North Eastern Railway Raven 'Z' (LNER 'C7') class 4-4-2 No. 2171. Built at Darlington in July 1914 and withdrawn in April. 1942.

Poppleton Junction is where the York to Harrogate route departs from the ECML just a couple of miles north of York. This down express seen in 1923 with 2171 at the helm is taking the ECML route and is obviously showing its prowess. I think the 'Zs' were one of the most handsome of Raven's designs.

Poppleton Jct (mechanical) signal box behind the loco, was renamed Skelton in 1938 and replaced in June 1941 by the LNER Skelton box a little bit further north.

© Stephen Barrett Archive-SA Collection