Francis Webb designed many fine, simple and uncomplicated locomotives for the London & North Western Railway. Sadly, this splendid legacy as been tainted by his many and various attempts to master the principles of compounding. Here we see just one of these oddites, a unique 2-2-2-2 Compound Condensing Tank No. 687 captured circa 1890 at Heaton Chapel, Stockport. 687's short life of just 16 years compares very unfavourably with (for example) Webb's 0-6-2 'Coal Tanks' several of which gave over 60 years of service.

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