A rare photograph of a NER Class T1 4-8-0T at work. No 69916 was recorded in the hump shunting yard at Newport on 11th April 1953. The signal box behind the cab controlled movements within the yard. The engine has the blower on and the firebox is being coaled to obtain a good head of steam for the next humping operation. The blower was operated by the rod extending from the cab front to the smokebox on the diagram 61 boiler first fitted to the T1s. The more modern diagram 63 boiler had a blower control which was not externally visible. No 69916 was the only member of the class to carry the original type boiler throughout its existence and when withdrawn in August 1957 left the surviving T1s fitted with the 63 diagram boiler.

© David P Williams Archive / Rail-Online Original photograph by P G Sankey