LNER Class A4 4469 Sir Ralph Wedgwood

Sir Ralph Wedgwood was one of the 35 Class A4 locomotives of the London and North Eastern Railway. It was built at the company's Doncaster Works in 1938 as builder's number 1871, and was allocated to Gateshead shed on completion. It first carried the name Gadwall and was renamed Sir Ralph Wedgwood in March 1939, in recognition of the 16 years he served as Chief Officer of the LNER between 1923 and 1939. It was built for general express duties and painted in Garter blue, and was later repainted in wartime black with the valances over the driving wheels removed. On the night of 28 and 29 April 1942, the Baedeker raid on York, a bomb fell through the roof of York North Shed and the locomotive was severely damaged. It was judged impractical to rebuild and was condemned and scrapped.