Deeley 0-4-0T No 1528 at Clay Cross Works,circa 1946
  This month's shot,although depicting a main line company locomotive,captures vividly the essence of industrial railways.With a very short wheelbase, a weight of 32 tons 3 cwt and tractive effort of 11,640 lb,these engines were ideal for the tight curves and horrendous gradients often found in heavy industry.Indeed,on the right can be seen the steeply rising curve leading to the top of the plant.Single wagon loads of ironstone,
coal and limestone,the basic ingredients of pig iron,would be pushed up here to be deposited in the furnaces from the top.With the severity of the grade it is not surprising to see a wagon coupling hanging on the drawbar to provide a belt and braces job.  
   These Deeley designed engines comprised a small class of ten,introduced in two batches,five in 1907 and the remainder in 1921/22 under the Fowler regime.1528 was the first of the class and like the remainder came into LMS ownership in plain black livery,without MR emblems,but with 14in figures centered on the tanks.It is considered that pre-1928 ownership would have been shown by the red panel,most likely placed midway between the number and the cabside opening,but no photographic evidence of this has yet come to light-can anybody help? After the livery change of 1927-28 the
14 in numerals continued but their was some indecision regarding their juxtaposition with the large LMS.No 1529 had the number at the chimney end,while 1528 and 1530 had LMS at this end.
   The actual date of the photograph is not known but it is known that the engines,if repainted after 1942,received the yellow shaded red lettering.The loco is in nice condition and study of the original print clearly reveals shaded lettering.It is unlikely that it would have been repainted during the war and allowing for the slow return to normality after 1945,both for the railways and the suppliers of film,it is thought that the photograph was taken around mid 1946-47.At that time my maternal grandfather was a driver at Clay Cross Company but he passed away at a relatively early age while I was quite young and I don't think he is one of the men seen here.The young man with the pole is a shunter and the driver peeping out is much too old.
   These engines were remarkably long lived and 1528,which was allocated to 18D,Staveley Barrow Hill,was still in service in 1966.It is a great shame it was not preserved.

Back