A member remembers a photograph, probably shown at an East Midlands branch meeting, of an LMS Beyer Garrett on passenger stock, near Derby. Apparently it was on a pre-WWII test run to St. Pancras, but a problem arose and the trial was aborted. A crowd had waited to see it arrive at St. Pancras, but was disappointed.

The query is what was the date, loco number, train formation and how far did it get?

(BL:6255)

Answers

The photograph was almost certainly that taken by the late Mr Frank Carrier, and reproduced in the book 'Raised on Steam' compiled by his son Michael Carrier. According to the caption, in 1936 an experiment by LMS Derby involved 4999, one of 3 Garratts fitted with vacuum brakes. The train, which was to run to passenger timings to St Pancras, comprised 20 vehicles + the dynamometer car, which was next to the the engine. Mr Carrier, 'in the know' as he worked for the LMS, photographed it at Borrowash. The locomotive ran hot and had to removed at Leicester. The test was not repeated. The LMS official photographer was at Sharnbrook, and therefore did not photograph it. (CB:13993)

The answer to this is to be found in the NRM records of the LMS Dynomometer Car No.1, which states that: ‘1932 3 July Garratt 4999 on test with e.c.s. weighing 564 tons (inc. d.c.) Derby – Bedford and return.’ No further details, and no reference here to St Pancras I’m afraid. There is also a photo of this somewhere in the NRM (in a publication) but I’ve forgotten where. I did check at the time whether it wasavailable in the NRM photo collection, but it’s not – pity. (DP:18505)

There is a photo of the train in the The Frank Carrier Photograph Collectlon held by the Kidderminster Railway Museum. (VS)