Great Eastern Railway designed A.J. Hill 'N7/5' class 0-6-2 Tank No. 69638. Built at Gorton in April 1926 as LNER No. 833 and withdrawn in May 1959.

One of the joys of visiting a locomotive shed adjacent to a 'Works' was the sight of freshly overhauled and repainted locomotives released back to traffic. This sparkling appearance would sadly have a very short life in it's working environment as the daily accumulation of smoke, dust and oil patina begrimed the locomotive. Only station pilots and express locomotives usually received regular cleaning in the BR era. Here's 69638 at Stratford MPD in May 1956.

© Ken Widd-SA Collection