Ex-Great Western Railway Churchward '47xx' class 2-8-0 No. 4700. Built at Swindon in May 1919 and withdrawn in Oct. 1962. Only nine of George Jackson Churchward's impressive '47xx' class were built between 1919 and 1923. It was his last design before retirement. They were excellent locomotives on both freight and passenger duties, but they were heavy and this restricted their route availability and thus their usefulness. These factors led to no further production of the class. The prototype No. 4700 is seen on shed at Tyseley MPD in August 1962.

© Andrew Woodcock/Steve Armitage Archive