Time Capsules - Old Photographs from the past

Amersham & Chesham Bois station in 1936

Here we see Metropolitan 4-4-4T Class H locomotive no. 107 with a passenger train at the station, which changed its name to just Amersham the year after this photograph was taken. Amersham was opened September 1, 1892 part of the Metropolitan Railway extension to Aylesbury. On March 12, 1922 its name was changed to "Amersham & Chesham Bois" but reverted to the original name during 1937.

The main line services were operated by the Great Central Railway, so became part of the Great Central Railway and London Passenger Transport Board Joint Line following the Grouping of 1923. The station then passed on to the London Midland Region of British Railways on nationalisation in 1948.

Amersham Station is also a terminus of the Metropolitan Line branch of the London Underground. It is situated 23.7 miles (38.1 km) north west of Charing Cross and is the second most westerly station on the whole London Underground system, after Chesham.

This locomotive, no. 107, was one of a batch of 8 built by Kerr Stuart & Co of Stoke-on-Trent in 1920/21 with works numbers 4088 to 4095. These locomotives were designed by Charles Jones, who was appointed to the position of Chief Resident Electrical & Mechanical Engineer of the Metropolitan Railway on 1st January 1906. He developed the 4-4-4T Class H from the Yorkshire Engine Company 0-6-4T Class G design of 1915.

After the Metropolitan Railway became a part of London Transport in 1933, the steam operations were reduced in favour of a greater emphasis on electrical power. From 1st November 1937, the LNER took responsibility for working trains north of Rickmansworth on the Metropolitan Line. Hence, these locomotives came into LNER ownership as Class H2 in 1937.

In 1941, the H2s were moved from the London area to Nottingham to work the Nottingham suburban services. Some also worked the Lincoln-Chesterfield line. They were never popular in the Nottingham area, and developed a reputation for being poor steamers. Withdrawal started in 1942, although most were kept on due to wartime shortages. The last H2 was withdrawn in 1947.

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