North Eastern Railway Worsdell 'M1' class 4-4-0 No. 1629 (pilot) with a Down Express. Built at Gateshead in June 1893 and withdrawn in September 1945 as LNER No. 1629. Unidentified classmate (train).

It never ceases to amaze me what stunning photographs were achieved by (sadly) un-recorded photographers in Victorian and Edwardian times. We should be so grateful that scenes like this were captured (with very primitive technology) for us to see over a century later. A lengthy down express with a rake of at least five ex GNR vehicles behind the locomotives passes Poppleton Junction at York. The non-'hi- viz' clothed track workers seem unimpressed, in spite of having survived the passage of the train!

© Stephen Barrett Archive-SA Collection