Ex-London & South Western Railway Urie 'H15' class 4-6-0 No. 30490. Built at Eastleigh in July 1914 as L&SWR No. 490 and withdrawn in May 1955.
The lofty Old Potbridge Road bridge at Winchfield in Hampshire provides an impressive backdrop to the passage of 30490 on an up express in June 1950. The first ten 'H15s' built in 1914, were tested to gain data on performance and fuel economy. Four (482-485) were fitted with Schmidt superheaters, four (486-489) with Robinson superheaters, and two (490-491) were built as saturated locomotives. Superheating immediately showed its advantage, but Urie patented his own version fitted latterly to all 26 class members.

© Steve Armitage Archive