Description:A Birmingham to Manchester express train takes on water at Whitmore troughs in Spring 1933.
Many steam engines' tenders were fitted with scoops, allowing them to replenish their water supplies from troughs like these ones between Stafford and Crewe. Each locomotive's fireman would take responsibility for this operation.
This train is running on the former London & North Western Railway (L&NWR)metals. The troughs needed a totally flat strech of track at least a mile in length.
This image is featured by kind permission of the Churnet Valley Railway.