Railway Steam Locomotive Birthday Card - Adams 02 Tank Engine

The O2, designed by William Adams for the LSWR was a charming locomotive that owed its existence to the number of small towns springing up in the railways area of operation. First built in 1889 the locomotives were displaced by the larger M7 type from 1897 and the type went to secondary duties. 21 locomotives were to receive a second lease of life when they crossed the Solent and became the main source of motive power on the Isle of Wight, where the loco in the painting is shown.  Even today a single O2, W24 Calborne resides on the island at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway in full working order.

This railway card, featuring a painting by Malcolm Root, shows engine No.29 having its water replenished some time in the mid-1950s.