Time Capsules - Old Photographs from the past

43133 entering Alvechurch station, Worcs., 1950

Ivatt Class 4F-A 2-6-0 43133 was built at Horwich Works by British Railways on 30 Nevember 1951, withdrawn on 31 December 1966 and cut up by Thompsons of Stockton on 30 April 1967, having been last shedded at 52F, North Blyth.

This locomotive class were built in 1947-52 to an Ivatt design, and 162 were built, the first three by the LMS and the remainder under British Railways. They were also called 'mucky ducks.'

The design was noted for its American looks – with the boilerside footplating at high level and a gap left ahead of the cylinders. Because of this many people considered it to be the ugliest British locomotive produced.

The BR standard class 4 2-6-0 was based on this design, although its looks were improved somewhat by the redesign of the outside footplating to include a sloping plate to fill the gap ahead of the cylinders.

One example of the class, 43106, has survived to preservation. Based at the Severn Valley Railway it is affectionately known as the Flying Pig.

Opened by the Midland Railway, Alvechurch station became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway during the Grouping of 1923. The station then passed on to the London Midland Region of British Railways on nationalisation in 1948.

When the Cross-city line which now runs through Alvechurch was upgraded and electrified in 1993 the platform at Alvechurch was resited slightly to the north. The result of this is that as soon as the old platform ends the new one begins. The former station building, shown in this photograph, is now in private ownership.

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