The Last Loco

British Railways officially withdrew the Last Loco after 61 Years!

In this case the last loco was not some last of its class high-performance main line express engine that once grabbed the headlines but a lowly tank locomotive that attracted little attention.

On week ending 16 February 1952, British Railways officially withdrew locomotive 46762 after 61 years, seven months, and 17 days in service.

46762 possibly at Preston. (Collection of Clive Hardy). 

As to design and type, 46762 was a 2-4-2 passenger tank engine originally built during July 1890 by the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway at Horwich Works and given the running number 1041. As such there was nothing special about her as dozens of the same class were still in service with BR. What made 46762 unique it that she was the last surviving locomotive that once belonged to the Wirral Railway. Indeed, she had outlasted all other Wirral locos by 24 years.

Designed by John Aspin…