Great Northern Railway Ivatt 'L1' (LNER 'R1') class 0-8-2 Tank No. 128. Built at Doncaster in November 1905 and withdrawn in June 1929 as LNER No. 3128.

The 41-strong Ivatt 'L1' class were originally intended for suburban passenger duties in London but the initial batch of 11 proved unsuitable. The class were then transferred to the West Riding of Yorkshire for goods working. This lovely portrait, restored from a contemporary postcard dated 1912, was taken at Earlsheaton Station. Earlsheaton was on the Batley to Wakefield Westgate route (closed 1964), this allowed Bradford portions to be connected to southbound expresses at Westgate. The steeply graded Pildacre Bank behind the loco, climbed up to Ossett the next station towards Wakefield. This very challenging gradient can be judged by the sight of North Ossett Church, visible to the right of the trees. The small siding to the right of the signal box served a local colliery. Note the GNR 'Beware of Trains' cast iron signs with its top and bottom lugs, a type associated mainly with joint lines in this area.

© John Farline Archive-Steve Armitage Collection