The days of top rank workings for ex-L&NWR expess locomotives were drawing to a close by 1936. Early in that year, one of George Whale's fine 'Precursor' 4-4-0s No. 5311 'Express' stands at Northampton Castle Station with the crew attending to coal trimming and water replenishment.

5311 was built at Crewe in Sept. 1905 as L&NWR No. 811. It was withdrawn in Mar. 1941, re-numbered to LMS No. 25311 so as not to clash with a newly built Stanier 'Black 5'. The name was removed in May 1936 to be inherited by Stanier 'Jubilee' No. 5706.

© Les Hanson-David Hanson Archive