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Washington Close, ST. HELENS, WA9 5TF

No 3205, one of 120 built to this design by Collett of the Great Western Railway between 1930 and 1948. This example built Swindon 1946.

From 1891 to 1900, Aspinall of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway built around 230 of these engines, mostly rebuilds of an earlier 0-6-0 tender engine built by Barton Wright. They were very sturdy machines, and most lasted well into British Railways days, indeed examples could be seen pottering around in the Oldham area as late as 1960. This example was LYR No 752, which became 11456 in British Railways ownership.

'Green Arrow' is a Class V2 engine, designed by Gresley and built at Doncaster in 1936. The number carried, 4771, is the original, but the LNER later renumbered it 800, and it became 60800 under British Railways. 184 V2s were built and this is the sole survivor.

When British Railways came into existence in 1948, the steam locomotive still ruled supreme. New engines were needed as during the war, old locomotives had been kept running even though in many cases they were completely worn out. For a time, designs of the 'Big Four' companies were continued, but a complete series of new designs were soon put into production. The 2-6-4T of Class 4MT were nearly all built at Brighton, including No 80079 seen above. There were altogether 155 of this design constructed and there are 15 survivors.

This 104 ft tunnel built in 1820's was to accommodate an existing colliery tramway that ran from Sutton to the Liverpool Warrington Turnpike. It has been given grade 2 listed status.

The Class 9F locomotive No 92220 'Evening Star' was the very last steam locomotive ever to be built for British Railways, being completed at Swindon in 1960. It is a 2-10-0 locomotive, and while actually classified as a freight engine, was perfectly capable of handling express passenger work as well - for many years, these engines were seen on the 'Pines Express'. 251 of this class were built and nine have been preserved.

The LMS 'Coronation' Pacifics were express passenger engines. Of the 38 built, some 24 (including the 'Duchess of Hamilton' seen above) originally had streamlined casing, but this was removed in British Railways days. Only three survive into preservation. The 'Duchess of Hamilton' originally had the number 6229, but became No 46229 under British Railways. Built at Crewe, 1938.

The Bulleid Pacifics of the Southern Railway were express passenger locomotives, and when built had air-smoothed casing which gave them a semi-streamlined appearance. There were 30 'Merchant Navy' locomotives, all built at Eastleigh, and some 110 of a lighter design, known as 'West Country' and 'Battle of Britain' classes, which were built at Brighton. The above locomotive is No 35028 'Clan Line', is a 'Merchant Navy', and is one of those which, in the 1950s, had the casing removed, which gave a more conventional appearance. It is shown carrying the headboard for the 'Golden Arrow' Victoria to Dover boat train service.

One of some 391 locomotives to this design built for the Ministry of Supply and War Department from 1943-1953. This one was WD No 75091 'Robert', later bought by the National Coal Board and renumbered 7. A very large number of these lcomotives survive at various locations.

The design for this locomotive originated with Fowler on the Midland Railway in 1911, and over the next thirty years, and extending well into LMS days, no fewer than 775 examples were built, making it the most numerous class ever built in Britain. There are four survivors, this one being LMS No 4027, later BR No 44027, built in 1924 at Derby works.