London & North Western Railway Webb 'John Hick' class 3-cyl. compound 2-2-2-0 No. 1512 'Henry Cort'. Built at Crewe in February 1898 and Withdrawn in October 1907.

One of the last flourishes of Francis Webb's adventures (and misadventures) with compound locomotives were the similar 'Greater Britain' and 'John Hick' classes. Note the huge low pressure cylinder seen below the buffer beam. Their short lives were a fair indication of their effectiveness. Taken as a whole, Webb's designs were largely superb for their era, but it was his relatively few failures that marred his reputation. Seen at Crewe circa 1905. Henry Cort (1740-1800) invented the process to make wrought iron from pig iron. Restored from an original period 8"x10" print.

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