This low angle portrait of 6021, " King Richard II " shows a number of original features disinctive to the " Kings " from new, especially the smoothed and rounded casing on the inside valve chest which must have provided a less than satisfactory foothold for shed staff and footplatemen, especially in wet or icy conditions, and which was later replaced by a squared version from about the late 1940 ' s.
The later design of inside valve spindle covers, applied to the final ten of the class from new, shows clearly here, as does the little footstep on the smokebox door, which was later dispensed with, whilst this original design of main steam pipe was to remain a feature of the " Kings " until the mid 'fifties, whilst the brass axlebox cover on the bogie's leading wheel was the original design, and was later changed.