One-off variants were often withdrawn early in comparison with others of their class but for this V2 2-6-2 the rule was certainly not observed. The strange shovel type smoke deflector was fitted in LNER days, in December 1946, at which time No 813 was allocated to Kings Cross. It remained in place for the remainder of the engine’s career, over the course of no less than 8 boiler changes. After transfer to Edinburgh St Margarets in February 1951, No 60813 remained in Scotland (latterly at Dundee) to withdrawal in November 1966.

© David P Williams Archive / Rail-Online; Original photograph by Les Perrin.