B12 4-6-0 No 8557 at Gorton shed after working the North Country Continental from Harwich in c1925.

Peter Kerslake says "After passing into L.N.E.R. ownership following the 1923 grouping the new owners of the former Grteat Eastern "B12's" adopted the style of livery seen here with the running numbers on the tender before a change of policy in 1928 saw the numbers move to the cabsides.
Looking her very best taking water with a massive tender of coal here at Gorton in 1925 8557 was one of the original batch of 71 constructed by and for the Great Eastern between 1910 and 1921 and she has the splendid valancing in place over her driving wheels in this view and full beading on her driving wheel splashers, features which sadly disappeared with passing years".

Photo: P.F. Cooke/Rail Archive Stephenson