London & North Western Railway Whale 'Precursor Tank' class 4-4-2 Tank No. 44. Built at Crewe in March 1907 and withdrawn in December. 1932 as LMS No. 6810.

A top class 1910s portrait of 44, one of the fifty George Whale 'Precursor Tank' 4-4-2s built at Crewe between 1906 and 1909.

As curious aside, although excellent photographs exist of L&NWR CME's John Ramsbottom, Francis Webb and Charles Bowen Cooke only one (very poor) image of George Whale appears to have survived. As the man who introduced the first 'modern' 4-4-0s and 4-6-0s and larger passenger tanks to the L&NWR that seems a shame. Does anyone have a good, clear photograph of him?

© Steve Armitage Collection