Eastern Region freight slipping westward through the LMR Manchester - Salford complex, 1962

Image: © Ben Brooksbank Taken: 18 Apr 1962

View SE from the ex-L&Y Salford station across the ex-LNW lines westward from Manchester Exchange, whose first station west was Ordsall Lane, further on to the right. Few ER trains ran through Manchester this way, between countless LMR trains: this one is probably working between Dewsnap Sidings via Philip's Park to Trafford Park and is headed by No. 63794. The locomotive is basically a former GCR Robinson class 8K (LNER O4) 2-8-0s with a particularly complex history. It was built in 2/18 as ROD No. 1898, one of the 521 ordered in 1917-8 by the Government for service in the Great War, many of which spent their lives in the Middle East long afterwards. The majority never went overseas, and languished with numerous others in Store on dumps for several years until sold to one of the four main line Railways. The majority were purchased by the LNER, this one in 4/24 as No. 6277. During WW2 it was not one of those requisitioned for military service, but was loaned to the GWR 11/40 - 2/43; in 4/43 it was rebuilt by Thompson as an O4/7. It was renumbered 3794 in 1946, and under BR as No. 63794 it was radically rebuilt as a Class O4/8 in 5/57, being eventually withdrawn in 11/62.

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