1948 Locomotive Exchanges
Modified Hall class 4-6-0 No 6990 Witherslack Hall approaches Manchester London Road with the 10am express from Marylebone in June 1948.

Peter Kerslake says "The footplate crew are determined to get into the picture in this view of 6990 "Witherslack Hall" as she runs into Manchester London Road during her participation in the 1948 Locomotive Exchanges.
Due to clearance restrictions imposed by those large cylinders apparent in this image 6990 was restricted to working the Great Central line, working between Marylebone and Manchester London Road, her peformance during the Exchanges being compared with an Eastern Region "B1", a Midland Region Class Five and a Southern Region "West Country".
Built at Swindon in early 1948 the locomotive spent most of her time at Old Oak Common, later being at Bristol from where she was condemned in December 1965, but happily survived into preservation."


Photo: W.S. Garth/Rail Archive Stephenson