RailPictures.Net Photo: 4419 London and North Eastern Railway GNR Class C1 4-4-2 at Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire, United Kingdom by Steve Armitage
Just before we close the file (for the time being!) on the Great Northern Railway's elegant Atlantics, here's a fine study by an unknown photographer of 4419 in early LNER days. She's standing with a southbound Pullman train at Wakefield Westgate under the famous 1867 clock tower, regrettably demolished in the early 70s in an act of corporate vandalism. An experimental modification by Sir Nigel Gresley saw 4419 uniquely fitted with a booster designed to give extra power to the trailing wheels when starting or on gradients. The frames were lengthened to accomodate this and 4419 was given a larger cab as a consequence. The booster was removed in 1935, but 4419 gave 39 years service until withdrawal 1948, still retaining her large cab.