SR Southern Railway Steam Locomotive Class D3 2367 Ashford in 1937
Very recently ex-works, Class D3 0-4-4T No 2367 stands in light steam at Ashford shed in 1937. The expanded Egyptian style of lettering for ‘Southern’ is typical of the Maunsell era which ended in 1937. Bulleid’s regime (from then to 1948) changed the livery to malachite green with sans serif lettering. The hard chalky water of Kent is already making its presence felt by the staining visible on the sides of the smokebox and boiler.
Built at Brighton to R J Billinton’s design in 1892 as No 367 ‘Norwood’ No 2367 was eventually withdrawn from Tonbridge shed by British Railways in February 1949, without receiving its BR number 32367. Nevertheless, the 0-4-4T had served three railways well for 57 years. This class of 36 D3s were originally designed to handle the longer distance trains between London and the south coast but after the Grouping were used on local services.