SR Merchant Navy No. 35018 British India Line

I got word via our camera club Whatsapp group this morning that this magnificent engine was due to come through Newcastle late this afternoon, so of course it had to be my blip today! Happily there's a spot only half a mile from home where you can get a reasonable view so we headed off there in good time. The train was on its way from York to Edinburgh.

35018 British India Line was one of the first batch of twenty SR  (Southern Railway) Merchant Navy Class steam locomotives to be built by the Southern Railway at Eastleigh Works in May 1945. It was first shedded at Nine Elms shed, where it was to remain for most of its career, under both the Southern Railway and British Railways. On 24 November 1960 it was re-allocated to Bournemouth's 71B shed, but in January of the following year it returned to Nine Elms 70A shed where it was to remain until its BR career ended in August 1964, although it had been rebuilt in 1956. It was restored to its current state in May 2017 and at present is owned by one David Smith.

Its name came from one of the shipping companies which used ports owned by the Southern Railway.

It looks best large.