Geograph - photograph every grid square

View NW, towards Bletchley and the North: WCML. The Class D freight is on the Up Slow line, headed by Stanier 8F 2-8-0 No. 48257. This locomotive had an interesting history, having been built for war service (originally with the BEF in France!) by NB Loco as No. WD 321 (later 70321) in 8/40, but owing to the Fall of France none of these 8Fs were sent over there. Instead they were loaned to the LMSR and GWR, then shipped to the Middle East (including neutral Turkey) in 1941. This particular engine worked (as WD No. 321) on the LMS from Holbeck (Leeds) and was shipped to Persia in 9/41. There, as Iranian Railways No. 41.131 and still a coal-burner, it worked supplies for Russia over the infamous line from Ahwaz on the Persian Gulf to Bandar Shah on the Caspian Sea, until many 8Fs were substituted by US Army locomotives. Its identity was confused by renumbering to WD 70395, but it seems to have stayed in Iran at least until 2/46 when it was moved to Palestine. It was then stored at Suez, restored and continued working WD (Royal Engineers) traffic in the Canal Zone - also given the name 'Capt. H.G.Elphinstone, VC'. In 1948 it was purchased by BR, brought back and put to work on the LMR in 9/49 and not finally withdrawn until 7/68.