North Eastern Railway Fletcher '901' class 2-4-0 No. 847. Built by Beyer Peacock & Co. of Manchester in June 1873 and withdrawn in April 1914. Edward Flecher's designs for the North Eastern Railway had several things in common :- each class was very small with virtually no standard features between them. They were built like battleships. Their livery varied from works to works (York, Darlington and Gateshead). Locomotives within a class often had much detail variation (i.e. 'artistic licence'). Displaying several of these curiosities, here's No. 847 at Gateshead in the1880s. Spot the 'crown' on the chimney and that's just for starters!

© Steve Armitage Collection