London, Brighton & South Coast Railway Stroudley 'B1' or 'Gladstone' class 0-4-2 No. 181. Built at Brighton in March 1890 and named 'Croydon' (later removed). Withdrawn in December 1929 as SR No. 181.

We are indeed fortunate to have a Stroudley 'B1' class preserved at the NRM in all the glory of the designer's famous 'improved engine green' (golden ochre) livery. That locomotive is of course the famous 'Gladstone'. In later LB&SCR livery and minus its original 'Patcham' name, 181 is simmering gently at Clapham Junction Station in October 1920.

© Steve Armitage Archive