Railway Steam Locomotive Blank Card of Gresley A3 60059 Tracery by Malcolm Root FGRA

Tracery had been built as a Gresley A1 in 1925 but was re-built as an A3 in July 1942, leading to an extension to her career which saw final withdrawal come in 1962.

Highly capable locomotives, the A3 provided the backbone of East Coast Main-Line running, eventually being a class of eighty engines. Even with the development of newer locomotives such as Gresley’s own A4 and Thompson and Peppercorn designs, the A3 were still able to hold their own in the timetable.

Malcolm Root’s Railway Art blank card shows the locomotive during the change-over period between the earlier crimson/cream colour and later, and some would say drabber, maroon coaches, making it around 1958.