In August 1953 a Western Region train for Pwllheli arrives at Afon Wen station. The east end of platforms 2 (right) and 3 (left) are visible in the foreground. At the head of the train is an unidentified Dukedog locomotive. Introduced in 1936 the locomotive was a Collett rebuild incorporating Duke of Cornwall Class boilers and Bulldog Class frames for work on secondary lines. Commonly known as Dukedogs they were numbered in the 3200-28 series until 1946. They were then given the classification 2P and the number Series 9000-9028. It was built by the Great Western Railway Swindon works. The first twelve engines were named after Earls but this was short lived, the names being removed and transferred to Castle Class locos. These hybrids were sent to work on the Cambrian Coast lines in Wales where they proved a godsend to the hard-pressed locomotive department. With a yellow route availability, they were able to work over Barmouth Bridge and proved useful in their role. The first withdrawal was 9007 (3207), from Tyseley (Birmingham) shed, in July 1948, and the last two locos, 9014 and 9017 were withdrawn from Croes Newydd and Machynlleth sheds respectively in October 1960, thus being among the last outside framed locos working on British Railways. Locomotive 9017 is preserved. All 29 of the locomotives built passed into British Railways ownership.
Photo by H C Casserley