Part of what makes the Lickey Incline a hotspot for Rail Enthusiasts is the age old method of 'banking'. The process of banking is achieved when a train deemed too heavy to go it alone on the Incline receives a helping push from a locomotive at the back of the train. This process has been going on for over 100 years and can still be seen in action today. For over 70 years Bromsgrove, at the foot of the Incline, was home to the banking engines before it was decided in the 1980's that the engines would come from elsewhere. Gloucester and Saltley in Birmingham being the favoured area's. Although Bromsgrove engine shed closed in 1964 the bankers continued with Bromsgrove staff until the 1980's.
Some Lickey Banker Facts:
The last LMS class 47 steam locomotives known as 'Jinties' to bank at Bromsgrove were 47276 which later moved to Bath & 47308 which later moved to Gloucester.
8415 was the last Great Western Pannier Tank to bank at Bromsgrove.
92230 was the last British Railways '9F' Standard Steam locomotive to bank at Bromsgrove.
English Electric Type 3 Diesel D6938 (later re-numbered 37238 under the new TOPS numbering system) was the first diesel banker at Bromsgrove.
Bromsgrove steam shed closed in September 1964 along with Bromsgrove wagon works. Bromsgrove shed codes were 21D ,85F & finally 85D.
The longest serving locomotive on Lickey banking duties is the famous 0-10-0 Midland Fowler steam locomotive known to many as 'Big Bertha'. It spent 99% of its lifetime as the Lickey banker between 1919 & 1956. Many locomotives that spend more than the usual amount of time on banking duties are tagged Big Bertha after the famous machine by local enthusiasts, such is her notoriety.
The last steam locomotive banker at Bromsgrove was in 1965 when an ex Great Western Hall locomotive was dispatched from Oxford following an EE Type 3 (later class 37) derailing.
Now that Saltley shed in Birmingham has closed the bankers now come off Washwood Heath depot. English Welsh & Scottish Railways who operate Lickey bankers have 5 class 66's assigned to banking duties, numbers 66055 to 66059.
66055, 66056, 66057, 66058 & 66059
These 5 locomotives have received modifications, all five have a 'buckeye release' button in the cab. In order to bank a freight train made up of buckeye coupled wagons the banking locomotives need to attach to the train, something never done before in the process of banking. When the summit is reached the banker driver will press the 'buckeye release' button and the freight train will continue while the banker will drop off in conventional style. In the unlikely unavailability of one these class 66's another class 66 from the 250 owned by EWS will be used.
Since post British Rail private freight companies Load Haul, Mainline & Transrail were amalgamated under the name of English Welsh & Scottish Railway no other company has operated a Lickey banker other than EWS (with the exception of private banking locomotives hired for occasional Railtour duties).
