North Eastern Railway Fletcher '1440' class 2-4-0 No. 486. Built at Gateshead in June 1882 and withdrawn in February 1924 as LNER No. 486.

The city of Bradford was (and still is) eternally divided by the fact that the two principal rail routes (the GNR & L&YR from the south) and the Midland & NER from the north) terminated at Exchange and Forster Square Stations respectively. Thus, separated by only a few hundred yards and years of political discord, Bradford (to its eternal disadvantage) has no through rail travel possible. Manningham MPD was built by the Midland Railway but the North Eastern had running rights. In March 1906 a typically sturdy Fletcher 2-4-0 is being coaled.

© Steve Armitage Collection