Time Capsules - Old Photographs from the past

2-4-0 locomotive and train at Penrith in 1934

This photograph of Penrith station shows what is probably a London and North Western Railway Precedent Class "Jumbo" 2-4-0 locomotive.

This famous class of locomotives was developed from John Ramsbottom's 2-4-0 'Newton' class which dated back to 1866. Mr. F.W.Webb took over as Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London & North Western Railway in 1871 and from 1874 he built a further 20 locomotives in the same style as the Newton class but with modifications including higher boiler pressure. The first member of this new class was No. 2175 'Precedent'. From 1877 until 1882 a further 76 locos were added giving a class total of 166. However from 1887 to 1902 all 166 members of the Precedent class were renewed or rebuilt at Crewe Works as virtually brand new locomotives.

Called "Jumbos" they were named after the elephant, but were also very fast. On the night of 22/23 August 1895, locomotive No. 790 'Hardwicke' was chosen for the all-important leg of the journey between Crewe and Carlisle. An average speed of 67.2mph for the 141 miles was achieved over this most difficult terrain which includes the famous climb to Shap summit. By the standards of the day this was a monumental achievement. The competitor on the East Coast Route was the famous Great Northern Railway Stirling 8 foot Single and today 'Hardwicke' and GNR No.1 stand together in the National Railway Museum at York.

Penrith Railway Station is midway through Cumbria on the West Coast Main Line, between Carlisle and Oxenholme. Although the station is now relatively quiet, at one time this was the terminus for the Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith Railway, and the North Eastern Railway's Eden Valley branch which joined with the Stainmore line at Kirkby Stephen, providing connections to the East Coast Main Line at Darlington.

Photo © The Step Back Through Time Collection
Text courtesy of Peter Langsdale