An odd couple
Resource Type: Image | Posted on 5th May 2011 by Jenny Porter
This is one of the photographs donated to Edge Hill by Dennis Flood, a railway enthusiast (not to be confused with the photographer of the same name). Here we see two tender locomotives coupled together. They do not seem to be moving - a group of men, possibly including the two drivers and firemen, are standing next to them and appear to having a discussion of some sort. Further away, on the left of the picture, three other men, possibly responsible for the running of the railway, look to be hurrying over to the scene. The locomotive behind appears to be whistling uncontrollably, suggesting that it has been pulled away by the one in front and now it is being decided what to do with it. The locomotive in front appears to be marked G(reat) W(estern) R(ailway), a famous railway which linked London with the South West and West of England (including Liverpool) and much of Wales. It existed from 1836 to 1947, when the railways were nationalised. In the background, there is a goods train: the locomotive pulling it in invisible, but the steam it creates can possibly be seen. More trucks can also be seen in front
Categorised under: Landmarks, Landscapes & Locomotives
Comments
This photograph was donated by me and taken by the late Jim Peden. it shows a Great Northern Railway `Atlantic` class No.251 (GNR) in Waterloo Sidings at Edge Hill,having arrived earlier with a special train from Retford. it was taken on 4/9/1954.
The people on the ground include railway officials,the driver and fireman of the GNR `Atlantic` and there is also a policeman in there as well.!
I don’t think that the 4-4-0 engine behind the Atlantic is whistling uncontrollably, but that the plume of steam is from its safety valve, as the boiler pressure had risen just high enough to lift the valve and release the excess pressure. Although the fireman is supposed to manage the pressure to avoid that happening - especially in a station - it is sometimes difficult to avoid.