LNER Class A4 4469 Sir Ralph Wedgwood

LNER Class A4 No.4469 Sir Ralph Wedgwood was an A4 Class locomotive of the LNER. Originally named "Gadwall," it was named after Ralph Lewis Wedgwood, the chief officer of LNER for 16 years. However, during the Baedeker Blitz in the Second World War, tragedy would fall. In the night of April 28th, 1942, Sir Ralph was to pull the train known as the "Night Scotsman" from York's Station, platform 9. When the siren went off on Nazi planes attacking York, all the passengers had left the station in panic, including Sir Ralph's crew. Once the engine and "Night Scotsman" were abandoned, the bombs struck. Due to the damage and lack of a spare frame, "Sir Ralph" and a neighboring NER Class S3 were scrapped, although the tender from "Sir Ralph" was kept and later used on LNER Thompson Class A2 No. 3696.

"Sir Ralph's" name was then reallocated in January 1944 to No.4466 Herring Gull, which was older than its fallen fellow A4.

External links

* [http://danger-ahead.railfan.net/gallery/york_1942.html Photo and information]