Ex-Great Eastern Railway J. Holden/Gresley 'D16/3' class 4-4-0 No. 62517. Built at Stratford in June 1901 as GER No. 1886. Rebuilt in 1940 from class 'D14' to class 'D16/3' and withdrawn in September 1959.

This portrait of 62517 at March MPD in May 1956, shows a class of locomotive with a convoluted rebuild and modification history. Gradual improvements were made over the years including Belpaire fireboxes, superheaters and the removal of decorative frame valences (as here) to improve access to the motion and ease maintenance. Many ran as oil burners for a while prior to WW1.

© Ken Widd-SA Collection