0-6-0 locomotives would be used on services and by 1914 his 2-4-0 locomotives also began to be seen working passenger and excursion services. It was not until the early 1930s that larger locomotives appeared on services south of Redditch when Deeley 0-6-4T tank locomotives and Fowler Class 3F 0-6-0 tender locomotives began to work on the line. It is though the use of larger locomotives had been previously prohibited because of weak bridges on the line south of Redditch which were now strengthened. By the late 1930s, Fowler & Stanier's 2-6-2T tank locomotives and Fowler Class 483/2P Class 4-4-0s were seen on passenger duties with Fowler 4F 0-6-0 locomotives on freight services.

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