Ex-Midland Railway Johnson '2P' class 4-4-0 No. 411. Built by Sharp, Stewart & Co. in May 1892 as MR No. 2191 and withdrawn in February 1961 as BR No. 40411.

The Midland Railway and LMS '2Ps' could be found virtually eveywhere across the LMS system and beyond. A mixed traffic locomotive ideal for modest sized trains their usefulness ensured long lives. 411 achieved nearly 70 years in service and is seen here in August 1937 at the north end of the station probably with a Leicester train. Behind the tender is an empty 'Express Dairies milk for London' tank likely to be heading back to Appleby in Westmorland where the Express Dairy opened in 1931 using the railways to transport 385,000 litres of fresh milk daily to the metropolis.

© Steve Armitage Archive