It is the dying decade of the 19th century and Liverpool Exchange station offers the splendid sight of Aspinall 4-4-0 express locomotive No. 1098 sporting massive 7ft 3in driving wheels. Amongst the soot and grime of Victorian Liverpool, the locomotive is resplendent in its black livery, lined out in red & white. Heading just three coaches, this engine is no stranger to the hourly Liverpool to Manchester Victoria expresses, which are booked to take only 40 minutes for the 361/2-mile run. Unknown at the time, this loco and train would feature some 120 years later as an outstanding example of contemporary performance (see table 1 on facing page).
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