Railway Herald
During World War 2 the British War Department commissioned the building of locomotives to the LMS Stanier 8f design, the builder being the North British company of Glasgow. Initially they were intended for use in France, but the country fell under Nazi occupation before delivery so they were diverted to Turkey where they were known as 'Churchills.' A number were lost en route to Turkey and those that reached their destination were too underpowered for heavy freight movement in that country, so they performed shunting duties and shorter, lighter duties and some locomotives survived until the 1980s; several have been preserved. One of which is the example seen in this image, it is numbered No. 45160, has a number of Turkish embellishments and a Northwich shedplate (8E)! working at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway on the late-running 15.25 Cheltenham Racecourse to Winchcombe on 29th October 2011 this interesting locomotive is seen passes Woodmancote.
Stuart Warr
