32442 1954-04 Patcham
Ex-London, Brighton & South Coast Railway R.Billinton/D.Marsh 'C2X' class 0-6-0 No. 32442. Built by Vulcan Foundry of Newton-le-Willows in May 1893 as LB&SCR No. 442 and withdrawn in February 1960.
The fifty-five Billinton 'C2s' and their Marsh rebuilt successors, the 'C2X's' differed only in boiler size and an extended smokebox. These modest modifications created an excellent and powerful freight locomotive. The fact that several achieved more than a million miles in service speaks for itself. This lovely April 1954 view at Patcham, Brighton captures beautifully the delights and innocent joy of 'trainspotting'.
© Steve Armitage Archive