John Young

Here's a photo I took in 1964 of a Crompton displaying a C2 headcode. It has stopped on the down line at Woodfidley Crossing signal box (89 miles 59 chains) between Beaulieu Road and Brockenhurst to deliver cans of drinking water for the box and railway cottages as there was no mains water. Jim Roderick the signalman is waiting with the empties. Coal in sacks, lamp oil and any other requisites were all delivered in this way. The coal allowance was not much so firemen of steam loco's would often heave the odd large lump over the side if they were held at the down home. The number of the Crompton is lost in the mists of time but a loco often used on this duty was D6585.