Ex-LNER Gresley 'A4' class 4-6-2 No. 60031 'Golden Fleece'. Built at Doncaster in October 1937 as LNER No. 4497 and withdrawn in October 1965.

The sight of a Gresley 'A4' on freight was relatively unusual On exception was the famous 'Scotch Goods', an afternoon departure from King's Cross goods yard. It was run slightly below express speed and was fully fitted (braked throughtout). There was only one scheduled stop at Dringhouses yard in York. However this July 1949 working pictured near Newark in Nottinghamshire is not the 'Scotch Goods' but a running-in turn with wooden mineral wagons returning to Doncaster. The locomotive is in early BR blue livery.
© Steve Armitage Archive