Class B4 - No 1097

I have to admit that the Midland Railway is a favourite probably because of the sheer elegance of S W Johnson's locomotive designs. In my view there is nothing better than a Johnson Single locomotive. Formed from the usual amalgamation of minor railways the Midland became a leading operator in the years before the Grouping of 1923. Even after this date it had a huge influence on the LMS Railway for many years much to the dismay, I suspect, of the LNWR supporters.

Formed in 1847 from the amalgamation of minor railways, this railway served the central part of England in the Yorkshire and Lancashire areas but was always in competition with other railways in the area due to lucrative coal transportation in the rich coal fields. The railway was subsequently amalgamated with the London & North Western Railway shortly before the Grouping of 1923.The locomotives appeared to be quite colourful in the early years being a dark green (almost Brunswick green) This disappeared by 1878

Originally the Manchester Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway (MSLR), this railway was renamed the Great Central Railway in 1897. The locomotives were painted dark green then black. The green shade seems to have been very similar to that of the MSLR. The green shade adopted for all GCR passenger locomotives was a rather nice rich dark green (try RGB 19-64-33). Goods locomotives were black. Up to 1914 coaches were brown on the lower panels and creamy white upper panels. After this date all coaches were varnished teak.

Class B4 - No 1097. One of a class of ten built in 1906, they were primarily designed to haul fast goods trains and all ten were taken into LNER ownership where, after fitting superheaters they were successfully used on fast passenger work.