North Eastern Railway Worsdell 'S' class 4-6-0 No. 2010. Built at Gateshead in June 1900 and withdrawn in July 1931 as LNER No. 2010. Now here's a question. You've been tasked with conveying the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) north to meet one of his mistresses or attend a race meeting or some other Royal function. Your brand new No. 2010 has just been released from Gateshead Works. Within three weeks you will entrust it to head his Royal Train. Wouldn't you? That kind of confidence and pride just ooze out of this stunning image at Clifton, York on 20th June 1900. It was taken before the construction of the new carriage sidings. The old Clifton signal cabin is seen in the background.

It is now known that the Prince of Wales visited the Royal Agricultural Society’s sixty-first annual show at York on the previous day, he was now travelling to Newcastle to lay the foundation stone for the new Royal Infirmary.

According to the report in the Shields Daily Gazette:
The Royal train was signalled as having left York four minutes late, but the ordinary traffic was set aside for her, and she dashed up to the platform at eleven minutes past twelve—four minutes ahead of her schedule time. The train was drawn by engine No. 2010, gaily decorated from buffer plank to tender with flags and bunting and in charge of Mr William Worsdell. the N.E.R. Locomotive Superintendent. Out of the Royal train stepped Sir Joseph W. Pease, Bart. M.P., Mr G. S. Gibb, the General Manager, and other high officials the N.E.R.
The implication is that the Chief was actually driving the engine!
Their Royal Highnesses returned to York later that day, and HRH was made a Freeman of the City of York the following day, before returning to London.


Steve Armitage Collection courtesy of Martin Hoyle