No.44744 in July 1955 passing through Castle Bromwich on a northbound express which appears to consist of all British Railways Mark 1 stock, apart from an ex-LNER “strengthener” at the front. The Caprotti ‘Class 5’ had recently returned to Bristol Barrow Road after over two years at Leeds Holbeck.

Steve Banks " For a while, as the BR Mk.1 fleet was being built up, ex-LNER coaches with their Pullman gangways were deployed for use as strengtheners with Mk.1 trains on LMR and WR lines, rather than indigenous ex-LMS/GWR stock with BS gangways"